IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 

1980 


i 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  institute  has  attemptsd  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming,  .features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  Libllogrnphicaify  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  imagef.  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  ttigniVicantiy  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  e^re  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm6  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t^  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibiiographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


n 


n 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  peilicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


n 
0l 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documants 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 
La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombie  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  iong  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  f:|ue  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


D 
D 
□ 
D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur6es  et/ou  pelliculdes 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcoiordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


D 


Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmdes  i  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  'a  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  fiimi  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


• 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  filmi  fut  reproduit  grflce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  netteti  de  l'exemplaire  filmd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  film6s  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniftre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  scilon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmis  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■ 

6g  Hubert  ^ome  Bancroft 


NATIVE  RACES  OF  THE  PACIFIC  STATE.S ;   five  volumes. 
HISTORY  OF  CENTRAL  AMERICA;   three  volumes. 
HISTORY  OF  MEXICO;  six  volumes. 
HISTORY  OF  TEXAS  AND  THE  NORTH  MEXICAN  vSTATES; 

two  volumes. 
HISTORY  OF  ARIZONA  AND  NEW  MEXICO;   oue  volume. 
HISTORY  OF  CALIFORNIA ;  seven  volumes. 
HISTORY  OF  NEVADA,  COLORADO  AND  WYOMING;  one 

volume. 
HISTORY  OF  UTAH  ;  one  volume. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST;   two  volumes. 
HISTORY  OF  OREGON ;  two  volumes. 
HISTORY  OF  WASHINGTON,  IDAHO  and  MONTANA;  one 

volume. 
HISTORY  OF  BRITISH  COLUMBIA ;  one  volume. 
HISTORY  OF  ALASKA ;  one  volume. 
CALIFORNIA  PASTORAL ;  one  volume. 
CALIFORNIA  INTER-POCULA ;  one  volume. 
POPULAR  TRIBUNALS;  two  volumes. 
ESSAYS  AND  MISCELLANY  ;  one  volume. 
LITERARY  INDUSTRIES  ;  one  volume. 
CHRONICLES  OF  THB  KINGS  ;  several  volumes. 


HISTORY 


T 


Of 


BRITISH  COLUMBIA 

r 


/         >^:^-  y'^- 


?^_  .   ,^ 


V 


X 


\ 


BY 


HUBERT    HOWE    BANCROFT 


1792-1887 


SAN  FRANCISCO 
THE  HISTORY  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 

1890 


/889 


167018 


0 


^1-}  Ncecrf^hi.H. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  In  the  year  1889,  by 

HUBERT  H.  BANCROFT, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 

All  Bi'jlUa  Reserved. 


PREFACE. 


More  than  a  century  elapsed  after  a  charter  was 
granted  by  Charles  II.  to  Prince  Rupert  and  a  com- 
pany of  seventeen  others,  incorporated  as  the  Governor 
and  Company  of  Adventurers  of  England  trading  into 
Hudson's  Bay,  before  the  first  trading  posts  were  built 
among  the  almost  unpeopled  solitudes  of  British  Co- 
lumbia, or,  as  the  Mainland  was  then  termed.  New 
Caledonia.  And  yet  it  was  but  an  accident  that  the 
construction  of  these  little  picket-fenced  enclosures 
did  not  lead  to  the  acquisition  by  Great  Britain  of  an 
empire  no  less  valuable  than  is  now  the  dominion  of 
Canada. 

In  1579,  Sir  Francis  Drake  anchored  in  the  bay 
that  still  bears  his  name  on  the  coast  of  California,  and, 
in  behalf  of  his  sovereign,  took  possession  of  the  coun- 
try, which  he  called  New  Albion,  this  name  being 
afterward  applied  to  all  the  territory  northward  from 
Drake's  Bay  almost  to  the  Columbia  River.  Long 
before  the  first  American  settlers,  bringing  with  them 
their  flocks  and  herds,  had  crossed  the  snow-dad 
mountains  which  form  the  eastern  boundary  of  Ore- 
gon, forts  and  trading  posts  had  been  established  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Umpqua  and  tlie  Willamette.  Toward 
the  north  the  English  claimed,  by  right  of  discovery, 


VI 


PREFACE. 


the  country  in  the  neigliborliood  of  Nootka  Sound. 
Finally,  in  1840,  a  projiosition  was  considered  by  tho 
manager  of  tho  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  purchase 
the  Ross  colony,  established  by  tho  Russians  on  the 
coast  of  New  Albion.  That  tho  bargain  was  not 
concluded  was  probably  due  to  the  fear  of  troublesome 
complications  with  tho  United  States.  Thus  to  tlui 
right  of  discovery  and  prior  occupation  in  the  far  north- 
west would  liavc  been  added  the  right  of  purchase, 
and  if,  at  the  time  of  tho  gold  excitement,  a  few  years 
later,  the  English  had  gained  a  foothold  in  the  coun- 
try, it  is  probable  that  they  would  have  laid  claim  to  a 
part  of  the  territory  ceded  by  Mexico  to  the  United 
States  in  1848. 

Originally  a  mere  portion  of  the  vast  game  pre- 
serve of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  little  has  been 
handed  down  to  us  of  the  early  records  of  British  Co- 
lumbia, altliougb  that  little  forms  perhaps  the  most  in- 
teresting porticm  of  its  history.  Among  the  sources 
whence  I  havo  derived  the  information  that  I  now 
lay  before  the  reader,  are  valuable  manuscripts  handed 
to  me  by  some  of  the  principal  actors  in  the  events 
which  they  describe ;  as,  Roderick  Finlayaon,  James 
Deans,  and  Alexander  Caulfield  Anderson.  For  other 
portions  of  my  narrative,  I  have  also  depended  largely 
on  manuscripts,  all  of  which  have  received  due  men- 
tion in  this  volume. 

In  185G  gold  was  discovered  in  the  bed  of  the  Fra- 
sor  River,  and  in  1857  the  San  Juan  Island  difficulty 
was  approaching  a  crisis.  It  was  probably  due  in  part 
to  botli  of  these  causes,  and  also  to  the  fear  that  New 
Caledonia,  already  largely  occupied  by  Americans, 
might  be  absorbed  into  tho  territory  of  the  United 
States,  that,  in  1858,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  parlia- 


PREFACE. 


^ 


a  Sound. 
j(l  by  tlio 
purchaso 
118  on  tlio 
I  was  not 
)ul)les()nu! 
us  to  tlio 
farnorth- 
purcliaso, 
fow  years 
tlio  coun- 
claini  to  a 
le  United 

^aniG  pro- 

I  has  been 

Jritisli  Co- 

o  most  in- 

10  sources 

at  I  now 

s  handed 

le  events 

on,  James 

j^or  other 

d  largely 

due  nien- 

the  Fra- 
difficulty 
lie  in  part 
ihat  New 
merieans, 
c  United 
lie  parlia- 


ment of  Great  Britain  to  provide  for  the  government 
of  Biitish  Columbia,  by  wliicli  name  was  known  there- 
after the  domain  of  England  on  the  western  mainland 
of  North  America.  And  now  the  reign  of  the  great 
monoi)oly  had  cor.ie  to  an  end.  In  the  following  year 
Vancouver  Island  was  constituted  a  sei)arato  colony, 
and  so  remained  until  1800,  when,  on  account  of  the 
enormous  expense  of  maintaining  the  machinery  of 
government  among  a  handful  of  people,  the  two  do' 
pendencies  were  merged  into  one. 

Between  18(52  and  1871  gold  was  ship|)cd  by  the 
banks  of  liritish  Columbia  to  the  value  of  more  than 
31(),(»oO,000,  while  the  amount  of  treasure  carried  away 
by  miners  from  the  several  districts  cannot  bo  esti- 
mated at  less  than  $(>, 000,000.  But  though  rumor 
of  golden  sands  and  gold-bearing  river-lx.'ds  scildom 
fails  to  attract  hordes  of  fortune-hunters  from  all  quar- 
ters of  the  gh)be,  such  an  element  forms  by  no  means 
a  desirable!  addition  to  the  population  of  a  y«)ung,  ani- 
l)itious,  and  thriving  colony.  As  in  California,  in  Aus- 
tralia, and  in  New  Zealand,  the  wealth  thus  ac(juired 
was  seldom  turned  to  good  account;  and  little  of  it 
remained  to  enrich  the  country  whence  it  was  gath- 
ered, those  who  collected  it  becoming  not  infrequently 
a  burden  on  the  more  staid  and  industrious  portion 
of  the  community.  To  British  Columbia  Hocked  a 
heterogeneous  gathering  of  adventurers  from  the  east- 
ern  and  western  states,  from  S[>ain,  from  Mexico,  from 
California,  from  China,  and  from  Australia.  Thus  the 
necessity  for  some  stable  form  of  government  to  con- 
trol this  lawless  and  turbulent  population  made  all  the 
more  welcome  to  the  settlers  who  had  established  there 
a  permanent  home  the  organization  of  the  two  colonies 
as  a  province  of  the  dominion  of  Canada. 


vMi 


I'UKFACK. 


As  to  geographical  position,  British  Columbia  has 
the  same  advantages  over  the  Pacific  states  and  terri- 
tories as  tlie  eastern  provinces  enjoy  over  the  states 
bordering  on  the  Atlantic.  As  St  Jolin's  in  New- 
foundland is  nearer  by  some  hundreds  of  miles  to  the 
great  commercial  ports  of  northern  Europe  than  is  the 
city  of  New  York,  so  Victoria  is  nearer  to  the  great 
seaports  of  western  Asia  than  is  the  city  of  San  Fran- 
cisco. 

Not  least  among  the  factors  that  contribute  to  the 
wealth  of  British  Columbia  is  the  construction  of  the 
Canadian  Pacific  railroad,  completed  in  November 
1885,  at  the  expense  and  risk  of  the  Dominion  gov- 
ernment. On  the  lino  of  its  route,  and  at  points  nearer 
to  the  Pacific  than  to  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  are 
immense  tracts  of  fertile  land,  certain  erelong  to  be 
occupied  as  farms  and  cattle-ranges,  while  mineral 
deposits  of  untold  value  await  only  the  capital  needed 
for  their  devolopment.  Until  the  complctiim  of  this 
road,  the  commerce  of  the  province  was  comparatively 
iiisignificant ;  but  that  a  portion  of  the  rich  traffic  be- 
tween Europe  and  Asia  will  eventually  pass  through 
this  territory,  is  almost  beyond  a  peradventure. 

Compared  with  the  riper  development  of  California, 
Oregon,  and  other  Pacific  states  and  territories, 
British  Columbia  is  yet  only  in  her  infancy;  but  that 
a  brilliant  future  awaits  this  province  may  safely  be 
predicted.  As  capital  and  labor  are  attracted  to  the 
country,  and  both  can  be  obtained  at  reasonable  rates, 
the  Mainland  will  bo  more  fully  explored,  and  its 
valleys  and  plains  made  fit  for  settlement.  Although 
the  agricultural  area  is  somewhat  restricted,  it  is  never- 
theless sufficient  to  maintain  a  very  considerable  popu- 
lation; and  that  population  will  increase,  slowly  per- 


ill 


I'RKFACK. 


imbia  has 
and  torri- 
tlie  states 
in  New- 
lies  to  the 
ban  is  the 
the  great 
^an  Fran- 

ute  to  the 
ion  of  the 
November 
inion  gov- 
iiits  nearer 
board,  are 
ong  to  be 
e  mineral 
:al  needed 
m  of  this 
laratively 
traffic  be- 
through 
ire. 

ahfornia, 
rritories, 
but  that 
safely  be 
id  to  the 
|ble  rates, 
and  its 
Jthough 
is  never- 
ale  popu- 
|)wly  per- 


haps and  unsteadily  at  first,  like  the  ebb  and  flow  of 
an  advancing  tide,  there  can  be  little  doubt.  Mines, 
of  whicli  not  even  the  outcroppings  have  yet  been 
touclicd,  will  be  made  to  unfold  their  hidden  treasures, 
conimercial  ri'sources  still  latent  will  be  developed, 
and  the  fanner  will  gather  from  the  unwilling  soil 
abundant  harvests. 

Already  fleets  are  being  despatched  from  harbors 
wliicli  a  few  years  ago  were  unoccupied.  Already  the 
province  sliips  to  South  America,  to  Cliina,  and  to 
Australia  her  timber  and  spars;  to  California,  her 
coal;  to  English  ports,  her  fish,  her  silver  and  lead; 
and  to  all  tlie  world,  her  gold;  receiving  in  return  raw 
produce  and  provisions  from  the  United  States,  man- 
uiactured  goods  from  England,  and  luxuries  from 
Europe  and  Asia. 

But  in  reviewing  the  condition  and  prospects  of 
Britisli  (^olumbia,  we  must  look  beyond  her  limits,  a!id 
consider  her  as  linked  with  her  sister  colonies,  with 
Vancouver  Island  as  one  with  herself,  and  with  the 
dominion  of  Canada,  of  which  she  is  the  youngest 
iiienibcr.  The  completion  of  the  overland  railroad  has 
riveted  yet  more  closely  tlio  bonds  which  unite  all 
Britisli  subjects,  wherever  their  lot  is  cast,  and  the  an- 
ticipations held  forth  in  the  speech  from  the  throne, 
when  first  the  Mainland  was  declared  a  colony,  have 
already  been  measurably  fulfilled.  "I  hope,"  said  her 
Majesty,  "that  this  new  colony  on  the  Pacific  may  be 
hut  one  step  in  the  career  of  steady  progress,  by  which 
n»y  dominions  in  North  America  may  be  ultimately 
})(M)pled,  in  an  unbroken  chain  from  the  Atlantic  to 
tlu!  Pacific,  by  a  loyal  and  industrious  population." 


mm 


I  Tlio  Sp,ii 
uag 
—  \\ 

Oali 


Kastprn  T 

liiiiil) 

aiiil  ; 
C'liiiu 
-Tli( 

tin:  X 

uuuk 


Aboriginal 
miinioi 
trad;  111 
—Into 
Cuinpa 
Joint  I 
Sutcs- 
iiiLiliat 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  VOLUME. 


CHAPTER  I. 

8UMMAHT  OR  EAKLIKST  VOVAOES. 

PAoa 

Tlio  Spanianlaon  tlio  Coast  of  Britisli  Coliiinliia — Perez,  flecota,  uv  1  .'ir- 
tt'Uga — Expedition  of  James  Cook — Huiiim — Maurcllo — I.  IVrou-.n 
— roitltM-k  mill  Dixon — Giiiso — Lowrio-Harciuy— Mci  -(!ray — 
Kciiilntk — Martinez — Haro — Colnott — uouglus — Elim— yuinipei  - 
Galin  1''  -.'111  Valdiia — Bodega  y  Cuadra — V'ancouvei 1 


CHAPTER  n. 

GENERAL  VIEW   OF  TUB    NORTIIWKST  COAST. 

Ka.storn  Parallels— Contiguration  of  North-western  America — British  Co- 
liiinl)ia  Coast — Puget  Sound — Vaueouvcr  Island — Queen  Chailotte 
Islands  —  Climatie  Scctioua  of  tlio  Mainland  —  Xew  Caledonia  — 
Heights  of  Land — Tlio  Columbia  and  Fraser  Plateau  liasin — Skeeiia 
anil  Stikeen — Oregon,  Washington,  and  Idaho — Northwest  Coast 
Climates — The  Temperature  of  Various  Localities — Fauna  and  Flora 
— The  Alwrigines — Attitudes  of  the  Fur-traders  and  .Settlers  toward 
the  Natives — Peaceful  Regime  under  the  Great  Monopoly — The  Chi- 
nook Jargou 32 


CHAPTER  III. 

OCCUPATION   OF  THE   DOMAIN. 
1841. 

Alidiiginal  British  Columbia — Forts  and  Fur-traders — Systems  of  Com- 
iiiuiiication — Inherent  Power  of  Civilization  over  .Savagism — Fur- 
trading  Districts — Stations — Missionary  and  Agricultural. Settlement* 
— Interior  Forts — Coast  Stations — The  Itritish  and  the  Russian  Fur 
Companies — The  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  Circulating  Libiary — 
Joint  Occupancy  of  the  Northwest  Coast  hy  E.";land  and  the  United 
.States — TheTreatj'  Dividing  the  Domain — The  Northwest  Coast  Im- 
mediately Prior  to  the  Begiiming  of  British  Coluinbiu  liistiiy  Projicr 

(xli 


xtt 


CONTENTS. 


— Visit  of  Douglas  to  tiie  Several  Posts — Sitka  nnil  Ktholin — Quam'l 
l>utweeii  Douglas  and  McNeill — Survey  iif  tliu  Stikeen  uuJ  Tuku  Re- 
gion—lleferi.'uce8  for  This  und  the  Preceding  Cliapter 52 


CHAPTER  r\^ 

CAMOSDN   ANIi  ESQUIMALT. 
1S42. 

Necessitien  of  a  Northern  Metropolitan  Post — Encroachments  of  Settlers 
on  the  Colnnil)ia — The  Dividing  Line — Growing;  Importance  of  Agri- 
cnltiire — The  Question  of  Locality — A  Northern  licmle/.vous  for 
\V  aaU'rs — The  ISouthem  End  of  Vancouver  Island — Its  Advantageous 
Po^:ition — Douglas  Surveys  the  Harbors — Cainosuu  and  Esqiiinialt 
(Joinpared — Report  of  Douglas 78 


CHAPTER  V. 

rOtJNDING   OK  FORT  CAMUyDN. 

ExprditioTj  from  Fort  Vancouver — Source  of  Agricultural  Supplies — Tho 
Cowlitz  Country — Embark  on  the  lifaver — Visit  to  the  Clallams 
— Anchor  in  Camosun  Ilarbor — Beautici  of  the  Surroundings — Abo- 
riginal Occupants — Selection  of  a  Site — Two  Points  Attract  Atten- 
tion—Location Settled— The  Jesuit,  Bolduc — His  Conference  with 
the  Natives — The  Fort-builders  Begin  Operations — Portentous  Signs 
— Uoliliic  Celebrates  Mass — He  Visits  Whidbey  Island — Douglas 
Departs  for  Tako — Abandonment  of  That  Post,  and  also  of  Fort  Mc- 
Loughlin — Return  of  Douglas  to  Camos\m  with  Reenforccnients — 
Tiie  Stockade  Erected— Arrival  of  the  Cadhnro — Ross  Placed  in  Com- 
mand— Departure  of  Douglas  with  the  Beaver  and  the  Cudboro .... 


CHAPTER  VI. 

AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN 
1844. 

Death  of  Commander  Ross — Roderick  Finlayson — Sketch  of  his  Career — 
At  Forts  Tako  and  Simpson — Bibliographical  Note  on  his  Manu- 
script—  His  Character — First  Cargo  of  Live-stock — The  Savages 
Make  Game  of  the  Cattle — Redress  Demanded  and  Refused— War 
Declared — Tsoughilam  and  Tsilalthach  with  their  Allies  Attack  tho 
Fort — Stiategy  of  Finlayson— Bloodless  Victory — Tho  Pipe  of  Peace 
is  Smoked — Descriptions  of  the  Fortress — Warro  and  Vavasour — 
l>"rthold  Seemann — Finlayson 's  Letter — James  Deans — His  Charac- 
ter jipi  Wunuscript — Interesting  and  Minute  Description  of  the  Fort 
— Under  Orders  of  Douglas  Fort  Camosun  was  Built  without  a  Nail. 


102 


CONTENTS. 


xiii 


— Quam'l 
Tako  Kc- 


PAOB 


nf  Settlers 
ue  of  Ajjri- 
ezvoiis  for 
I'antageous 
Esqiiiruult 


78 


iplies — Tho 

lu  Clallains 

lugs — Abo- 

Iract  Atten- 

rt'tice  with 

itoiis  SigU8 

jl — Douglas 

f  Fort  Mc- 

■cenienta — 

:ed  iu  Com- 

idboro,... 


92 


1  Career — 

\na  Maiiu- 

Savages 

Ised — War 

Attack  tlie 
le  of  Puaiie 

avasour — 

lis  Cliarac- 

tlio  Kort 

it  a  Null. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

CAMOSDN,  ALBERT,  \nCTORIA. 
1845. 


PAOS 


102 


Extermination  of  Sav&ge  Nomenclature — Camoaun  Becomes  First  Al- 
bert, anil  then  Victoria — Food  Supply — Douglas'  Motto,  'Great 
Euds  from  Small  Means' — Woo<lcn  Ploughs  and  Rope  Harness — 
A  More  Liberal  Economy  Sometimes  Profitable — Outward-bound 
Ships  from  England  now  Come  Directly  Hither — Wiialing  Fleets — 
Tho  Mission  of  the  America — Captain  Gordon  as  a  Sportsman — Hos- 
pitality at  Fort  Victoria — '  Fifty-four  Forty  or  Fight ' — More  Ves- 
sels of  War  at  Victoria — Also  Surveyors  and  Appraisers  of  Territories 
— Tiio  Northwest  Coast  not  Worth  Fighting  for — Adventures  of  Paul 
Kane— Fort  Victoria  in  Early  Days 117 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  SHUSHWAP  CONijPIEAOT. 
1840. 

Kamloop— The  Old  Fort  and  the  New — The  Romance  of  Pur-trading — 
Tlie  Lordly  Aboriginal  and  his  Home — John  Tod,  King  of  Kamloop 
— His  Physique  and  Character — Lolo,  a  Ruler  among  the  Shushwaps 
— Wlio  and  What  He  was — His  Kingdom  for  a  Horse — Annual  Sal- 
mon Expedition  to  the  Eraser — Information  of  the  Conspiracy — Lolo 
Retires  from  before  his  Friends — Tod  to  the  Rescue — One  Man 
against  Three  Hundred — Small-pox  as  a  Weapon — A  Signal  Victory 
— Chief  Nicola  Measures  Wits  with  Mr  Tod — And  is  Found  Want>- 
ing 134 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Anderson's  explorations. 
1840-1847. 
Necessity  of  a  New  Route  between  tlje  British  Columbia  Seaboard  and  New 
Caledonia — Mustbo  Wholly  within  British  Territory — Anderson  Pro- 
poses Explorations — Authority  and  Means  Granted — Biograpical  and 
Bibliographical  Note  of  Anderson  and  hi.^  AL-muscript  History — Sets 
out  from  Alexandria — Proceeds  to  Kamloop — Thence  Explores  by 
Way  of  Anderson  and  Harrison  Lakes  to  Langley — Returns  by  Way 
of  the  Coquihalla,  S'milkameen,  and  Lake  Nicola — Second  Expedi- 
tion along  Thompson  and  Eraser  Rivers — Back  by  Kequeloose  and 
the  New  Similkameen  Trail — Report  and  Suggestions 1">7 

CHAPTER  X. 

TALE  AND  HOPE   BSTABLLSHED. 
1848-184<». 

Establishment  on  the  Fraser  at  tiio  Lauding  of  thd  Sacliincos — Jamea 
Murray  Yale — Causes  Which  Led  to  the  Building  of  Fort  ¥al«^ 


^ 


mmm 


xir  CONTENTS. 

PAri« 
Orders  Oivcn  Interior  Traders  to  Break  their  Way  tlirougli  to  Lang- 
ley — Three  Biig:ides  Join  for  That  Purpose — The  Ilontu  Chosen  not 
Sulislaotory — An<ierson's  Proposal — Building  of  Fort  Hope — A  New 
lloute  Attempted — It  Proves  Woi-se  than  the  Pii'st — Joseph  \V.  Mc- 
Kay on  the  North  Coast— Sharp  Practice  between  English  and  Rus- 
sian Traders — The  Coii-daiice  in  Northern  Waters — EtFect  in  British 
Coluniliiii  of  the  California  Gold  Discovery — Bags  of  Gold-dust  at 
Fort  Victoria — The  Excitement  in  the  Interior J 71 

CHAPTER  XI. 

ESTABLISHIXO  FORTS   KUPERT  AND  NANAIMO. 

1849-1852. 
A  New  Factor,  Coal — The  Existence  of  This  Mineral  Known  from  the 
Earliest  Times — Pacilic  Cual-liehls — Discovery  at  Beaver  Harbor — 
The  QuacUoUs  and  the  Fort  McLoughlin  Blacksmith — Tolmie  Ap- 
pears— Tlie  Notable  John  Duun — Warre  and  Vavasour  Report  the 
Discovery — Which  Attracts  the  Attention  of  Government — Foit 
Rupert  Built — Muir  and  his  Scotch  Miners  Arrive — Another  Arrival 
— Examinations  and  Tests — Failure  at  Fort  Rupert — Discovery  of 
Coal  at  Nanaimo  Harbor — Another  Blacksmith  .'Story — McKay  to 
the  Proof— Muir  Moves  from  Fort  Rupert — Fort  Nanaimo  Built — 
Visit  of  Douglas — Minor  Discoveries IM 

CHAPTER  XII. 

CK^^^VN  GUANT  OF  VANCOUVEH  ISLAND  TO  THE  HODSON'S  BAT  COMPANY. 

1849. 

Spirit  of  Monopoly — Tlie  Adventurers  of  England  Jlore  Jealous  of  Brit- 
ish Subjects  than  of  Foreigners — Colonization  to  bo  Retarded  by 
Favorinj,'  ratiier  than  by  Opposing  It — The  Grant  Solicited  as  Early 
as  1S37 — W'ocs  of  tiie  Monopoly — Failure  to  Obtain  tiio  Grant  at 
This  Time — Fur-hunting  and  Settlement  Antagonistic — Tho  Liquor 
TrafBc— The  Company  Apply  for  the  Grant — Startling  Pi'oposal — 
Intluence  of  United  States  Acquisitions  on  Britisii  Pacilic  Territory 
— Piety  a  Plea  for  Power — The  Fur-trade  and  Colonization  Again — 
Tho  Draft  Perfected — Tho  Mainland — Preamble  and  Grant — Condi- 
tions of  Grant — DifTurences  of  Opinion  respecting  the  Wisdom  of 
tho  Measure 'JU'2  i 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  COLONY  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND   UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAT  COMPANY  BiOIME, 

1849-1859. 
Prospectus  and  Advertisement  for  Colonists — Qualifications  of  tho  Com- 
pany for  Colonizing — Objections  Raised — They  were  Fur-traders — 
And  yet  Tlit;y  liad  Ships  and  Money — The  Puget  Sound  Company 


CONTENTS. 


[h  to  Lang- 
Chosen  not 
K' — A  New 
ph  W.  Me- 
h  and  Ilus- 
;  in  British 
old-dust  at 


PAOI 


171 


v\\  from  the 
r  llarhor — 
Tolniie  Ap- 
Ri.'port  the 
meat — Foi~t 
htT  Arrival 
discovery  of 
—McKay  to 
inio  Built — 


IM 


AY  COMPANY. 

oua  of  Brit- 
etarik'd  by 
ed  as  Early 
o  Grant  at 
[Ihi;  Liquor 

I'loposal — 
Torritory 

u  Again — 
lilt — Condi- 

tViadoin  of 


'J(I2 


llPANV  KEGIJIE, 

the  Com- 
•tradci-8 — 
I  Cunipuuy 


would  have  a  Share — No  Easy  Matter  to  Please  All — Land  One 
Pound  an  Aero — The  Scheme  a  Foreordained  I'^ailure — Price  of  Land 
too  High — The  Gold-fields  of  California  One  Cause  of  the  Faihire — 
Vancouver  Island  in  Parliament — The  Karl  of  Lincoln,  Lord  Klgin, 
and  Mr  Gladstone  on  the  Situation — New  Attitude  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  iu  Relation  to  the  Natives 223 

CHAPTER  XrV. 

TWO  ORIGINAL  CIIARACTEn.S. 

The  Doctor  and  the  Divine — Robert  J.  Staines — A  Man  of  Frills — His 
Interview  with  the  King  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands— The  Man  Mis- 
taken for  the  Master — His  Arrival  at  Viv,toria — Mud — Parson  and 
School-teacher — Mrs  Staines  a  Most  Estimable  Lady — Quarrel  with 
the  Company — Joins  the  Settler's  Faction — He  Cultivates  Swine — 
The  Settlers  Steal  his  Pi;,'S — Hot  Litigations — His  Sad  End — The 
Doctor-Colonist  —  John  Sebastian  Helmckeu  —  His  Physique  and 
Character — Eaters  Politics — Accepts  OlHce  under  the  Governor — 
Discovers  his  Mistake — A  ud  Becomes  a  Supporter  of  the  Monopolists  238 

CHAPTER  Xy. 

SETTLEMENT    OF  VANCOUVEU  ISLAND. 
1849-1857. 

Wliat  are  Settlers? — Not  Fur-traders — Nor  Coal-miners — Nor  yet  tha 
Nootka  Diplomatists — The  Mainland  not  Included  in  the  Coloniza- 
tion Scheme — Tlie  Mormons  Cast  an  Eye  upon  the  Island — Woman, 
Red  and  White — The  Monopolists  Seize  McKenzie,  Skinner,  McAu- 
ley,  and  Parsons — Boiuv  Fide  Settlers  Oljliged  to  Take  Wiiat  They  can 
Get — W.  Cohinhouu  Grant — His  Settlement  at  Soke  Harbor — Lease 
to  Thomas  Muuroe — Grant  Sella  Soke  to  tiie  Muirs — James  Cooper, 
Sailor,  Trader,  and  Agriculturist — Builds  One  of  the  Many  First 
Vessels — Ho  Takes  up  I^nd  at  Metchosin — Thomas  Blenkhorn — 
The  Jlarpooner,  Xormnn  Moiriaon,  and  the  Toi'y  Bring  Settlers — 
The  Town  of  Victoria  Laid  out — Wails  from  Fort  Victoria — James 
Deans  Arrives— Baillie  and  Langford — Progress  of  Settlement 247 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

OOVEEXMENT   ESTAULISUED. 

1850-1852. 
James  Douglas  Nominated  by  Sir  John  Pelly  for  Governor — Earl  Grey 
Pu;fuses  to  Appoint  Him — Richard  Blanshard  Chosen — His  Arrival 
ui  Victoria — Reads  his  Commission — Visits  Fort  Rupert— Relative 
Attitudes  of  the  Governor  and  tlio  Fur  Company — Ruler  of  the 
Queen's  Wihlerucss — Settlers  and  Subjects — No  Material  for  a  Coun- 
cil—Noniiuatioa  of  Council  Postponed — John  Sebastian  llohnckeu 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 


PAOI 

Appointeil  Mngistrate  at  Fort  Rupert — The  Murdered  Deserters — 
Character  of  Blanshiknl — His  Unpleasant  Position — Heavy  Kxpeiises 
and  111  Health — Wiiat  the  Settlers  Think  of  It — lilanshiird  Appoints 
a  Council,  Resigns,  Shakes  the  Dust  from  his  Feut,  and  Departs 
from  the  Island — James  Douglas  Appointed  Governor tC"? 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

JAMES   DO0OLAS. 

Birth  and  Education — Enters  the  Service  of  the  Northwest  Company — 
Friendship  of  McLoughliu — Opportunity — What  He  should  Know — 
His  Life  in  New  Caledonia — Overcome  by  Love — Meets  and  Marries 
Nclia  Connolly — KstiiMislies  Fort  Connolly — His  Attention  to  Busi- 
ness and  his  Strict  Oliedience — Becomes  Chief  Trader — Then  Chief 
Factor — Visits  California — Accountant  and  General  Superintendent 
of  Forts — Active  in  the  Establishment  of  Fort  Victoria — His  Cold- 
ness toward  Emigrants — Quarrels  with  McLoughlin — Removes  to 
Victoria — Is  Made  Governor — And  Knighted — Visits  Europe — Phy- 
sique au  J  Character — Douglas  and  McLoughliu  Compared 285 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THK  ISLAND    UNDKK    DO0OLA3. 
1851-1859. 

Reconciliation  of  Antagonistic  Elements — The  Terms  of  Settlement  Un- 
just and  Impolitic — The  Inauguration  of  Government  Premature — 
No  Governmnent  but  the  Best  Government — Continuance  of  the 
Domination  of  the  Monopoly — The  Puget  Sound  Company — Provis- 
ions of  the  Crown  Grant  in  Regard  to  Government — Expiration  of 
the  First  Five-year  Term  and  Renewal — The  Offices  of  Governor 
and  Magistrate  at  First  United — Illegality  of  Delegating  Ir.iperial 
Authority  to  a  Colonial  Governor  in  Council — Organization  of  a 
House  of  Assembly — Farcical  Performances  of  the  First  Legislators — 
The  Wild  Beasts  and  Savages  Survive  the  Result — Touching  Dis- 
play of  Fiiinily  Allectiou  in  the  Manipulatiim  of  Government  AH'airs 
— Douglas;  Compelled  to  Relinquish  Some  Portion  of  his  Honors  and 
Emoluuicnts 310] 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  JCUICIARY. 

185.3- 1 859. 
The  Questions  of  Vancouver  Island  Government  and  Justice  in  Home 
Political  Circles — There  is  No  Money  in  It — And  therefore  They  may 
Safely  be  Left  to  Themselves — Blanshard,  the  First  Governor,  Like- 
wise the  First  Judge — Douglas  as  aM;ui-tanierand  Measurer  of  Retri- 
bution— The    TlietU  and   the    TriiicomuJ.ee   Expeditious — Bloodless 


CONTENTS. 


xvii 


vkom 


jsprters — 
Kxpeiises 
Appoints 
\  Departs 


m 


ompany — 
(I  Know— 
ul  Marries 
m  to  Busi- 
riieu  Chief 
■viutcnilent 
-Hi3  Cold- 
leniovea  to 
rope— Phy- 


285 


,lemont  Un- 
rematiire — 
nee  of   the 
ly— Provia- 
piiation  of 
f  Ciovonior 
jig  Iiiiperial 
iition   of  a 
gislators — 
ichinij  Dis- 
lieiit  Art'airs 
lonors  and 


Victory  over  the  Cowichins— Tlie  Brighest  Virtue  of  James  Douglas — 
David  Cameron  Made  Chief  Justice — His  Antecedeuts,  Duticn,  and 
End— His  Successors,  Needham  and  Begbie — Revenue — LauiI  and 
Liquor — The  Mighty  Power  of  Rum 329 

CHAPTER  XX. 

TBE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEUENT. 
18.58. 

Gold!  Hail  All-powerful  and  Most  Worshipfuli — Its  Presence  not  Se- 
cretly Known  to  the  Fur-traders — Discovery  on  Vancouver  Island 
— On  Queen  Charlotte  Islands — On  Skeena  River — In  the  Cascade 
Mountains  of  Washington— At  Colville — At  Kamloop— On  Thomp- 
son River — On  Eraser  River — Tlie  Tidings  Spread — The  Matter 
Laid  before  Government — Effect  on  California — Ruali  to  the  Mines — 
Routes  and  Methoils  of  Transportation— Whatcom  versus  Victoria — 
Trail-making — Overland  Expeditions — Licenses  and  Imposts — Effect 
on  the  Fur-traders 341 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

DEATH  OF  THE  UONOPOLT — THE  COLONT  OF  BRITISH  COLUMBIA  ESTABLISHED. 

1857-1858. 

Shall  the  Charter  be  Renewed?— Discussion  of  the  Question  in  Parlia- 
ment— Referred  to  a  Select  Committee— Who  Think  the  Charter 
should  not  be  Renewed — Gold  as  a  Revolutionist — Douglas  Stands 
I  by  for  England — Late  Fur  Factors — Dugald  McTavisli — William 
Charles — The  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  License  of  Exclusive  Trade 
with  tlie  Natives  of  the  Mainland  Revoked — Repurchase  of  the 
Island  of  Vancouver  by  the  Imperial  Government — Change  of  Com- 
pany Organization — Canada  Purchases  Rupert  Land  and  the  North- 
west Territory — Liberal  and  Humane  Policy  of  the  Company  in 
Regard  to  Gold-seekers  and  Speculators 376 


3101 


■o  in  Home 

1  They  may 

I'lior,  Like- 

erof  Retri- 

-BloodlusB 


CHAPTER  XXn. 

GOVERNMENT  uF  THE  MAINLAND. 

1858-1863. 

V.uthority  at  Victoria  Disregarded  by  the  First  Comers — Doug'.as  Looks 
into  Affairs — What  the  Natives  Think  of  It — Douglas  '.a  Law  and 
Magistrate  Maker — Indian  Wars — Overtures  of  tlie  Imi>crial  Govern- 
ment to  Douglas — Revenue — Loan — Public  Lands—  Miners'  License 
—The  British  Cry  Economy — Putting  Things  in  Order — The  Unau- 
thorized Acts  of  Douglas  Legalized — Arrival  of  British  Vessels  of 
War — Men  of  Authority  Appear — The  United  States  Represented 
—Inauguration  of  the  Governor  at  Langloy — The  Moody-McGowan 
Aflfray — >iew  Westminster  Founded — Officers  of  the  New  Govern- 
ment— Smuggling 38t 

Huz.  Barr,  Col.    k 


iviU 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTEB  XXin. 

ADMINISTRATION   OF  JC8TICB. 

1856-1880. 


vAoa 


Justice  withont  Form — Inauguration  of  the  Judiciary  System — Jurisdic- 
tion of  Canadian  Courts  Withdrawn — Pearkes  Drafts  a  Plan  for  the 
Mainland — Lytton  Refers  the  Matter  to  Begbie — The  Gold-fields 
Act — Appointment  of  Matthew  Baillie  Begliie — On  Uniting  the 
Courts  Disestablished  and  Reorganized — Needham  Declines  to  Re- 
tire— Two  Courts  Roth  Supreme — Character  of  Begbie — He  Assists 
Douglas  in  Organizing  (Government — Justice  at  Cariboo — Jurors 
Rebuked — Stipendiary  Magistrates — Justice  at  Kootenai  and  Met- 
lahkatlah — Convict  Labor — Nobles  along  the  Border — Vigilance 
Committee 419 


CHAPTER  XXrV. 

FRASER  RIVER  HIMINO  AND  SETTLEMENT. 

1858-1878. 
New  Developments  in  the  History  of  Mining — Character  of  the  Mines — 
Mining  Towns — Sluicing  at  Hope  and  Yale — Routes  to  the  Dig^'ings 
— Steam  on  the  Fraser — Boats  Ascend  to  Hope  and  Yale — Extensica 
of  Mining  Area — Rush  to  Lytton — Roadj — Prospectors  Push  North- 
ward— Bars  Named — Field — Region  Hound  Lilloet — Fountain,  Ca- 
noe, Quesnel,  and  Thompson  Mines — Quartz  on  Cherry  Creek — The 
Mines  of  the  Fraser  Valley — Character  of  the  Dry-diggings — Terrace 
Composition — Gold  Distribution  and  Yield 438 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRT. 

Cariboo  Region — Its  Deposits — New  Mining  Era — Golden  Dreams — 
Early  Developments — Roads  and  Mountain  Trails — The  Great  Pros- 
pectors— The  Influx — Quesnel  River  Mines — Horsefly  and  Quesnel 
Lake— Keitbley  and  its  Town— Harvey  and  Cunningham  Creeks — 
Antler  Creek  Riches— Grouse  Creek 47i  i 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

HIMINO  IN  CARIBOO. 

1863-1882. 
Rise  of  William  Creek — ^Rich  Discoveries — Large  Yield — Decline — Deep 
Mining — Marysville  Lead — Drainage  Operations — Richfield— Mos- 
quito and  Mustang  Creeks — Outskirt  Placers— Lightning  Creek — 
Van  Winkle — Decline  and  Revival — Lowbee — CaSon  Creek  and  its 
Quartz — Character  of  Cariboo  Veins — Summary  of  Yield — Cariboo 
Lifa— The  Low  and  the  Intellectual 49i| 


CONTENTS. 


sU 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

CPPXB  COLUMBIA  MINIS. 

1864-1882. 

Colnmbia  River  Deposits — Fine-gold  Theory — Ancient  River-beds — 
Early  Diggings — Kootenai  Excitement — Wild  Horse  Greek — Sas- 
katchewan Expedition — Perry  Greek — Hydraulics — Subordinate  Dis- 
tricts, Forty-nine  Creek,  Mooyie  River — Big  Bend — Routes  and  In- 
flux— French,  McGulIoch,  and  Games  Greeks— Later  Exploration — 
Extent  of  the  Auriferous  Region — Terrace  Gravels — Rock  Creek — 
Okanagan  and  Similkameen  Districts 620 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

OOLD  DISOOVSRIES  IN    THE  TAB  NOBTH. 

1861-1882. 

)mineca  Country — Peace  River  Prospected — Government  Expedition — 
Prospecting  Cha-^o — Vitale  Creek — Omineca  Overrated — Germansen 
Creek — Sluicing — Manson  and  Lost  Creeks — Finlay  River — The 
Skeena  and  Coast  Placers — Prospects  of  Settlements — Cause  of  De- 
cline— The  Stikeen  Explored — Thibert's  Discovery— Cassiar  Placers 
— Dease  Lake  Tributaries 643 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

COAL. 

ftlbearing  Formations  East  and  West — California,  Oregon,  and  Wash> 
ington  Fields  Compared— British  Columbia  Coal-bearing  Formations 
—Bituminous,  Lignite,  and  Anthracite — Brown's  Localities — Rich- 
ardson's Trough — Beaver  Harbor — Quatsino  Harbor — Nanaimo— The 
Nanaimo  Coal  Company — ^The  Vancouver  Company— The  Welling- 
ton Company — Progress  of  Development  at  Nanaimo — Dunsmuir*s 
Adventures — The  Nanaimo  Stone  Quarry — The  Harewood  Mine — 
Workings  of  the  Vancouver  Colliery — Queen  Charlotte  Islands  An- 
thracite— Attempted  Development  of  the  Mines — Brown  and  Rich- 
ardson's Visits — Glaudot  and  Isherwood's  Analyses — Comox  and 
Bayne  Sound — Developments — Discoveries  on  the  Mainland — Minis- 
ters' Reports — Statutory  Regulatiuus — Summary 666 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

OMION  AND  OONrEDKRATION. 

1863-1871. 
Legislative  Council  Organized  for  British  Columbia — ^Inaugural  Ad- 
dress of  Governor  Douglas — A  Meek  Response — Separate  Rulers  Ap- 
pointed for  the  Two  Colonies— A  Cordial  Leave-taking— Review  of 
Douglas'  Administration — Regime  of  Frederick  Seymour — Excessive 


XX 


CONTENTS. 


Taxation— Union  of  the  Colonies — The  British  North  America  Act — 
Anthony  Musgrave  Governor — British  Columbia  a  Province  of  the 
Dominion — A  Legislative  Assembly  Substituted  for  the  Council — 
Condition  of  the  Province — Indian  Policy  of  the  United  States  and 
of  Great  Britain 682 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

THX  SAN  jaAN    ISLAND  DlirFlC'in.TT. 

1854-1872. 
The  Archipelago  de  Haro^San  Juan  Island  Occupied  by  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company — Customs  Dues  Demanded  for  the  United  States — 
Commissioners  Appointed — Their  Arguments— Indian  Troubles — 
The  Affair  of  the  Hog — A  Military  Post  Established  by  General 
Harney — Arrival  of  British  Men-of-war — And  of  the  U.  S.  Steamer 
JUasnach  .aellt — Protest  of  Douglas — Harney's  Reply — Landing  of 
U.  S.  Troops— Casey's  Trip  to  Esquimalt — Its  Result — A  Compro- 
mise Offered  by  Lord  Lyons — ^Attitude  of  President  Buchanan — Gen- 
eral Scott  Ordered  to  the  Pacific  Coast — Negotiations — Harney 
Recalled — Arbitration  and  Decision 60S 


CHAPTER  XXXn. 

THB  CANADIAN  PAOIFIO  BAILWAT. 

1871-1874. 
Tlie  Tide  of  Westward-bound  Migration — Reasons  for  and  against  the 
Railway  Project — ^The  Bill  Carried  in  the  Commons — Resolution 
Passed  by  the  Canadian  Parliament — Policy  of  the  British  and  Cana- 
dian Governments — Preliminary  Surveys — The  Hugh  Allan  Con- 
tract— A  Modest  Demand — The  Contract  Annulled — Change  of 
Administration — James  D.  Edgar's  Negotiations — Their  Failure  and 
its  Cause — Mackenzie's  Railway  Scheme — Objections  to  bis  Project. 


640 


CHAPTER  XXXm. 

THK  CANADIAN  FACIFIO  BAILWAT. 

1874-1885. 
The  Carnarvon  Terms — Their  Acceptance — Defeat  of  the  Esqnimalt  and 
Nanaimo  Railway  Bill — The  Provincial  Legislature's  Petition  to  her 
Majesty — Rejoinder  of  the  Dominion  Government — Visit  of  the  Karl 
of  DufTerin — His  Speech  at  Victoria — Threats  of  Secession — A  Sec- 
ond Petition  to  the  Queen — Proposed  Annexation  to  the  United 
States— One  More  Petition — Contract  with  the  Syndicate — Engineer- 
ing Difficulties — Port  Moody— Reasons  for  its  Selection  as  the  Ter- 
minus-Completion of  the  Line — A  Costly  Undertaking — The  Road 
Built  as  a  National  Highway 


Victoria— Tl 
riaCoal, 
Lytton- 
Indiau  \ 
of  the  P 
Churchei 
braries.. 


Agricultural 
Salmon-c! 
Alaska  B 
Provinces 
Revenue 
Returns— 


Index. 


661 


CONTENTS. 


nt 


I  Act — 

of  the 

uncil — 

tea  and 


PAM 


682 


[adson'a 
Jtatea — 
mMes — 
General 
Steamer 
ding  of 
Dompro- 
n — Gen- 
-Harney 


605 


Linst  the 
lolution 
id  Cana- 
M  Con- 

nge  of 
lure  and 

:oject.  640 


lalt  and 

to  her 
Ihe  Rarl 
\a  Seo- 
lUnited 
Igineer- 
lie  Ter- 

iRoad 


661 


CHAPTER  XXXIY 

POLITICS  AND  OOVEKNlfUrr. 

1870-1886, 

FAOI 

Tlie  Victoria  and  Esquimalt  Railway — Protest  of  the  Mainland  Popula- 
lation— The  Carnarvon  Club — Secession  or  the  Carnarvon  Terms — 
Defeat  of  the  Elliott  Ministry — A  Lively  Debate — Tlie  Legislature 
Votes  for  Separation— Discontent  in  the  Capital — Cornwall  Ap- 
pointed Cliief  Magistrate — Government  of  British  Columbia — The 
Suffrage — Proceedings  of  the  Legislature— The  Judiciary 6M 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

SETTLEMENTS,    MISSIONS,   AND  EDnOATION. 

1861-1886. 
Victoria — The  Ubiquitous  Chinaman — Esquimalt — Nanaimo — The  Victo- 
ria Coal,  Mining,  and  Land  Company — New  Westminster — Langley — 
Lytton — Savona's  Ferry — Kamloop — Clinton — Eta.kerville — Yale — 
Indian  Missions  and  Missionaries — Metlakathla — Forts — LidiiFerence 
of  the  Provincial  Government — Civilization  of  the  Native  Tribes — 
Churches — Charitable  Societies — Public  Schools — Journalism — Li- 
braries  707 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

IKDUSTRIES,   COMMERCE,  AMD    FINAMOJL 

1880-1886. 

Agricultural  Areao — Public  Lands — Stock-raising — Fruits — Fisheries — 
Salmon-canning — Manufactures — Gold-nuning  —  Coal-mining — The 
Alaska  Boundary — Exports  and  Imports — Comparison  with  Other 
Provinces — Banking — Insurance — Shipping — Inland  Navigation — 
Revenue  and  Expenditure — Public  Debt — Comparison  of  Customs 
Returns — Elements  of  Prosperity — Biographical — Bibliograhical ....  740 


Inskx. 


775 


HIST 


Ab-sa-ra-ka 
Allen  (Alex 
Anderson  U 
book  a 
Indian 
1863,  7; 
Anderson  {J 
Anderson  (J 
XX  vi.  1( 
Annals  of  B: 
Applegate  (i 
Armstrong  ( 
Arrowsmith 
Island, 
Astoria,  Or., 
Atlantic  Moi 

Ballantyne  (] 

Ballon  (Willi 

Bancroft  (Hu 

Bancroft  (Hu 

Bancroft  (Hu 

Bancroft  (Hu 

Bancroft  (Hu 

Bancroft  (Hul 

Bancroft  (Hu 

1875.  5v 

Bancroft  (Hul 

Biincroft  Libr 

ing  Ban  CI 

Bancroft  Libn 

British  C( 

uierce. 

Bancroft's  Hai 

Barkersville,  ( 

Barrett-Lenna) 

%ley(C.  A.) 

Begbie  (Matth 

Lend.  Geo 

Blanshard  (Ric 

,       1851.     Ne' 

Bolduc  (J.  B.  2 

Missions,  £ 


ATJTHOEirrES    QUOTED 

IN  THE 

niSTORT   or   BRITISH   COLUMBIA. 


Ab-sa-ra-ka,  Home  of  the  Crows.     Philadelphia,  1868, 

Allen  (Alexander),  Cariboo  and  the  Mines  of  British  Columbia.     MS. 

Anderson  (Alexander  Cauliield),  Dominion  at  the  West.  Victoria,  1872;  Hand- 
book and  Map  to  the  Gold  Region.  San  Francisco,  1858;  Notes  on  the 
Indian  Tribes  of  British  North  America.  In  Historical  Mag.,  March 
1863,  73;  Notes  on  North  Western  America.     Montreal,  1876. 

Anderson  (Alexander  Cauliield),  North- West  Coast  History.     MS. 

Anderson  (James),  Letter  to  Sir  George  Simpson.  In  Lond.  Oeog.  See.,  Jour., 
xxvi.  18. 

Atmals  of  British  Legislation.     London,  1856  et  seq,  4to. 

Applegate  (Jesse),  Views  of  Oregon  History.     MS. 

Armstrong  (A.  N.),  Oregon.     Chicago,  1857. 

Arrowsmith  (John),  Map  of  the  Pp  ■  inces  of  British  Columbia  and  Vancouver 
Island.     London,  1859. 

Astoria,  Or.,  Astorian,  Marine  Gazette. 

Atlantic  Monthly.     Boston,  1858  et  seq, 

Ballantyne  (Robert  M.),  Hudson's  Bay.     Edinburgh,  1848 

Ballou  (William  T.),  Adventures.     MS. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Alaska. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  California. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Nevada. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Northwest  Coast. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Oregon. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Washington,  Idaho,  and  Montana. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  Native  Races  of  the  Pacific  States.  New  York, 
1875.  5  vols. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  Popular  Tribunals. 

B;incroft  Library  MSS.  Scrap-books  containing  classified  notes  used  in  writ- 
ing Bancroft's  works. 

Bancroft  Library  Newspaper  Scraps,  classified  under  the  following  headings; 
British  Columbia,  Fisheries,  Shipping  and  Navigation,  Trade  and  Com- 
merce. 

Bancroft's  Hand-Book  of  Mining.     San  Francisco,  1861. 

Barkersville,  Cariboo  Sentinel. 

Barrett-Lennard  (C.  E.),  Travels  in  British  Columbia.     London,  1862. 

Bayley  (C.  A.),  Vancouver  Island  Early  Life.     MS. 

Bcgbie  (Matthew  B.),  Journey  into  the  Interior  of  British  Columbia.  In 
Lond.  Geog.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxxi.  2.37. 

Blanshard  (Richard),  Vancouver  Island.  Despatches,  26  Dec.  1849  to  30  Aug. 
1851.     New  Westminster,  n.  d. 

Bolduc  (J.  B.  Z.),  Letter  to  Mr  Cayenne,  15  Feb.  1844.  In  De  Smtt's  Or. 
Missions,  51, 

(xilil) 


I  it 


J.  K 


in 

IP  ;^^« 


i^  'li 


xx:* 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


Springfield,  1866;  Oiir  New  We»t. 
Victoria, 


y 


H<)wlc8  (Sainnol),  AcrosH  tho  ('(intineut. 

Hartford,  etc.,  iNtil). 
liritiiih  Culuiiiliia  Agriculturul  and  Horticultural  Society.    Reports, 

1873  ct  80(|. 

BritiHli  Colunil)ia,  Ouido  to  tho  I'rovinco  of.     Victoria,  1877. 

hritiHli  (.'oIuiul)ia,  Muiiiorial  iu  Cunuuctioii  witli  tliu  Uiiiiiicca  Road  Petition, 
n.  pi.,  n.  d. 

British  C(ilund)ia  Milling  and  Alining  Company,  Prospectus,     Victoria,  1878. 

Briti.sh  Columhia  Milling  >Stock  Board.     t'oiiHtitution.     Victoria,  lh78, 

Britiuh  Columbia  I'ultlic  Uocuincnts  cited  in  my  notes  by  their  titles  and 
dates,  tho  title  conHisting  of  'British  Columbia,'  foUowod  by  one  of  tiio 
following  headings:  Acts;  Collection  of  Ai'ts,  Ordinances,  and  Proclama- 
tion; Consoliilated  Statutes;  Correspondence  on  tiio  Custom  Stations 
between  Victoria  and  Kootenay:  Kxpenditure;  Indian  Liind  Question; 
Journals  of  Legi.dativo  Assembly;  Journals  of  Legi.sliitivo  Council;  L<inds 
and  Works;  Li.st  of  Voters;  Minister  of  Mines'  Reports;  Ordinances; 
Overland  Coach  Road;  Papers  Relating  to  Aflfairs — Further  Papers;  Publiu 
Scliools;  Registrar  of  Birtlis,  Deaths,  and  Marriages;  Sessional  Papers; 
Statutes, 

British  Columbia  Railway  Question,  Opinions  of  tlie  English  Press.  Victoria, 
1877. 

British  Columbia  Sketches.     MS. 

British  North  America.     London,  n.  d. 

British  Nortli  American  Provinces,  Correspondence  respecting  the  Proposed 
Union — Further  Papers.     Lomlon,  1807,  folio. 

British  Nortli-West  American  Emigrants  Settlement  Association,  n.  pi.,  n.  d. 

Brown  (R.  C.  Lundin),  British  Columbia — An  Essay.  New  Westminster, 
180.S;  British  Columbia,  The  Indians  and  Settlers  at  Lilloet,  Loudon, 
1870. 

Brown  (Robert),  Cleographical  Distribution  on  Coal  Fields  of  N.  Pacific  Coast. 
Edinburgh,  18()!);  On  the  Formation  of  Fjords,  Cartons,  Benches,  etc.  In 
Lond.  (Jeog.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxxix.  125;  Vancouver  Island  Exploration. 
Victoria,  18G4. 

Browne  (J.  Ro.ss),  Lower  California.  See  Taylor;  Report  upon  tlie  Mineral 
Resources  of  the  States  and  Territories  \N'est  of  tlio  Rocky  Mountains. 
Wasliington,  18()7;  Washington,  1808;  San  F'ranci.sco,  1808. 

Bulfinch  (Tlioinas),  Oregon  and  Kl  Dorado.     Boston,  1800. 

Burnett  (Peter  H.),  Recollections  and  Opinions  of  an  Old  Pioneer.  New 
York,  1880. 

Burnett  (Peter  H.\  Recollections  of  the  Post.     MS.  2  vols. 

Butler  (W.  F.),  The  Wild  North  Land.     Philadelphia,  1874. 

Caldwell  (Robert),  The  Gold  Era  of  Victoria.     London,  1855. 

California  Academy  of  Sciences,  Prov,ceding8  of  the.     S.  F.,  1858  et  seq. 

Canada,  Handbook  of  Information  for  Intending  Einigranta.     Ottawa,  1877. 

Canada  Public  Documents  cited  in  my  notes  by  their  titles  and  dates,  tho 
title  consii  ug  of  'Canada'  followed  by  one  of  tlio  following  headings: 
Addresses  «.  (Jovernor;  Agriculture;  Canal  Eulargemeut;  Census;  Coal 
Trade;  Cusr  s;  Debates  of  the  House  of  Commons;  Estimates;  Extra- 
dition of  Pr.  n.rs;  Geological  Survey,  Selwyn  (A.  R.  C),  Director; 
Reports  of  Pr(.^.  ss,  etc.;  Immigration  and  Colonization;  Inland  Reve- 
nues; liisurancei  nterior;  Lake  Superior  and.  Reil  River  Settlement; 
Lights;  Marine  .  1  Fisheries;  Message  Relative  to  the  Terms  of 
Union;  Meteorologi  <\  Magnetic;  Militia;  Navigable  Streams;  Northwest 
Mounted  Police;  Pi  -.master  General;  Public  Accounts;  Public  Work.s; 
Secretary  of  State;  (vtatistics;  Trade  and  Navigation. 

Canadian  Pacific  Railway,  Sandford  Fleming,  Engineer  in  Chief.  Correspon- 
dence relating  to.  n.  pi.,  n.  d.;  Maps  and  Charts;  Papers  c<mnected  witli 
the  awarding  of  Section  Fifteen.  Ottawa,  1877;  Reports  1872  et  seq. 
Ottawa,  1872  et  seq. 


Canadian 
Carilxio, 

1802. 
Carilioo  Q 

<  'artograii 
Chicago  A 

<  'liinook 

n.d.; 
Chittende 

1882. 
Churchill 

Londo 
Claudet  (F 
Columliia  J 

1804; 
Coinpton  ( 
Cook  (.Jam 

1785. 
Cook  (Jam 

3  vols, 
i'oojicr  (.lai 
t'ociper  («ol 
<  'urnwallis 
(,'ourterey  ( 
Cox  (Ross), 
York,  1 
<Vidgo(E.), 
(.^I'oshy  (11. 

Dallas  (A.  G 

187;J. 

Dalles  (Or.), 

Dawson  ((iur 

Note  on 

Notes  oi 

vol.  ix., 

(foologit 

Ilia,     n.] 

(^last. 

Deans  (Jame 

D''  ( 'osmos  (j 

De  Cosmos  (j 

1878;  Sj: 

Feb.  21, 

De  (Jroot  (H( 

Francisc 

])u  Smet  (P. 

I'Oregon, 

Alontagn 

New  Yo 

I'ireetories,  1 

Mallanch 

Dodge  (Riclia 

I'ouglas  (Sir 

Itetireme 

Douglas  (Sir  . 

Private  I 

Douglas  (Sir , 

Douglas  Sir , 

317, 


.(I  Petition. 


J,    Victoria, 


AUTHvOllITlES  QUOTED. 


Caiiailian  Parliamentary  Cnini)ani(m,  1874.     Montreal,  1874. 

Cariboo,  Thu  Nuwly  Discovered  Gold  Fields  of  British  Columbia.     London, 

IH<i2. 
Cariboo  Quart/  Mining  Company,  Memoranda.     Victoria,  1878. 
( 'urtogranhy  of  tlio  Pacitiu  CoaMt.     M»S,  folio.    3  vols. 
Cliica^'o  Acadeiiiy  of  Sciences,  Transactions,     Chicago,  1809  ot  seq. 
('hiaoiik  Jargon,  Dictionary  of.     Olyiiiiiia,   1873;  Portland,  1878;  Victoria, 

n.d.;  Vocabulary.     San  Francisco,  1800. 
Cliittonilen  (Newton  U.),  Travels  in  British  Columbia  and  Alaska.     Victoria, 

1882. 
Cliurtliill  (J.  D.),  and  J.  Cooper,  British  Columbia  and  Vancouver  Island. 

London,  1800. 
Claudct  (F.  O.),  <lold.     Now  Westminster,  1871. 
('uluMibiaMi.sHi<)n,  Occasional  Paper.     London,  1801 ;  Pastoral  Address,  n.pl., 

1804;  Kuitorts  1804  ut  seq.     London,  1804  et  seq. 
Crmipton  (P.  N.),  Forts  an«l  Fort  Life.     MS. 
Cook  (.lames),  Troisiumo  Voyage  tk  I'Ocean  Paciflqne  en   1776-80.     Paris, 

1785.     4to.  4  vol : 
Cook  (James),  Voyage  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  1770-80.     London,  1784.    4to. 

3  vols,  plates  in  folio;  London,  1784.   4to.  4  vols;  Phila.  1818.    2  vols. 
Coopor  (.lames).  Maritime  Matters.     MS. 

Cooper  (>old  and  Silver  Mining  Company,  Memorandum.     Victoria,  1878. 
Ciiriiwallis  (Kinahan),  Thu  New  FU  Dorado.     London,  1858. 
('imrtcrt'y  (H.  C),  British  Columbia  Minus.     MS. 
Cox  (Roiiit),  Adventures  on  the  Columbia  River.    London,  1831.  2  vols;  New 

Yorl4,  18:}2. 
('ri(lj,'o  (K.),  Cliarocturistics  of  uames  Douglas.     MS. 
Crosby  (11.  K.),  The  San  Juan  Dilliculty.     la  Overland,  ii.  201. 


Dallas  (A.  G.),  San  Juan,  Alaska,  and  the  North- West  Boundary.  London, 
1873. 

Dalles  (Or.),  Mountaineer. 

Dawson  (George  M.),  General  Note  on  the  Mines  and  Minerals,  n.pl.,  1877: 
Note  on  Some  of  the  Most  lieoent  Changes  in  Level  ot  Coast,  n.pl.,  1877; 
Notes  on  the  Gl.iciation  of  British  Columbia.  In  Canadian  Naturalist, 
vol.  ix.,  no.  1;  Report  of  F^xplorations  in  British  Columbia.  In  Canada 
(reological  Survey,  1875-0,  233;  Superficial  (ieology  of  British  Colum- 
bia, n.pl.,  1878;  Travelling  Notes  on  the  Surface  Geology  of  the  Pacific 
(Jiiast.     n.pl.,  1878. 

Deans  (.James),  Vancouver  Island.     MS. 

]>>■  Cdsiiios  (Amor),  British  Columbia  Governments.     MS. 

J)u  Cosmos  (Amor),  Speech  on  De  Horsey's  Rei)ort,  Feb.  18,  1878.  Ottawa, 
1878;  Speech  on  E^quimalt  (iraving  Dock  and  Canadian  Pacific  R.  R., 
Feb.  21,  1878.     OtUwa,  1878. 

De  (Iroot  (Henry),  British  Columbia;  its  Condition  and  Prospects,  etc.  San 
Francisco,  1859. 

De  Sniet  (P.  J.),  Letters  and  Sketches.  Philadelphia,  1843;  Missions  de 
I'Oregon.  Gand,  n.d.;  Oregon  Missions.  New  Yorii,  1847;  Voyages  aux 
Alontugnes  Rouheuses.  Li'.e,  1859;  Western  Misitions  and  Missionaries. 
New  York,  1803. 

Directories,  British  Columbia  and  Victoria,  Howard  and  Bamett;  Victoria, 
Matlaudaine. 

Dodge  (Richard  Irving),  The  Plains  of  the  Great  West.     New  York,  1877. 

Uoiiglas  (iSir  James),  Addresses  and  Memorials  upon  the  Occasion  of  the 
Retirement  of.     Victoria,  1804. 

Douglas  (Sir  James),  Diary  of  Gold  Discovery  on  Fraser  River.  In  Douglas' 
Private  Papers.     MS. 

Douglas  (Sir  James),  Journal,  1840-1.     MS. 

Douglas  (Sir  James),  Official  Correspondence.  In  Comwallis' New  El  Dorado, 
31.7. 


4 
■i 


XXVI 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED, 


Douglas  (Sir  James),  Private  Papers,     lat  and  2(1  series.     MS.  2  vols. 

Douglas  (Sir  James),  Voyages  to  the  North  West  Coast.     In  Id.  Journal. 

Douglas  (William),  A  Summary  Historical  au<l  Political  of  the  British  Set- 
tlements in  North  America.  London,  1755;  Voyage  of  the  Iphiyenia. 
In  Meares'  Voy.     Edit.  Lond.,  1790. 

Dowuie  (W.),  Explorations  in  Jarvis  Inlet  and  Desolation  Sound.  In  Lond. 
Geog.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxxi.  249. 

Dunn  (John),  History  of  the  Oregon  Territory.  London,  1844;  The  Oregon 
Territory  and  the  British  N.  American  Fur  Trade.     Philadelphia,  1845. 

Edinburgh  Review.     Edinburgh,  1802  et  seq. 

Elisa  (Francisco),  Voyage  1791,  Extracts  from.     In  Papers  relating  to  Treaty 

of  Wash.,  V.  176;  also  in  Rejdy  of  the  United  States,  97. 
Evans  (Elwood),  Kc-annexation  of  British  Columbia  to  the  United  States. 

Olympia,  1870. 
Evans  (Elwood),  Eraser  River  Excitement.     MS.  and  Scraps. 
Evans  (Elwood),  History  of  Oregon.     MS. 
Evans  (Taliesin),  British  Columbia.     In  Overland,  iv.  258. 

Ferry  (J.  M.),  and  G.  J.  Wright,  Map  and  Guide  to  Cariboo  Gold  Mines. 
San  Francisco,  18G2. 

Fery  (.Jules),  Gold  Searches.     MS. 

Findlay  (Alexander  G.),  Directory  for  the  Navigation  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
London,  1851. 

Finlayson  (Roderick),  Vancouver  Island  and  Northwest  Coast.     MS. 

Fitzgerald  (James  Edward),  Charter  and  Proceedings  of  Hudson  Bay  Co., 
with  Reference  to  Vancouver's  Island.     London,  1849. 

Fleming  (Sandford),  Memorial  of  the  People  of  Red  River  to  the  British  and 
C^tnailian  Governments.     Ottawa,  18(i3.     See  Canadian  Pacific  Railway. 

Forlies  (Charles),  Vancouver  Island;  its  Resources  and  Capabilities.  Vic- 
toria, 18(i2. 

Foster  (J.  W.),  The  Mississippi  Valley.     Chicago,  1869. 

Franchcre  (Gabriel),  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  to  the  Northwest  Coast  of  Amer- 
ica, 1811-14.     Redfield,  1854. 

Fraser  (Simon),  First  Journal  from  April  12  to  July  18,  1806.     MS 

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London,  Chronich',  Morning  Post,  Pr.ncli,  I'.^ijctatur,  Times. 

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Ogden  (Pete 

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01ym|)ia,  E 

Iranser 

Olympia  Clt 

Oregon  City 

Ottawa  Tim 

Overland  Mi 

Overland  Ro 

the  Pro] 

Pacific  Railn 

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London, 

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Palmer  (H.  S 

Geog.  So 

toria  to 

of  the  W 

Papers   relati 

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Itiiaca,  li 

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Ptjtermann  (A 

I'ioneer  (The). 

I'oolo  (Francis 

lV)rtlan<l   Nev 

porter,  Dt 

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Post  (Aaron),  , 

Quarterly  Revi 

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Loudon,  It 


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Tolmie  (William  Fraser),  Canadian  Pacific  Railway  Routes.     Victoria,  1877. 
Tolmie  (William  F.),  Puget  Sound  and  Northwest  Coast.     MS. 


i!i '  .  I'l 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


XXXI 


iturbances 

ake  City. 

'  Britannic 

I. 

if  VdJicou- 

il.    2  vols. 


Tiondon, 

is. 
n.d. 


gon 


States- 


st  Review, 
iwa  Letter, 


latch. 

Id,  1845-51. 

Aug.  1809. 

uffiilo,  1852. 

.     London, 

Ig.  24,  1858. 
udon,  1875; 
s  of  Savagt! 


|in,  Aug.  27, 
d.     Wash., 

Itreal,  1870. 
In  Browne's 

Franoisoi), 
|848,  2  vols. 

toria,  1877. 


Townsend  (John  K.),  Narrative  of  a  Journey  across  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Philadeli)hia,  1839. 
Truman  (Benjamin  C),  Occidental  Sketches.     San  Francisco,  1881. 
Trutch  (Joseph),  Complimentary  Dinner  to,  April  10,  1871.     Montreal,  1871; 

Map  of  British  Columbia,  1871. 
Turner  (Wm  M.),  Oold  Hunting  on  Queen  Charlotte's  Island.     In  Overland, 

xiv.  167. 

Uiuatilla,  Columbia  Press. 

Uinfrevillc  (Edward),  The  Present  State  of  Hudson's  Bay.     London,  1790. 

United  States  Exploring  Expedition.  [Wilkes.]    Philadelphia,  1844-58.    4to. 

17  vols.;  folio.   8  vols. 
United  States  Oovernment  Documents;  Bureau  of  Statistics;  Commerce, 

Foreign  and  Domestic;  Commerce  and  Navigation;   Commercial  Rela 

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Vancouver  (Wash.),  Independent  Register. 

Vancouver  Island,  Copies  or  Extracts  of  any  Despatches  on  Subject  of  Estab- 
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1872;  River  of  the  West.     Hartford,  1870. 

Victoria,  British  Colonist,  Cariboo  Sentinel,  Chronicle,  Express,  Gazette, 
Press,  Standard. 

Vdwell  (A.  W.),  British  Columbia  Mines.     MS. 

Waddington  (Alfred),  The  Eraser  Mines  Vindicated.  Victoria,  1858;  Over- 
land Route  through  British  North  America.  London,  1868;  Sketch  of 
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Waldo  (Daniel),  Critiques.     MS. 

W.iUa  Walla,  Statesman. 

W;irre  (Henry),  and  M.  Vavasseur,  Report,  in  Martin's  Hudson's  Bay. 

Wood  (Charles  E.),  Queen  Cliarlotto  Island  Expedition.     MS. 

Westminster  Review.     London,  1824  et  seq. 

White  (Elijah),  Ten  Years  in  Oregon.     Ithaca,  1850. 

Wliyniper  (Frederick),  Travel  and  Adventure  in  Alaska.     New  York,  1869. 

Wilkes  (Charles),  Narrative  of  tlie  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition.  Philadel- 
phia, 1844.  4to.  3  vols.;  Philadelphia,  1845.  5  vols.;  London,  1845, 

Wilson  (Elizabeth),  Recollections.     In  Oregon  Sketches.     MS. 

Wilson  (William),  Dominion  of  Canada,  etc.     Victoria,  1874. 

Winthro])  (Theodore),  The  Canoe  and  the  Saddle.     Boston,  1863. 

WiM)(ls  (W.  H.),  Correspondence  from  McCaw's  Rapids  In  Puget  Sound 
Herald,  May  14,  1858. 

Work  (John),  Journal,  1824.     MS. 

Wright,  Cariboo.     In  Overland,  iii.  524 

Yale,  British  Columbia  Examiner. 


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Colonies  a 


HISTORY 


OF 


BEITISH    COLUMBIA. 


CHAPTER    I. 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYAGES, 


[he  Spaniards  on  the  Coast  of  British  CoLUMniA — Perez,  Heceta,  and 
Akteaoa — Expedition  of  Jamhs  Cook — Hanna — Maurelle— La  Pfi- 

RonSE— I'ORTLOCK  AND  DlXOX — GuiSE — LoWRIE — BARCLAY — MeaRES^ 

Gray — Kendrick — Martinez — Haro — Colnett — Douglas — Elisa— 

QUIMPER— GaLIAXO  and  VaLD^IS — BODEOA  Y  CaADRA — VaNCODVEE. 

The  history  of  British  Columbia  comprises  six  dis- 
tinct eras.    First,  the  discoveries,  claims,  disputations, 
ukI  diplomacies  relative  to  the  ownership  and  division 
)f  the  domain,  commonly  referred  to  as  Nootka  Affairs, 
^lie  second  epoch  begins  with  the  coming  of  the  fur- 
traders  by  land,  by  way  of  Peace  River,  first  the 
lenple  of  the  Northwest  Company,  hard  followed  by 
servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company;  and  continues 
until  1849,  when  colonization  and  colonial  government 
)cgin  on  Vancouver  Island.     The  third  term,  during 
[which  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  are  still  everywhere 
loininant,  ruling  Vancouver  Island   in  the   queen's 
lame,  and  the  Mainland  in  their  own  name,  lasts  until 
1 858,  when  the  gold  discovery  overturns  the  existing 
)rdor  of  things,  and  raises  the  Mainland  into  a  colony. 
"'he  fourth  historic  period,  during  which  there  are  two 
polonies  and  two  governors,  concludes  with  the  union 

UiKX.  liBiT.  Col.    1  (4> 


I  SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOVAfJES. 

of  the  Island  and  Mainland  under  one  colonial  govcr- 
nient  in  18GG.  The  afl'airs  of  the  consolidated  colony 
constitute  the  fifth  era,  terminating  in  confederation 
with  Canada  in  1871.  What  follows  may  be  called, 
at  this  present  writing,  the  sixth  and  last  period. 

For  more  than  three  hundred  years  after  the  begin- 
ning of  European  occupation  on  the  North  American 
Pacific  seaboard,  its  largest  island  remained  practi- 
cally untouched. 

It  is  true  that  since  Cortds  built  vessels  at  Zacatula 
for  South  Sea  explorations,  Fuca  and  Maldonado  had 
made  their  hypothetical  observations  of  the  Anian 
opening,  had  told  the  much  expectant  world  the  won- 
drous tale  of  the  long  looked  for  ocean  highway, 
found  at  last,  which  should  let  pass  vessels  through 
the  continent,  straight  from  Europe  to  India,  tvhich 
passage,  indeed,  this  monster  isle  would  seem  some- 
what inconveniently  to  obstruct;  it  is  true,  that  somej 
two  hundred  years  after  these  reputed  first  discov- 
eries of  the  Spaniards,  navigators  had  surveyed  thei 
Island's  shores,  that  British,  Russian,  and  American 
trading- vessels  had  anchored  in  its  bays  and  inlets, 
and  that  on  its  seaward  side  many  strange  scenes, 
many  thrilling  tragedies  had  been  performed — it  was 
there  that  occurred  the  first  pitched  quarrel  between 
Spain  and  England  for  the  territories  adjacent;  and 
there  the  Boston  and  the  Tonquin  were  captured,  and 
their  crews  mastiacred — yet  all  who  hitherto  had  couiel 
bad  gone  their  vvav,  leaving  to  the  aboriginal  tenants 
their  sea-skirte'l  r'omain  in  all  its  primeval  quietude.] 

More  than  any  happening  thus  far  on  the  North- 
west Coast,  more  than  the  later  bluster  at  Fortl 
Astoria,  or  the  bristling  at  Stikeen,  the  seizing  and! 
sending  to  San  Bias  of  two  English  vessels  by  Mar- 
tinez, in  1789,  and  the  planting  of  a  Spanish  batteryl 
at  Nootka  caused  commotion  among  the  bellicousl 
nations  of  Europe,  as  has  been  fully  shown  in  ni)| 
History  of  the  Northwest  Coast. 


SPAIN,  ENGLAND,  FRANCE,  AND  RUSSIA.  t 

Perez,  Ilcccta,  and  Cuadra  had  explored  and  taken 
)o,s.scssion  of  the  Nootka  country  for  Spain  in  1774-9, 
it  which  time  there  were  no  signs  of  European  oc- 
cupation in  this  vicinity.  James  Cook,  who  touched 
)it  Nootka  in  1778,  and  La  Pdrouse,  who  visited  the 
[joast  in  1786,  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  world 
ho  unappropriated  wealth  of  furs  which  floated  in 
[hcsc   waters,  and   the   arrival   of  the   Russians  on 


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833\ 


il. 


laJV 


Cook's  Map,  1788. 

inierican  shores.  For  several  years  this  source  of 
iwealth  remained  untouched,  though  much  ill  feeling 
kvas  caused  among  rival  claimants.  In  1788  Spain 
|\vas  induced  to  send  Martinez  and  Haro  northward, 
iiid  later  occurred  the  disputes  at  Nootka,  ail  of 
kvliich  have  been  fully  related  in  previous  volumes  of 

ly  works.* 

England  had  offered  twenty  thousand  pounds  to  the 
British  subject  who  should  discover  and  sail  through 

'  Resides  the  History  of  the  Northwfut  Coast,  ace  early  volumes  of  Hx»tory 
W  Oreijon,  Iliatory  of  Valijbrnia,  aud  IJistory  qf  'ir  North  Mexican  State*. 


i 


4  SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYAGES. 

any  passage  uniting  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  north  of 
the  fift\'-second  parallel.  Under  instructions  cai-efully 
to  examine  the  coast  north  of  latitude  65°  only,  Janus 
Cook  strikes  the  shore  of  Drake's  New  Albion  just 
above  latitude  44°,  coasts  northward  giving  names  to 
capes  Perpetua,  Gregory,"  Foulweather,  and  Flattery : 
closes  his  eyes  to  the  River  Columbia  and  to  Fuca 
Strait,  pronouncing  them  non-existent;^  and  enteivs 
an  inlet  which  he  names  King  George  Sound,  but 
which  the  natives  call  Nootka.'*  Skins  of  the  bear,  fox, 
wolf,  deer,  polecat,  marten,  raccoon,  and  sea-otter  are 
brought  by  the  guileless  savage,  who  is  eager  for  brass  | 
and  iron,  caring  nt»tliing  for  glass  beads,  thereby  show- 
ing his  knowledge  of  metals,  and  his  appreciation  of! 
their  value.  Continuing  his  searcli  for  a  strait  north- 1 
westward,  the  illustrious  navigator  departs  from  tlie 
coast,  wilfully  oblivious  of  the  existence  of  the  great 
islands  and  entrances  adjacent.^ 

Following  Cook,  Captain  Hanna  crosses  from  Chii;aj 
in  1785,  and  again  in  the  following  year  he  appears  in 

'  Arago. 

"  Wliicli  sooms  a  little  singular;  for  though  his  search  projior  for  iiitn- 
oceanic  coninninic-ation  did  not  begin  at  t\n^  point,  yet  being  on  the  coawt  lnr| 
the  ex]iress  jmrpose  of  finding  round  or  througli  it  a  passage  by  water,  wl 
should  hardly  expect  to  find  the  famous  discoverer  passing  by  the  luouLh  ni 
the  t'ohunbia  while  writing  of  the  discoveries  of  Martin  de  Aguilar  in  llMtt: 
'It  is  w<irtli  oliserving  that  in  the  very  latitude  where  we  now  were  geojrraj 
pliers  have  been  pleased  to  place  a  large  entrance  or  strait,  the  iliseovery  (ij 
which  tliey  take  upon  them  to  ascribe  to  tlie  same  iiavi;' itor;  w  hereas  notliinii  j 
more  is  mentioned  in  the  account  of  his  voyage  than  his  having  seen,  in  tlii 
fiituation,  a  large  river,  which  he  would  have  entered,  liut  was  preventtVii 
by  the  currents.'  Still  more  strange  is  it  when  off  Cape  Flattery,  with 
strait  under  his  very  eyes,  he  should,  press  northward,  saying:  'It  is  in  lliis| 
very  latitude  where  w^j  now  were  that  geographers  havephiced  the  preteail 
strait  of  Juan  de  Fuca.  But  we  saw  nothing  like  it;  nor  is  there  tlie  h  istl 
jiroliability  that  ever  any  such  thing  existed.'  t'oo/(-'.<  To*/.,  ii.  'Jill  -H.  C'ii:i| 
sidering  his  mission.  Captain  Cook's  survey  of  the  coast  in  tliese  latitudes  mh 
ccrtaiidy  superticial.  By  chance  he  was  correct  in  his  conclusions,  tluiuiih  itl 
VDuld  have  been  in  a  little  better  taste  to  liave  avoided  the  supercilious  str:iiii| 
in  whidi  he  pronounces  the  discoveriei.  of  the  Spaniarils  forgeries. 

■•  Between  what  he  calls  Point  Breakers,  which  Ik;  places  in  latitude  4;l'| 
l.T,  and  wiiat  ho  calls  Woody  Point,  which   he  places  in  latitude  M',  '  llkj 
shore  forms  a  large  bay,  whicli  I  called  Hope  Bay;  hoping,  from  the  ap[H  ;ir- 
anee  of  tlie  land  to  tiiid  in  it  a  good  harbour.'  ('ooi''.v  I  ny.,  ii.  '2M. 

"  '  Wo  wiTO  now  iia.ssing  the  place  wliei;e  geographers  have  placeil  the  \<n- 
tended  strait  of  Admiral  de  Foiite.  I'or  my  own  part,  I  give  no  credit  to  muIi 
vague  and  improbable  stories,  that  carry  their  own  confutation  ah)iig  v  itii 
tliem.'  Cooks  I'oi/.,  ii.  343.  It  is  but  fair  to  add,  thatwlieu  iu  this  latitmlua 
gile  obliged  him  to  ktep  well  out  to  sea. 


PORTLOCK  AND  DIXOX.  5 

the  Sea-Otter,  and  conducts  a  profitable  trade  with 

lliu  natives  if  Nootlca.''    And  now  is  formed  the  Kini^ 

jrcoro-e's  Sound  Company,  wliich  is  to  monopohze  the 

'orthwest  Coast  fur-trade;  and  there  come  to  the 

toast  in   1787,  by  way  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  and 

laska,  Captain  Portlock  with  the  ship  Kimj  Geovye, 

l!ul  in  the  Queen  Charlotte  George  Dixon,  the  latter 

risiting  and   giving   names   to   Cloak    Bay,    Hip])a 

Island,  Dixon  Strait,  and  Queen  Charlotte  Islands, 

it  which  last  named  place  alone  he  secures  eighteen 

hundred  and  twenty-one  fine  otter-skins.     Then  ar- 

|i\iiig  off  Nootka,  he  sails  away  without  entering/ 

.his   same  year   we   find  another   quite   successful 

English  trader  at  Nootka  Sound  in  the  ship  Imperial 

^liijle,  Captain  Barclay,"*  v.dio  coasts  to  Barclay  Sound, 

fiving  his  name  to  the  place,  sends  thence  a  boat's 

lew  into  what  was  later  nam^d   Fuca  Strait,  after 

rhich,  dropping    below  Flattery,  some   of  his   men 

ic  murdered   near  where  a  portion   of  Bodega  y 

'uadra's  crew  in  1775  suffered  a  like  fate. 

The  following  summer,  Mearcs  arrives  in  the  Feliee, 
Jul  after  erecting  a  house  at  Friendly  Cove,"  in 
Kiotka  Sound,  and  leaving  there  a  party  to  build  a 
jssL'l,  he  proceeds  southward,  visits   the  village  of 


"Captain  Guise,  in  the  Experiment,  was  nlso  tuoro  in  the  summer  of  1780, 
J  we'll  iia  Captain  Lowrie  of  the  ship  Cnjil.tiin  Cnik,  from  mIiIcIi  latter  vesstl 
lo  sur;;t;on,  an  Irishmnn  named  John  Melvi  \ ,  Inint;  ill  was  placed  on  .shore, 
Jieio  ho  remained  for  more  than  one  year.  He  was  Htrip])od  ot  his  elothiiij^  1)/ 
le  natives,  and  made  to  conform  to  their  ensioms.  lie  learned  somewiiat  of 
leir  lani,'uagc,  '  made  freiiucnt  incursions  into  the  interior  ])arts  of  the  country 
luut  King  (joorgo's  Sound,  and  did  not  tiiinK  anj'  part  of  it  was  the  eonti- 
liit  (if  tVmeriea,  but  a  chain  of  detached  Islands  '  The  man  and  liis  opinions, 
jwovcr,  were  derided  by  the  navigators.  Tiic  following  year,  17!ST,  tiio 
'(•  ttf  Walen,  Captain  Colnett,  the  I'rhteesH  lioyiil.  Captain  Duncan,  and 
Imp  rial  L'ajle,  Captain  Barclay,  were  at  Nootka. 

'  111  liid  preface  P':  >  »  scourges  Maurelle  for  failing  to  do  what  Cook  failid 
jilo;  he  isolated,  '  ■  ^elf,  for  having  made  tho  discovery  of  (Jiicen  Ciiarlolto 
lands,  for  which,  indeed,  he  is  entitled  to  all  praiat!.  It  was,  however,  only 
piiiiso  with  him,  as  he  never  circumnavigated  tho  island.  Its  complete  sei- 
ktiini  from  the  mainland  was  ascertained  by  Duncan  the  following  year, 
jio  lalled  tho  isles  adjacent,  as  was  theij  tho  fashion,  from  iiia  ship,  rrmcess 
r 'il  Ai'vliipelago.  See  vol.  i.  p.  180  for  Dixou's  map. 
^  Written  also  Berkely. 
".Sec  Uri:e7ihow'ii  Or.  and  Cal,,  151. 


6  SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYAGES. 

Wicananiah    in    Clayoquot  Sound,   which   he   nahiesj 
Port  Cox/'*  passes  on  to  the  entrance  of  Fuca  Strait- 
so  named  by  Jiini — and  down  the  coast  to  Destruc-j 
tion   Island/'   Shoalwater  and  Deception   bays,   .iiul 
capes  Disappointment  and  Lookout,'"  off  which  latter! 
point   he   turns  and   retraces  his  course  to   Barclavj 
Sound,   which  he   enters,   and  anchors   in  a   bay  toj 
which  he  gives  the  name  of  Port  Etfinghani/'^     Thcrej 
the  natives  bring  to  him  a  plentiful  supply  of  salmoiij 
shell-fish,  wild  onions,  and   the  fruits  of  the   foresti 
Under  the  first  officer,  Robert  Duffin,  the  long-b  i;it| 
with  twelve  men  is  sent  to  explore  the  strait,  a, 
enters  several  coves  and  harb(H's  along  the  southeni| 
shore  of  Vancouver  Island   to  trade.     After  saili!!j 
some  thirty  leagues,  far  enough  to  perceive  that  tliJ 
water  to  the   east-north-east    increased    rather   thaij 
diminished,'*  the  party  is  furiously  attacked  by  iiaJ 
tives  in  two  catioes,  and  driven  back  wounded  to  tlitj 
ship;  after  wliich  Meares  returns   with   his    ship  ti 
Nootka,  where,  not  long  after,  the  Iphlgeiiia,  Captaiii 
Douglas,  and   the   sloop   Washington,  Captain  (Ji'avJ 
arrive.     The  new  vessel  is  christened   the  yortlucm 
America,^''  and  launched. 


'°  '  In  honor  of  our  frieml  John  Henry  Cox,  Esquire. ' 

"  When;  was  aituateil  tlio  'vilhigo  of  Oueeiiliithu,' and  some  seven  luilej 
distant  'tlie  town  of  CJueenuitutt, '   liiosf  inliahitanta  were  nian-catingpenii 
The  country  round  Cape  Flattery  lie  calls  Tatootuhe,  and  the  island  Tiitcii'tl 
die  iMland.     Having  carefully  seai'ched  for  the  Rio  de  San  Roque  of  til 
Spa".iards,  he  might  now  safely  assert  that  no  such  stream  exists. 

'^To  which  he  gives  their  nanu^s,  as  well  as  to  Cape  Shoalwater,  soiitli' 
the  entrance,  and  to  Mount  Olympus.     This  coast  ho  calls  New  Alljion,  1»1 
lowing  l)rake  and  Cook. 

'■'  '  The   port  is  sulliciently  capacious  to  contain  an  Imndred  sail  of  slii|ii| 
and  so  fortunately  sheltered  as  to  secure  them  from  any  storm.     The  amln 
age  is  also  good,  heing  a  soft  mud,  and  tlie  watering  place  perfectly  coiivii 
nient.'  Mi'hixh'  To//.,  172. 

'^ '  Such  an  extraordinary  circumstanco  tilled  us  with  strange  conjectimi 
as  to  the  extremity  of  tliis  strait,  which  we  concluded,  at  all  events,  cdiiJ 
not  he  any  great  distiince  from  lluilson's  liay.'  Medrrn'  Vol/.,  179. 

'■'  '  Being  the  first  hottom  ever  Imilt  and  launched  in  this  part  of  the  ghiKj 
Meares,  I'o;/.,  2'i(),  gives  a  fnllpiige  illustration  of  the  launching  of  thi.s 
amidst  the  flying  of  tlags,  the  boom  of  cannon,  and  the  shouts  of  the  sav.ipj 
In  the  liackground  is  the  two-story  house  erected  for  the  u.se  of  his  men  vi 
engaged  in  ouilding  the  vessel,  and  in  tlie  ilistance,  round  a  high  rocky  pniJ 
ontoi'y,  is  seen  the  Indian  village,  with  the  sloop  \V anhiwjtoii,  uuchoreilf 
front  of  it. 


i 


MEARES  AND  GRAY. 


e  names  I 
Strait— j 
Destruc- 

,ays,   -ludj 
ich  latter! 
Bai'clayl 
a  bav  to  I 
'■^     fhcrel 
)f  salmon,! 
he  forest.j 
lonj_'-b  m:| 
itrait,  am 
3  southei'i 
Der  saili!>.J 
i  that  tliJ 
,ther   thail 
ed  by  m 
:lcd  to  tlij 
lis   ship 
in,  Captaii^ 
tain  ^Arayl 
yorthicd 


)me  seven  milej 

ii-catingpei'pl' 
islaiut  Tiiti»'t| 
Roque  of  tl^ 

Ists. 

]\vati:r,  south'^ 
jw  Allnou,  fii 

1(1  sail  of  i^Uil 
The  ami'.' 
lierteetly  cniivij 

liigo  conjectuR 
11  events,  (.'("'l 

1  Hit.  ,  _ 

Ji-t  of  the  filu'^l 
]iug  of  tlii.-<  ii'" 
J  ol  the  saviij:^ 
If  his  men  vli| 
l^h  rocky  l'i'"| 


^^i^ 


Meakks'  Map. 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOVA(tES. 


While  yet  are  lying  at  Nootka  the  Ijthigona,  Felice, 
and  Northwest  America,  which  in  due  time  take  their 
departure,  a  A'cssei  from  Boston  enters  the  harbor, 
tlie  Columbia,  Captain  Kendrick.  This  vessel  and 
the  WasJii)ir/fon  winter  at  Xootka,  1788-9.^"'  On  his 
way  up  the  coast,  Gray  had  been  attacked  by  the 
natives  at  Tillamook  Buv. 

Meanwhile,  violent  measures  were  adopted  by  the 
Spa;  i"-"'  aiid  dhected  against  the  British  traders 
at  !No.  the  distempers  of  which  reached  Madrid 

and  Lou-,  a,  and  culminated  in  the  Xootka  conven- 
tion, 1790.  The  fortification  erected  at  Nootka  by 
Martinez  in  1789  was  temporarily  abandoned  before 
the  end  of  the  year,  but  not  before  the  arrival  of  Gon- 
zalo  de  Haro  and  the  seizure  of  the  Argonaut,  Cohiett 
commanding,  the  Ipldgenia,  which  had  returned  to 
Xootka  in  charge  of  William  Douglas,  tlie  North- 
vest  America,  and  the  Princess  Royal,  for  attempting 
to  found  establishments  within  Spanish  dominions. 
^Martinez  sent  two  of  his  j)rizes  to  Mexico,  while 
Haro  in  the  ^an  Carlos  prosecuted  discoveries.  The 
following  spring,  Xootka  was  reoccupied  by  the  Span- 
iards under  Elisa,  who  established  tliere  a  Spanish 
st^ttlement,  for  which  supplies  were  brought  from  San 
Bias  by  tlie  Californian  transports. 

This  same  year,  1790,  ^lanuel  Quimper,  command- 
ing the  Priiiccsa  Real,  one  of  the  three  vessels  under 
Llisa,  sailed  from  Xootka  the  31st  of  May  to  continue 
t!ie  exploration  possibly  begun  by  Haro  in  Fuca  Strait 
the  year  previous.     Touching  at  several  points  on  the 

'"Oil  Mcarcs' iiKq)  tlie  entire  seaboard  from  Fuca  Strait  to  Alaska  is  laid 
down  as  ail  i,5laii(l,  or  a  grouji  of  i  laiidis,  willed  tlie  Xortheni  AreliilielajiO 
and  I'l'iiiL'e.sH  Royal  l.dands,  west  of  wliich  are  the  '  (^>iieeu  Charlotte's  Isles, 
Ko  iiaincd  by  Captain  Dixon  in  17S7,  lirst  discovered  hy  captains  Lowrie  and 
(l.iise  i:i  ITHC);  '  and  on  the  eastern  side,  'sketch  ot  the  track  of  the  Ainericau 
Fhiop  Wdsliiii'itoii,  in  autnnin  1  T.'^O, '  while  beyond  to  tlie  ea.itwarrl  ii  still  'the 
sea,  and  yet  farther  'land  seen.'  ()n  his  way  n[i  thecoa.st,  (ir.iy  h  ul  attempted 
to  enter  the  Colnmbia,  but  failed;  and  the  f<illowiii^  summer,  .vhile  yet  in 
co::,mand  of  the  W'us/.iirj'oii,  he  had  explored  the  eastern  shoij  of  Queen 
<  iiarlotto  l.dand,  which  ho  callcil  Washington  1.  la:i  1.  Then,  taking' coiii- 
liiin  I  of  the  (\)'.iniih'i  i,  (Jray  retisnied  to  Ronton;  an  1  in  a  s(!eond  "oyayo  to 
the  Northwest  Coivst  eutcrovl  and  named  tho  Columbia  liiver. 


south -A 
\essels 
Port  S\ 
contini 
Eusebi(! 
wliich  l\ 
of 


I'OV 


111  varu 


on 


th( 


coun 


him  in  t 


<• 

K^ 

uf 

.?^ 

i4 

■-■ 

■^ 

V 

ID 

■'>. 

Pti 

<' 

'^■J- 

V'/s— 

i^S 

'r-      ® 

continued 
Dt'ocher  I 
or  four  iuL 


"  Aftcrwar 
rnmbos  [in'ixiii 
(litre  tres  li  qu 
iluiitro  do  una 
1  '■(  ])ilotosal  r< 
/'"■'iiiociniiciito 
text  of  tho  on 
!^  inu'what  mod 
iiiiw  reached  K 
'"xMipicd,  !ind 
lii^^iiig  placed  I 


MANUEL  QUIMPER. 


I,  Felice, 
:e  their 
harbor, 
sel  and 
On  his 
by  the 

by  the 
traders 
Madrid 
couven- 
otka  by 
I  before 
of  Gon- 
Cohiett 
irned  to 
i   Nortli- 
.empting 
iniuioTis. 
o,  while 
s.     The 
c  Span- 
S[)aiiish 
oiu  San 

inniand- 
Is  under 
lontinue 
li  Strait 
on  the 

bka  is  liiiil 
Irc'liiiiclami 
tto's  Isliw, 
(owiic  mill 
lAiueriucin 

still  'the 
littuinptuJ 
Tile  yet  in 
I  (if  Quucii 

viiig'  coni- 
l-oyago  to 


south-west  side  of  the  Island  before  visited  by  trading- 
\essels,  on  the  11th  of  Juno  he  entered  and  named 
P(n't  San  Juan,  where  he  remained  four  days.  Thence 
continuing,  he  passed  two  points,  which  he  called  San 
Eusebio  and  San  Antonio,  and  entered  Soke  Inlet, 
which  he  named  Revilla  Gigedo  in  honor  of  the  vice- 
roy of  Mexico.  Landing,  ho  made  short  excursions 
in  various  directions,  and,  following  his  instructions, 
on  the  23d  of  Juno  he  took  formal  possession  of  the 
country  for  the  King  of  Spain.  Contrary  winds  kept 
liiiu  in  this  port  until  the  28th,  when,  setting  sail,  he 


1^ 


•D 


•*> 


-§  l!.;vi|la  IJiuido     iCv,, 


,        ISL.DL  DA  ROSA  V^'^|2^Pia.(ie  Moror.o  do  la  Vti 


Al  J   /I.    U  it  S  A 

Pta.d(.  MeriEndez'^ 


Quimper's   Map. 

continued  east -south -cast,  and  passed  tlio  present 
Bcecher  Bay,  and  the  same  day  entered  between  three 
ur  four  inlets  a  beautiful  harbor  which  he  named  Elisa." 

"Afterward  Peddcr  Bay.  'El  mismo  dia  so  Icvaron  y  navegando  por 
ruinlios  [H-iixinios  al  lossuoate,  costoaron  dos  grandcs  ciiscuiidas  y  cutiaron  por 
citru  trcs  o  quatro  islillus  y  otra  grande  inmediata,  ;l  la  tlcrra  liasta  liallaiso 
(k'utro  do  una  boUa  baliia  (|uc  llamaron  de  I'^lisa,  en  dondo  anclaron  y  fiioroa 
In  jidotosal  rcco'iociniionto  do  aqucllos  parajea  pruxinios.'  Qnhnixr,  Scuuiulo 
H'liitiuciiniciito  lie  Ir  Eutmda  dc  Fucn,  in  Vimji's  ol  Xorlv,  MS.,  No.  11.  Tho 
text  of  tho  original  is  here  qnito  confusing,  and  but  for  tho  appendix,  which 
s  iiiK'what  moditics  and  explains  it,  ono  might  suppose  the  voyagiTs  to  havo 
iiiiu'  reached  Ks(|uinialt  IJay.  Hut  by  noticing  tho  direction  sailed,  the  time 
ii'oiiiiicd,  and  by  a  careful  comparsion  of  tho  relative  latitutles  given— Kli.sa 
bciii','  placed  one  minute  farther  south  thati  lievilla  Gigedo,  while  tho  uext 


10 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST   VOYAGES. 


On  tlie  30tli,  tlie  vessel  proceeded  round  to  Royal 
Bay,  which  Quiniper  called  Solano ;  and  the  same  day 
he  moved  the  ship  up  into  Esquimalt  Harbor,  which 
he  named  Valdes.  While  there  the  vessel  lay  at  an- 
chor, Quimper  sent  out  in  small  boats  his  pilots,  who, 
five  leagues  to  the  eastward,  discovered  besides  several 
i'slands  a  broad  passage  extending  toward  the  west- 
north-west,  and  losing  itself  in  the  distance  This 
passage  or  strait  was  called  Haro,  in  honor  of  his 
sailing-master. 

It  was  observed  that  a  short  distance  to  the  east- 
ward of  Valdes  Baj',  or  Esquimalt,  was  another  bay, 
which  tlicy  pronounced  "a  port  of  good  shelter,  water, 
and  wild  seeds  for  which  the  Indians  came  in  canoes 
from  the  rther  side  of  the  strait."  This  was  Victoria 
Harbor,  to  which  Quimper  gave  the  name  of  Cor- 
doba. ^^  While  there  the  natives  brought  fruit  and 
roots,  not  having  skins  to  trade.  Indeed,  says  Quim- 
per, they  did  not  need  to  kill  animals  for  food,  their 
rich  soil  providing  them  abundance;  and  as  for  cloth- 
ing, the  tribes  contiguous,  even  as  far  away  as  the 
mouth  of  li'uca  Strait,  were  glad  to  bring  furs,  and 
give  them  in  exchange  for  these  natural  products,  of  I 
which  they  regularly  laid  in  a  winter's  supply.  This 
quiet  life,  moreover,  seemed  to  make  these  savages 
less  ferocious  than  their  beast-killing  neighbors.''' 

On  the  4th  of  July,  Quimper  crossed  with  his  ves-l 
sel  to  New  Dungeness  Point,  which  he  named  Santa 
Cruz,  and  behind  which  he  anchored,  calling  the  plare 
Quimper   Bay.^"     Soon    the   natives   appeared    with 

anchorage,  which  wc  shall  find  to  ho  the  entrance  to  Esquimalt  Bay,  is  several 
minutua  nortli  of  Elisa,  or  Soke  Harhor — the  positions  of  the  several  staticiasl 
heconie  quite  clear. 

"'Cor(lol)a  Bay  aa  laid  down  on.  modem  maps  is  niisplacea;  that  is,  if  in- 
tended as  the  Coiiloba  liay  of  Quimper.     First,  it  does  not  correspond  to  tiiiil 
well-sheltered  port  described  hy  Quimper;  nor  does  it  appear  that  either  I 
Quimper  or  his  pilots  ever  entered  Haro  Strait  so  far.  I 

"See  Niilire  Races,  i.  174-207.     '  En  cuya  demora  hallaron  un  puerto  (iue| 
llamaron  de  Cordolja  do  apreciables  abrigos,  uguas,  y  seniillas  silvestres  ilo 
que  saliau  provistas  algunas  canoas  de  los  puertos  quo  se   liallan  fuera  ilfl 
seno. '  Quimper,  Sei/timlo  Reconochniento  (/«  In  Eiitrndn  de  Fiicn.  I 

'■"•  'El  mismo  dia  por  la  tarde  aiiclarou  alabrigo  do  unapunta  quo  llaniarnnj 
de  Saiita  Cruz,  donde  eiicontrarou  uu  abrigado  puerto  do  pooa  agua  projiio  I 


mussels 

and  fea 

out  in 

an  adm 

Cuadra 

Admira 

niano,  \ 

land  rur 

tliey  na 

turned  i 

for    Xo( 

obliged  ■ 

(.lays,  vf. 

the  sout 

on  the  i 

naming  i 

Sol  em 

cliarges  < 

of  tlie  cc 

and  aftei 

on  the  3o 

vented  en 

Tlie  e: 

the  inter( 

firm  the  1 

The  very 

to  coinpk 

Carlos,  of 

of  seven. 

of  seeking 

the  coast 

continued 

for  tlie  St] 

examine  C 

para  las  emha 
Quinnifr. '  ,y,y!. 
^'  Port  Disc( 
"  The  forme 
'■' The  native 
^'  Barclay  8i 


i   ''3 


TAKING  POSSESSION. 


11 


i  i 


mussels,  fisli,  deer  meat,  mats,  skins,  tanned  leather, 
a; id  feathered  blankets  to  trade.  The  pilots,  starting 
out  in  small  boats,  and  exploring  eastward,  came  to 
an  admirable  liarbor,^^  which  they  called  Bodega  y 
Cuadra,  with  an  island  in  front  of  it.  The  nature  of 
Admiralty  Inlet,  which  he  called  Ensenada  de  Caa- 
mauo,  was  mistaken,  and  from  this  point,  along  the 
land  running  nortiiward,  they  saw  two  openings,  which 
tlicy  named  Fidalgo  and  Deflon.^'  Then  they  re- 
turned to  the  vessel.  On  the  18th,  Quimper  sot  sail 
for  Xootka,  but  by  reason  of  adverse  winds  was 
ol)liged  to  enter  Valdes  Bay,  where  he  remained  tliree 
days,  when  he  again  weighed  anchor,  and  coasting 
the  southern  side  of  Fuca  Strait  toward  its  entrance, 
on  the  24th  came  to  Neah  Bay,  which  he  entered, 
naming  it  Puerto  de  Nunez  Gaona.^^ 

Solemnly  again  on  the  1st  of  August,  amidst  dis- 
cliarges  of  musketry  and  artillery,  he  took  possession 
of  the  country,  wishing  without  fail  to  secure  it  all; 
and  after  repairing  his  vessel  and  sounding  the  bay, 
on  the  3d  he  sailed  away  for  Nootka,  but  being  pre- 
vented entrance  by  a  gale,  he  proceeded  to  Monterey. 

Tlie  explorations  of  Quimper  served  only  to  whet 
tlie  interest  of  the  Spanish  authorities,  and  to  con- 
firm the  belief  in  an  interoceanic  strait  in  this  quarter, 
The  very  next  year,  accordingly,  Elisa  received  orders 
to  complete  this  survey,  and  at  once  prepared  tlie  San 
Carlos,  of  sixteen  guns,  and  the  schooner  Horcasifas, 
of  seven.  He  left  X(  otka  in  May  with  the  intention 
of  seeking  the  sixtieth  parallel,  and  thence  to  follow 
tlie  coast  southward  to  Fuca  Strait,  but  the  winds 
continued  contrary,  and  he  was  obliged  to  sail  direct 
for  the  Strait.  Leaving  the  schooner  on  ^Fay  2rth,  to 
examine  Carrasco  Inlet,'^*  he  proceeded  with  the  San 


4 
9 


1 

-4 


para  las  cmliarcaciones   pequeflas,  y  alU  toinaron   posesiou  Uaniiiudolo  de 
Qiiiiiijic'i'. '  Scijnmlo  liecoimcintii'iito  i/c  In  Eiifniiln,  de  Fiiea. 

^'  I'ort  Discovery. 

''''  'L'lio  former  was  evidently  the  present  liosario  Strait. 

'■'■'  Tlui  native  name  waa  Quiuicaniet. 

"'Barclay  Sound. 


12 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYAGES. 


Pta.J< 

•-"c-rronl 


>y^ 


.•ei.\\-  //is  d 


■^    Sn.Jose 


i^Ptii.v-^Bajode 

Vto.de  Nra.^^      5,^0  ^o^     ^.-     .^  ^     <>  #,..  .uc.  1  r,   . 

AiWuaV"-.  ,^?>^     •■•''        ^'^      \Pta.dt.  Herrera     ]  '"."-'""^A   \  C 

siy  Boca  Jc  V/iiivasifdS^X  <'t~,_N     /^     '  '' 

.t'.i"'i'r^^_-'.'r^L-,5yEMJ'.''.  _..m'to:(5el  Socorro' 


IS. DEO      .,'V.'      -    ■      , , j-.e-v, 

.      .  I^DI'I'  'A         , .- r:r^-.  fiilEME'.<^ 


^• 


■%>. 


1(1  30 


Eusa'h  Map. 


"' '  Recoiiocf 
ii'ia  y  media  im 


SURVEY   OF  IIAIIO  STRAIT. 


18 


iP 


Ci'irlos  to  C6rcloba  Harbor.  On  May  3Lst,  the  armed 
launcli  wasdespatclicd  under  Verdia,  tlie  second  j>//o to, 
to  explore  Haro  Strait,  but  returned  the  same  day 
with  the  report  that  a  Heet  of  canoes  liad  surrounded 
the  launch,  and  made  such  hostile  demonstrations  that 
tiie  crew  had  been  obliged  to  resoi-t  to  fire-arms. 
Observing  more  Indians  on  shore  preparing  to  reiin- 
force  the  enemy,  Verdia  deemed  it  prudent  to  return, 
alter  having  sunk  a  big  canoe  and  killed  several  natives. 

In  view  of  this  contrdevips,  Elisa  resolved  to 
Mait  for  the  return  of  the  schooner  before  sending 
(lilt  another  expedition.  She  arrived  twelve  days 
lati^r,  with  an  account  of  the  archipelago  and  branches 
of  tlie  Carrasco  Inlet.  The  examination  of  the  in- 
terior channels  had  been  effected  for  three  leagues 
only,  owing  to  the  stormy  weather  and  the  hostility 
of  the  Indians,  who  had  on  three  occasions  to  be  in- 
timidated with  grape-shot,  fired  at  a  high  range  so  as 
not  to  injure  them. 

Elisa  now  instructed  Piloto  ^osd  Maria  Xarvaez  to 
take  the  schooner  and  launch,  with  thirty  sailors  and 
eight  Catalonian  volunteers,  and  make  a  four  days' 
minute  examination  of  the  Haro  Strait.  He  set  sail 
on  June  14th,  and  entered  the  strait  along  the  western 
shore,  with  the  intention  of  afterward  letting  the  ves- 
sels explore  one  of  the  sides  each;  but  on  reachmg  a 
o'lcmp  of  islands  above  the  present  Cordoba  Bay,  this 
ider.  was  found  impracticable.  An  anchorage  was 
souglit  for  the  night  close  to  the  east  shore  of  Vaii- 
conver  Island,  evidently  near  the  present  Coal  Island; 
and  the  next  morning  Narvaez  steered  eastward,  to- 
ward the  large  opening  which  had  been  noticed  the 
day  before.  After  })assing  several  islands,  he  was 
ohliged  to  enter  for  a  few  hours  into  the  small  harb  : 
of  San  Antonio.^"     The  same  morning,  he  entered  to 


ill 


:   'ti 


hf 


\       ! 


-fKf- 


"■^ '  Recnnocl  un  buen  puerto  annque  pefjueno  pucs  lo  mas  largo  de  ol  ticne 
iiiKi  y  ine<lia  millas,  y  lo  mas  anclio  una,  pero  rosguardaila  de  todo  vioiito.  .  .y 
sc  liiilla  situado  eii  lo  mas  sur  de  la  isla  de  Sayas.'  Elind's  VoyiKjv,  1791,  in 
I'fi]iii-!<  rchtliiitj  In  till'  Treaty  of  Wasldnijtoii,  v.  17li.  This  ia  clearly  licdwell 
Hiirlior  on  Tender  Island. 


^ 


14 


SUMMARY  OF  E'ARLIEST  \'0YAGE.S. 


examine  the  present  Plumper  Sound,  and  then  rounded 
East  point  on  Saturna  Island,""  to  behold  spreading  out 
l)efore  him,  as  far  as  his  eyes  could  see,  a  very  wide  canal. 
This  being  the  most  important  discovery  made  so  far, 
he  resolved  to  name  it  in  honor  of  the  i)atron  saint  of 
the  expedition,  El  Gran  Canal  de  N""  S"  del  Rosario, 
la  marinera,.  the  Gulph  of  Georgia  of  Vancouver.'^ 

Narvaez  explored  this  canal  very  nearly  to  the 
mouth  of  Johnstone  Strait,  noting  a  number  of 
places  on  his  map,  and  among  them  the  entrance  to 
Nanaimo  harbor,  which  he  names  Wenthuysen,  Tejada 
Island,  and  the  mouths  of  Eraser  River. ■'^'* 

The  explorati(m  in  Fuca  Strait  and  adjoining  waters 
terminated  on  August  7th,  when  Elisa  withdrew  to 
seek  remedies  for  his  scurvy-stricken  crew  and  the 
failing  larder.  He  himself  had  been  confined  by 
sickness  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time.'"^^ 

Galiano  and  Valdes  m  the  ships  Sutil  and  Mexi- 
cana  leave  Mexico  soon  after  to  prosecute  discoveries 
round  Vancouver  Island,  which  expedition  we  shall 
encounter  later. 


By  the  terms  of  settlement  which  followed  the  dis- 
turbances at  Nootka,  Spain  was  to  restore  all  property 
seized,  and  England  was  neither  to  navigate  nor  to  fish 
within  ten  leagues  of  any  spot  occupied  by  Spaniards; 
elsewhere  the  navigation  of  the  Northwest  Coast 
should  be  free  to  both  powers.  And  in  the  execu- 
tion of  these  terms,  commissioners  appointed  on  either 
side  were  to  meet  at  Nootka  for  the  settlement  of 
British  claims. 


George  Vancouver, 


30 


being  about   to  sail  for   the 


^  Marked  as  Pt"  <le  Sta  Satumina  on  filisa's  map. 

'•"  '  En  el  medio  de  el  se  distinguia  com  a  perder  de  vista  iin  pequeflo.cerro, 
&  moda  de  Pan  de  Azucar,  siendo  adverttiicia  que  los  estremc*!  6  puiitas  do 
tiurra  que  formaii  este  canal  ea  serrania  iiuiy  elevada,  cubierta  de  nieve. '  //). 

'"*  These  are  marked  as  openings  between  some  islands,  but  behind  them, 
on  the  continent,  is  laid  down  a  wider  inlet,  Boca  de  Floriila  Blanea,  which 
the  Spanish  explorers  of  the  following  year  identified  with  Burrard  Inlet. 

■■"  Sutil  y  Mexicana,  Viage,  2. 

'"  At  this  time  lieutenant,  afterward  post-captain  in  the  British  navy. 
He  had  served  as  midshipman  with  C.iptain  Cook  during  his  second  and  third 


ro-vages.  After  8( 
|"i  17118,  while  the 
I     ^'.Mcares,   Voy. 

'''^'-'e  Vancouvi 


BODEGA  Y   CUADRA  AND  VANCOUVER. 


15 


Pacific  on  an  exploring  tour,  is  commissioned  to  act 
for  Eiiiiland,  and  Dcm  Juan  Francisco  de  la  B()doi«;a 
V  Cuadra,  for  Spain.  Vancouver  appears  upon  the 
coast,  near  Cape  Mendocino,  in  the  sloop  of  war  Dis- 
covery, with  the  armed  tender  Chatham,  Lieutenant 
Broughton,  master,  in  April  1792,  which  was  the 
month  following  the  departure  of  Bodega  y  Cuadra 
from  San  Bias  with  the  Santa  Gertrudis,  Activa,  and 
Priucesa.  Coasting  northward,  and  scattering  names 
freely  on  the  way,  Vancouver  calls  Trinidad  Head 
Kocky  Point;  next,  Point  St  George,  "and  the 
very  dangerous  cluster  of  rocks  extending  from 
thence,  the  Dragon  Rocks,"  also  St  George  Bay,  fol- 
lowed by  Cape  Orford,  in  honor  of  his  "much  re- 
spected friend,  the  noble  earl,"  and  Point  Grenville,^^ 
"after  the  Right  Honorable  Lord  Grenville."  The 
points  Mearcs  named  he  recognizes,  and  among  them 
Cape  Disappointment  and  Deception  Bay,  though 
like  the  others  he  passes  unobserved  the  entrance  to 
the  Columbia  River,  which  otherwise  v.'ould  certainly 
1  have  liad  another  name,  and  perhaps  another  liistory. 
As  Vancouver  nears  Fuca  Strait  he  meets  the  ship 
Columbia,  Captain  Gray,  who  is  astonished  at  the 
stories  told  of  him  in  England,  that  he  "  had  made  a 
very  singular  voyage  behind  Nootka,"  in  the  sloop 
Washington,  True,  he  had  seen  Dixon  entrance,  and 
I  had  passed  into  Fuca  Strait  some  fifty  miles,  where 
he  had  been  told  by  the  natives  of  an  extensive  open- 
ing to  the  northward,  but  he  had  returned  where  he 
had  entered.  In  latitude  46°  10',  he  had  discovered 
the  mouth  of  a  river,  "where  the  outlet  or  reflux  was 
so  strong  as  to  prevent  his  entering  it  for  nine  days."^"^ 
He  had  passed  the  winter  at  Clayoquot  Harbor,  wheio 
Jhe  had  erected  a  fortification,  naming  it  Fort  Defiance, 
land  had  built  a  vessel,  calling  it  the  Adventure,  which 


'M 


■A  M 


jyoyagea.     After  serving  in  the  West  Indies  and  elsewhere,  he  died  in  England 
jin  17118,  while  the  iiarrativo  of  his  voyages  was  jjassing  tlirougli  the  press. 
I     ^'  Mcares,   Voy.,  1G9,  gave  the  same  name  to  a  headland  just  above  Cape 
|Look(iiit. 

^'!Sue  Vancouver's  Voy.,  i.  215. 


16 


SUMMARY  OF   EA1UJE.ST  V()YA(IE.S. 


lie  liatl  sent  to  Queen  Charlotte  Islands.     After  wliicli 
parley,  oaeli  sails  his  way. 

Passing    between    Tatooch    Island  and    a  ruck    to 
which  is  o'iven  tlie  name  of  Duncan,  the  Rcsolnlioii 
and    Dii^covcry  enter    Fuea    Strait,  and    on  the  30t]i 
of  April  anchor  near   a  "low  sandy  ]»oiiit  of  land, 
which    from  its  threat  resemhlance    to  Dunjjfeness  in 
the  British  Channel,"  V^ancouver  calls  New  Dunge- 
ness.     The  lolty  mountain  toward  the  north-east,  "dis- 
covered in  the  afternoon  by  the  third  lieutenant,"  is 
in  coini>lim  Mit  to  him  called  Mount  Baker.     Survey- 
ing thence   in    small    boats.  Protection   Island,  Port 
Discovery,  into  which  the  shii)s  are  moved,  and  Port 
Townsend  are  seen  and  named,   the  last  "in  honor 
of  the  nolde  manpiis  of  that  name."     An  inferior  poiiit 
receives   the    name    of  an    inferior   person,  Hudson. 
Some    difficulty    is    exi)erienced    in    obtaining    fresli 
water,  but  the  country  is  pronounced  charming,        li 
every  move  new  l)eauties  appearing.     The  7th  of 
Vancouver  embarks  in  the  Discovery  s  yawl,  witJi  iHs 
launch  and    the  Chathavis  cutter,  with   a  five  days' 
suj)ply  of  stores.     Dining  at  P(jrt  Townsend,  the  cliff  I 
adjacent  seemingly  composed  of  indurated  clay  is  called 
Marrowstono  Point,  while  the  round  snowy  peak  thatj 
glistens  in    the  soutli-west  is  called    Mount  liainier 
"after  my  friend  Rear- Admiral  Kainier."     Oak  Covol 
and  Hazel  Point  are  so  named  on  account  of  the  trees 
there ;  Foulweather  Blulf,  because  the  M'eather  changes 
wluMi  })assing  it.      Hood  Canal  is  entered,  and  named 
"after  tiie  liight  Honorable  Lord  Hood;"  upon  the i 
land  and  its  people  comments  are  passed,  and  the  com- 
mander returns  to  the  ships. 

Leavhig   now  the    Chatham,   with    instructions   toi 
Broughton  to  make  observations  in  that  vicinity,  and 
then  to  follow,  on  the  18th  Vancouver  enters  with  tlit'l 
Discovery  the  inlet  he  calls  Admiralty,  and  the  next 
day  orders  a  ])arty  in  the  launch  and  cutter,  undeij 
Peter  l^uget,  lieutenant,  and  Joseph  Whidbey,  master, 
to  precede  him,  discover,  and  reuort,  while  with  uiurel 


UlST.  Bbi 


GEORGE  VANCOUVER. 


17 


ck   to 

il  alio  II 

I  aotli 

land, 

less  in 
)uu!i;i'- 
:,  "dis- 
mt,"  is 
lurvcy- 
i,  Tort 
d  Port 
I  liontir 
)r  poiiit 
ludson. 
f    fresh 

k "    ^' 

of 

vitli  iUs 
e  days' 
blic  clill'! 
IS  called  1 
ak  tliat  I 
llainier 
i\i  Cove  I 
he  trees  i 
changes 
nanudi 
pon  tilt-' 
he  coin- 
Lions   to  I 

[ity,  «'»^^ 
;itli  tliel 

Jic  next  I 
undt-'i'l 
niastev,  ■ 
bli  more 


"i  -^'         t^'i.       ^.^         y^  %-f — t  ■  \v>sg3Pt.Fr«V)ai 


A 

1 

n 

1^ 

VAvrorvEii's  Map,  No.  1. 
UiBT.  Brit.  Col.    % 


IS 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYAGES. 


comfortable  leisure  he  sounds  the  channel,  makes 
short  excursions,  examines  strange  sights,  and  bathes 
in  new  beauties.  While  thus  engaged,  on  the  23d 
Port  Orchard  is  seen,  and  the  next  day  named  "after 
the  gentleman  who  discovered  it." 

Broughton  now  appears  with  the  CliatJiam  and 
informs  Vancouver  that  to  the  north  of  Port  Dis- 
covery is  an  archipelago,  beyond  which  is  a  large  arm 
of  the  sea.  Impatient  of  delay,  on  the  26th  Van- 
couver sets  out  in  the  yawl,  leaving  orders  with 
Broughton,  should  Pugot  and  Whidbey  return, 
to  have  the  arm  running  easterly  examined.  The 
result  is  the  discovery  and  naming  of  Vashon  Island, 
"after  my  friend  Captain  Vashon  of  the  navy,"  and 
"to  commemorate  Mr  Puget's  exertions,"  Pugot 
Sound  being  applied  only  to  the  southern  extremity 
of  Admiralty  Inlet.  Next  the  explorers  enter  that 
arm  of  the  inlet  extending  toward  the  north-east, 
and  on  the  king's  birthday,  the  4th  of  June,  take  I 
formal  possession  of  the  coast  country,  and  so  call  the 
place  Possession  Sound.  The  open  Avater  beyond 
the  islands  is  called  the  Gulf  of  Georgia,  and  the 
continent  adjacent  and  extending  southward  to  the 
forty-fifth  parallel,  New  Georgia,  "in  honor  of  his 
present  Majesty."  The  western  arm  of  this  branchj 
of  Admiralty  Inlet  is  called  Port  Gardner,  "after! 
Vice- Admiral  Sir  Alan  Gardner,"  the  smaller  eastorni 
one.  Port  Susan. ^^  Pcnn  Cove  is  so  named  "in  honor| 
of  a  particular  friend." 

Passing  northward  out  of  Admiralty  Inlet,  Point! 
Partridge,  directly  opposite  Penn  Cove,  and  Pointj 
Wilson,  "after  my  much  esteemed  friend  Captainj 
Geor'go  Wilson  of  the  navy,"  and  Deception  Passagel 
are  named.  Sending  frequent  parties  in  boats  un(l| 
on  shore  in  various  directions,  the  expedition  continucl 
through  Rosario  Strait,  which,  however,  is  not  liorer 

''Vancouver's  conception  of  thecliaractcrand  extent  of  these  sheets  of  wateij 
was  iniite  erroneous,  and  nioilern  maps  almost  er';hdn^;e  tiieir  icl;itive  uumif 
and  positions.  In  proof  of  which  wo  have  hiter  in  this  narrative,  Uec'.'j'fi''' 
passage  leading  into  Port  Gardner, 


i    ! 


akes 

,thes 

23cl 

after 

and 
Dis- 


It,  Point! 
Id  Point! 
I  Captainl 

Passage! 
kits  unci 
Lutinuci 
Vet  Uevel 

leetsof^atej 

l,..,.„>liol| 


Vancouver's  Map,  No.  2. 


I  ,1 


i : 


20 


SUMMARY  OP  EARLIEST  VOYAGES. 


SO  named,  touching  en  route  at  a  bay  which  they  call 
Strawberry  Bay,  on  the  shore  of  an  island  which,, 
"producing  an  abundance  of  upright  cypress,"  they 
name  Cypress  Island,  and  passes  on  by  Bellingham 
and  Birch  bays,  and  points  William,  Francis,  Roberts, 
Grey,  Atkinson,  Gower,  Upwood,  and  Scotch  Fir  to 
Burrard  and  Jervis  canals  and  Howe  Sc  ,  where 
are  Passage  and  Anvil  islands.  The  us^  -1  sound 
reasons  are  generally  given  in  the  naming,  such  as 
"in  compliment  to  my  friend  Captain  George  Grey 
of  the  navy;"  Roberts  "after  my  esteemed  friend 
and  predecessor  in  the  Discovery;^  "after  Sir  Harry 
Burrard  of  the  navy;"  "in  honor  of  Admiral  Earl 
Howe;"  "in  honor  of  Admiral  Sir  John  Jervis;" 
and  so  on.  Indeed,  it  were  well  for  one  coveting  easy 
immortality  to  be  a  friend  of  Captain  Vancouver's 
about  this  time,  the  aboriginal  owners  and  occupants 
being,  like  earlier  Spanish  navigators,  wholly  ignored 
in  this  naming.'^* 


A 


At  anchor,  near  Point  Grey,  on  the  22d  of  June, 
Vancouver  being  then  out  on  a  boat  excursion  discov- 
ers two  Spaiiish  vessels  of  war,  the  brig  Sutil,  and 
the  schooner  Mcxicana,  Galiano  commanding  the  for- 
mer and  Valdes  the  latter,  both  captains  in  the  Span- 
ish navy,  sent  by  the  viceroy  of  Mexico  to  continue 
Spanish  discovery  through  Fuca  Strait.  They  hatl 
Bailed  from  Acapulco  in  March,  and  from  Nootka 
early  in  June,  had  entered  Fuca  Strait  and  anchored 
in  the  Puerto  de  Nunez  Gaona,  now  Neali  Bay. 
There  they  found  the  Pruiccsa,  under  Salvador  Fi- 
dalgo,  who  had  orders  to  plant  in  that  vicinity  a  Span- 
ish establishment  similar  to  tliat  at  Nootka.  Thence  | 
they  crossed  to  Cordoba,"''  or  Victoria,  which  they  pro- 

•*  Sarah,  Mary,  un<l  Sus.in  must  Imve  been  early  inamoratas,  or  eUo  rela- 
tives of  the  commander  and  Ids  frien<ls, 

"^It  beiag  not  ul)solutely  certain  that  this  port  is  Victoria,  the  C^rddlwl 
of  Quimper,  I  will  jrive  the  author's  own  description  of  tlie  place  'El  l'u<'i'to 
«lc  <;;iM<l()l)a  es  iicrmoso  y  proporeiona  bucn  abrigo  A  los  navegaiites;  pero  en 
fl  cacasea  el  agiia,  si-gun  vinios,  y  noa  iuformii  Tetacus;  cl  terreno  cs  muy  tie- 
aigual,  do  pocu  ultura,  y  como  mauilicstan  lus  ucrciiuias  do  poco  espeaui  la  I 


SUTIL  Y   MEXICANA. 


21 


nounced  a  beautiful  harbor,  but  lacking  water.  From 
Nufiez  Gaona  tl^y  had  brought,  to  Cordoba,  Tetacus, 
a  chief  of  that  country,  whose  village  they  visited ; 
hut  the  natives  were  suspicious  owing  to  the  cannon- 
ading inflicted  during-  the  [)i'cvious  year  by  the  schooner 
ISatununa  in  defence  of  the  launch  of  tlie  Sail  Carlos, 
which  had  accompanied  her. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  they  left  Cordoba,  crossed  the 
iliunncl,  and  anchored  on  the  east  side  of  San  Juan 
Island,^'®  such  being  the  name  it  bears  on  tlieir  map. 
Thence  passing  through  the  strait  south  of  what  they 
called  Guemes  Island,  now  Lawrence  Island,  to  the 
mainland,  tliey  proceeded  northward  to  Point  William, 
which  they  called  Point  Solano,  and  anchored  in  the 
northern  part  of  Bellingham  Bay,  whicli  tliey  named 
Seno  de  Gaston,^'  There  they  grounded,  and  so  re- 
mained a  few  hours,  when  continuing  their  course 
through  Canal  Pacheco,  cast  of  Pacheco  Island,  now 
called  McLoughlin  Island,  they  hugged  the  shore  of 
tlie  mainland  i)ast  Birch  Bay,  which  tlicy  called  En- 
sc'iiada  del  Garzon,  and  entered  Boundary  Bay,  naming 
Peninsula  de  Cepeda  and  Punta  de  San  Rafael.^'* 

While  seeking  to  pass  Point  Roberts,  not  having 
yet  mot  Vancouver,  they  encountered  Brougliton  in 
the  Chatham,  and  after  exchanuiny,'  courtesies,  Galiano 
and  Valdes  continued  close  to  the  si  lore,  until,  as  they 
aiiproached  the  mouth  of  Fraser  River,  tluy  noticed 
the  water  assume  a  different  color,  but  before  they 
could  discover  the  river,  they  were  carried  by  the 
tuiient  out  into  the  strait,  and  were  forced  to  seek 
aiK'Jiorage  for  the  night  on  the  otlier  side,  whicli  they 
found  at  a  place  called  by  them  Anclage,  on  Galiano 

injii  do  tierra  ijiie  hay  soliru  la  picdra.  Sin  umbargo  cs  fortil,  estd  ciil>it'i'ta 
Ik'  arlioles  y  plantas,  y  ijsta.s  iirddiKoumes  sim  (juasi  las  misinas  ([uu  las  do 
Nutkii,  almudaudo  mas  los  rosalos  silvostros.'   Siilil  y  Mcdirann,   Viaiji',  4li-.S. 

'''Thoir  narrativo  says  Siii  Juan  Island,  but  it  was  probably  Lopez  Island 
will ii;  they  canii/  to  anchor,  as  in  tiiuir  map  the  two  islands  are  joined. 

'  All  tiiis,  of  course,  was  before  Va  ico\iver  had  been  tliero. 

■'  The  fonner  applied  to  Point  Roberts,  and  the  latter  to  the  northern  point 
"f  I 'ray  ton  Harbor.  The  [>resent  Boundary  Bay  is  laid  down  on  thoir  map  as 
Kii-'riada  del  Kiigano,  so  called  on  account  of  their  failure  to  find  there  a  pas- 
iHigc:  iutu  thu  gulf  of  Guorgia,  uiarked  ou  their  map  as  Canal  del  itusurio. 


m 


■'J, 


22 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYAGES. 


,. 


Island.  Continuing, on  the  1  oth  they  entered  what  they 
called  Portier  Inlet,  discovered  the  islands  adjacent, 
and,  returning  the  same  way,  coasted  the  eastern  side 
of  Valdes  Island,^''  seeking  Point  Gaviola,  failing  to 
find  which  they  rounded  Gabriola  Island,  and  entered 
through  Wenthuysen  Channel  a  port  called  Cala  del 
Descanso,  now  Nanaimo.  Landing,  they  obtained 
water  and  provisions  from  the  natives,  after  which, 
on  the  1  Oth  they  embarked  for  the  opposite  side  of  the 
strait,  which  they  reached  the  following  day,  anchoring 
off  Point  Grey,  which  they  call  Punta  de  Langara. 

Very  affable  and  polite  are  these  strangers  thus 
meeting  in  the  strange  waters  behind  Nootka,  who 
are  so  ready  on  occasion  to  cut  each  other's  throats. 
The  English  invite  the  Spaniards  to  join  expeditions. 
Each  with  liberal  courtesy  shows  the  other  what  ho 
has  found.  Galiano  is  surprised  that  Vancouver  did 
not  discover  Eraser  River;  for  the  Spanish  explorers 
who  had  the  previous  year  passed  along  this  coast, 
had  observed  between  points  Roberts  and  Grey  au 
opening  which  was  either  an  inlet  or  a  river,  and 
which  they  located  on  their  map,  calling  it  Canal  do 
Eloridablanca,'"'  and  the  present  Spanish  captains  as 
they  but  now  approached  their  present  anchorage  had 
noticed  that  the  water  thereabout  was  almost  fresh, 
and  that  in  it  were  logs  and  dthris  floating,  sure  evi- 
dence of  a  stream  near  by.  Vancouver,  in  common 
with  other  explorers,  had  passed  the  Columbia  with- 
out observing  it,  under  circumstances  reflecting  no 
great  credit  upon  his  expedition,  and  now  he  is  greatly 
chagrined  no  less  in  being  unable  to  discover  large 
rivers,  after  their  existence  has  been  told  him,  than 
that  the  Spaniards  should  have  been  before  him  at 
all  in  these  parts. *^     Pie  wonders  how  they  can  go 

^"Soine  modern  maps  give  two  islands  the  name  Valdds,  tliis  being  tlic 
more  soutiiern. 

*"  '  Named  1)y  one  of  their  officers  Rio  Blnnclio,  in  compliment  to  the  tluu 
prime-minister  of  Spain.'    Vnni-onvi'r'n  Voij.,  i.  ,'{14. 

*'  'I  cannot  avoid  acknowledging,'  lie  writes.  Voy.,  i.  .SI2,  'that  on  this 
occasion  I  cxpcrieuctd  uo  bmall  degree  of  murtilicatiun.'    '  En  el  auo  outenor 


MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  SPANIARDS. 


PjnfaC  ^-'.c*'  \ 

f  I't.i.iU'       \s>  J>- 

i^.iv-itovaii     <Vi:o.rtc    ^^ 


r 
>. 
o\ 


Cabo  de 


Yy   .'^  P.«"ta  da  Zoballo* 


^iM^adel  Pesiu^r^- ■    'H^^^^--^A        X:x> 


0 


I 

f  "I 


■'it 

H 

K    t'^^l 

i 

fl 

::iii 

^ 

|fl 

f'U 

» ->.l 

.« 

1  hH 

i  fjt'-a 

S .  H 

Vl'jfi 

i.t  H 

iR'"  1 

! 

"',•   ■ 

•| 

"}'■    1 

4 

''>    \      1 

^i 

~''^H     '1 

k'l 

M;|| 

>i™ 

Its  ^ 

i' 

t      i| 

J':  ',    'i 


Galiano'.s  Map. 


mi 


i 


II 


24 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST   VOYAGES. 


SO  far  and  accomplish  so  much  m  a  craft  so  ill  suited 
to  voyages  of  discovery.*^ 

As  regards  the  discoveries  of  the  Spaniards  before 
liim  in  these  parts,  Galiano  shows  him  a  map  on  which 
is  laid  down,  besides  much  other  new  information, 
Tejada  Island  and  Rosario  Strait.*'*  Vancouver  is 
also  informed  that  Cuadra  awaits  him  at  Nootka. 
Then  tlie  Spaniards  dine  the  English,  and  the  English 
dine  tlie  Spaniards,  amidst  profound  punctilios;  after 
which  they  continue  their  explorations  for  a  time 
together,  the  Spaniards  making  now  and  then  an  ex- 
cursion in  one  direction  and  the  English  in  another. 

On  the  23d  of  Jii  c^,  entering  Burrard  Inlet,  called 
by  them,  on  their  map.  Canal  de  Sasamat,  the  Indian 
name  of  the  place,  and  in  their  text,  Eloridablanca, 
indicative  of  the  supposition  that  the  stream  they 
found  flowinii;  into  it  was  the  true  canal  or  river  of 
their  predecessors,  mistermed  Blancho  by  Vancouver, 
and  later  Eraser  River,  the  Spaniards  pass  by  Howe 
and  Jervis  inlets,  already  examined  by  the  English, 
and  the  combined  fleet  sails  on  through   Malaspina 

habiau  visto  nuestros  ofilciales  del  departameiito  de  San  Bias  a  alguna  dis- 
tauoia  esta  parto  de  costa,  y  no  dovisando  lo  mas  baxo  de  ella  habian  creiilo 
que  las  ticrnis  inmediatas  &  Punta  de  Langara  y  la  Peninsula  de  Cepeda  fuescn 
dos  islas  situadas  en  la  boca  del  Canal  de  Floridablanca;  asi  las  coloc^ron  en 
8u  carta.'  Siitll  y  Mcxicana,  Viwje,  G4. 

" '  Thoy  were  each  about  45  tons  burden,  mounted  two  brass  guns,  and 
were  navi;^atcd  by  ^4  men,  bearing  one  lieutenant,  without  a  single  inferiiir 
officer.  Tiieir  apartments  just  allowed  room  for  sk'cping-places  oneacli  side, 
with  a  table  in  the  intermediate  space,  at  which  four  persons,  with  some  ditli- 
culty,  could  sit,  and  were  in  all  otlior  respects  the  moat  ill-calcidated  and 
unfit  vessels  that  could  possibly  be  imagined  for  such  an  expedition.'  Van- 
couver s  Vol/.,  i.  313. 

**  Vancouver  evidently  misread  this  chart,  as  he  calls  the  island  Favida, 
and  places  on  his  own  map  the 'Canal  de  Xciestra  Sonora  del  1'osario,' or 
if  we  would  choose  between  the  bad  Spanish  of  the  maj)  and  that  of  the  text, 
the  'Canal  del  Neustra  Signora  del  Kosario,'  between  Tejada  I.sland  and  tlie 
mainland.  Now  it  was  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  itself  to  which  the  Spanianlsgavo 
the  name  Canal  del  Kosario,  and  not  to  the  narrow  passage  between  Tejaila 
Island  and  the  mainland,  which  latter  they  called  Malaspina  Strait,  the  name 
it  now  bears.  It  were  possible,  as  it  is  indeed  the  fact,  that  the  Canal  del 
Kosario  of  the  Spaniards  has  been  crowded  down  by  the  Gulf  of  Georgia  of 
tlie  English  into  the  narrow  channel  at  its  southern  end  between  the  Sail 
Juan  Islands  and  the  mainland;  but  we  should  hardly  expect  to  see  our  Inily 
of  Kosario  making  at  one  leap  such  distance  as  from  Tejada  to  Fidal,.;o 
Islands.  Compare  (.'(irtn;ir'ip/ii/  P.  ('.,  MS.,  lii.  ]'J4.  The  present  Rosaiiii 
Strait  is  called  on  early  Spaninh  maps  Canal  de  Fidalgo.  It  was  iu  1849  that 
the  British  admiralty  made  this  change. 


JAMKS  JOHNSTONE.  2S 

Strait,  and  anchors  in  tlie  arcliijiclago  at  an  island 
<'!illud  by  the  Spaniards  Quenia,"  the  Enghsh  naming 
l*(jint  Marshall  and  Savaiy  Island  on  their  way. 

It  is  here  agreed  by  the  combined  fleet  to  send  out 
tliico  boat  expeditions,  the  Spanish  under  Valdes 
to  jti'oceod  northward  into  the  opening  called  by  him 
Ciiiial  de  la  Tabla,^^  misnamed  by  modern  map-makers 
Toba,  the  English  under  James  Johnstone,  an  officer 
(HI  board  the  Chatham,  to  enter  the  hmg  narrow 
p;issage  to  which  was  subsequently  given  his  name, 
uliilo  Puget  was  to  survey  wbat,  by  reason  of  the 
lilcak  earth  and  lowering  opaque  sky,  Vancouver  was 
c'liistrained  to  call  Desolation  Sound.  Galiano  also 
n-dos  out,  and  finds  what  he  calls  Canal  del  Arco,  now 
Hoinfray  Channel,  which  extends  from  Punta  Sarmi- 
riito^"  to  Canal  de  la  Tabla.  East  of  Punta  Sarmi- 
ciito  Galiano  finds  an  inlet  ending  in  two  branches, 
ti)  which  he  gives  names,  to  the  southern  Malaspina, 
and  to  the  eastern  Bustamante.  Many  of  the  inlets 
lu'icabout  are  entered  and  named  by  both  the  Spanish 
and  Enijlish:  thus  the  Punta  de  Mao;allanes  of  Ga- 
liano  is  the  Point  Mudge  of  Vancouver,  the  Brazo 
do  (^uintano  of  Galiano  is  the  Bute  Inlet  of  Van- 
couver, the  Brazo  de  Salamanca  of  Galiano  is  the 
Loug]d)orough  Canal  of  Vancouver,  and  so  on.  The 
world  has  indeed  progressed  when  we  behold  in  this 
f.ir-away  wilderness  the  representatives  of  two  great 
l']uropean  j)Owers  laboring  side  by  side  for  the  exten- 
sion of  knowledge,  vying  with  one  another  in  their 
noble  eftbrts  of  discovery.  Such  a  sight  had  never 
before  been  seen  in  these  parts. 

The  od  of  July,  Johnstone  is  sent  a  second  time  into 
the  narrow  passage  which  he  had  found,  and  in  com- 
pany with  Swaine  passes  through  it  to  within  full 
view  of  the  ocean.*' 

"  I'lobalily  Cortes  lalaiul. 

*  Oil  account  of  a  woo<luu  table  carved  in  aboriginal  hieroglyphics  found 
tluii-c. 

"'Called  by  Vancouver  Point  Sarah. 

*■  'I:i  tlie  atlas  of  La  reronse,  178(i,  No.  'J9,  Scott  Idamls,  at  the  nortliorn 
will  (if  Vancouver  Island,  are  called  lies  ile  Sartine;  Uixou  calls  them  liures- 


•ill 


il' 


'il 


88  SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST   VOYAGES. 

The  S[){niiards  in  their  crazy  craft  beln<^  unable  tr, 
keep  phice  witli  the  finer  vessels  of  the  English,  Gall- 
ano  politely  requests  Vancouver  to  proceed  and  leave 
him  beliind,  which  he  does.     Vancouver  then  follows 
Johnstone's  track  to  the  ocean,  naming  Point  (^hathani, 
Port    Neville,  Call   and    Knight   canals,    Broughtoii 
Archipelago,  Deep    Sea  Bluti',  Fife    Passage,  })oints 
Duff  and  Gordon,   Blount  Stephens,  Wells  Passage, 
Boyles,  and  other  ])oints.      In  Queen  Charlotte  Sound, 
so  named  by  Wedghorough,  captain  of  the  Kxpcriniciii, 
in   irsn,  the  Discovery  runs  on  a  rock,  but  finally  es- 
capes without  damage.     The  names  Smith  Inlet  and 
Fitzhugh    Sound,  given    l»y  James    Haima  in   17H(!, 
and  Calvert  Islands,  l)y  Duncan,  are  recognized  and 
ado])tetl    by   Vancouver,      After   entering    Fitzhugli 
Sound,  whei'e  the  vessels  get  aground,  the  expedition 
proceeds  to  Nootka,  where  it  arrives  the   28th  of  Au- 
gust, being  waited  upon  by  a  Spanish  otHcer  with  a' 
pilot,  who  contlucts  it  into  Friendly  Cove. 

After   parting  from  Vancouver  at  Valdvjs  Island, 
Galiano  and  A'^aldes  passed  northward  into  Johnstoiii' 
Strait,  througli  Canal  de  Cordero,  naming  the  Enseii- 
ada    de    Ali-Ponzoni,    the    present    Frederick    Arni;| 
Canal    de    Glavide,    the    cliannel    running    betwceiil 
Valdes  and  Thurlow  Island;  the  Bahias  del  Canoniyol 
y  de  Flores;  Canal  de  Iletamal,  the  Call    Canal  ef 
Vancouver;    Brazo    de    Vernaci,    the     Knight    Inlctl 
of  Vancouver;  Canal  de  Balda,  at  present  Thom})si)ii| 
Sound:    Brazo  de  Ixxldinat,  corresponding   to    Boml 
Sound.      Westward  from  the  last-named  place  is  Canal 
de    Pincdo,    now    Tribune    Creek.      The    Johnstoml 
Strait  of  Vancouver,  (>aliano  and  Valdes  call  Caiiall 
de  Descubierta.     The  jiresent    Broughton  Straits  isl 
named  by  them  Canal  de  Atrevida.     Reaching  tliel 

f.  rtl  Isles;  Map,  SiilH  1/  Jr<:ricaii(t,  i'lei/c,  Islos  Jo  Laiiz.  Car/oijniphif  P.  l\ 
MS.,  iii.  230.  ihis  was  certainly  aTiiong  tlio  tiiMt  poiiitH  seen  in  tliis  viciiiitv;! 
so  tliat  •lolmstoiio  tlicre  f;ni:i(l  liiiiisi'lf  near  what  was  now  oiu!  of  thu  wnrMil 
highways.  'J  hu  islands  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  northern  end  of  Vaneouvt.'l 
Iiland  are  on  the  atlases  of  both  Vancouver  and  the  Sutil  y  Mexiaimi,  ^U 
the  islands  of  Galiano  and  Valdes.' 


GALIANO  AND  VALDES. 


27 


,S Jof  dP^"^--^^^^^^.^       r^ 


S      " 


Vancouvlks  AIai',  No.  3. 


28 


SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYAGES. 


if 


harbor  whore  Fort  Rupert  stood  later,  they  call  the 
place  Puerto  do  Guenies.  Then  rounding  the  north- 
ern end  of  Vancouver  Island  they  sail  for  Nootka. 

Grace,  mercy,  and  peace  continue  the  order  of  the 
day.     Vancouver  offers  to  salute  the  Spanish  ilag  if 
Bodega  y  Cuadra  will  return  the  compliment  with  an 
equal  number  of  guns,  which  offer  is  gracefidly  ac- 
cepted, and  so  from  either  side  thirteen  guns  bellow 
furth    honors.      At  anchor  hero  beside  tlie   S[)anish 
brig  Aetiva  are  Vancouver's  store-ship  Da'dalus,  and 
tlie  Three  Brothers,  a  small  merchant  briiif  from  Lon- 
don,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Alder  of  the  navy. 
Beside  the  cliiefs  of  Spain  and  England  his  aboriginal 
majesty  Maquinna  is  conspicuous;  but  when,  arrayed 
in  robes  of  Adamic  simplicity,  he  attempts  t(j  board 
Vancouver's  vessel  and  is  repulsed,  the  quality  of  his 
savagism    being    unknown,  he  is  very  angry  at  the 
English,  but  is  mollified  and  made  gracious  by  the  Span- 
ish commandant.     The  representatives  of  the  august  I 
rival  powers  now  eat  much  together,  and  talk  in  geiiii- 
Hections.     The  Chatham  is  hauled  on  shore  and  ru- 
])aired.    Galiano  and  Valdes  enter  the  port  the  1st  of 
September.    Letters  ])ass,  and  deep  diplomatism  is  in  I 
order.     To  whom  shall  bolono;  the  several  shanties  on 
this  barbarous  coast  is  of  primary  importance  to  civ- 
ilization.     It  is  unnecessary  to  follow  here  the  sub- 
tile logic  of  these  ship-captains;   the  subject  is  ex- 
hausted in  another  place.     Suffice  it  to  say,  in  aught  I 
save  urbanity  and  obeisance  they  caimot  agree.     Bo- 
dega y  Cuadiu  is  ready  to  draw  the  line  on  this  shore  | 
between  Spain  and  England;  Vancouver's  orders  ex- 
tend only  to  taking  possession  of  his  ]\rajcsty's  huts. 
Jointly  to  glorify  themselves,  and  likewise  to  makei 
innnortal  the  brotherly  love  which  swells  the  breast 
of  both  commandants  in  their  distinmiished  disai2:it'0-| 
ments,  Vancouver  proposes,  and    Bodega  y  Cuadial 
serenely   smiles    acquiescence,   that    the  great  islaiidr 
whereon    they  now    sit    shall    forever    be  known   asl 


CUADRO  AND  VANCOUVER. 


29 


Ciiadra  and  Vancouver  Island.**  The  Spanish  armed 
sliip  Aranzazu,  Caamano,  connnandcr,  enters  the  port 
tlio  8th  of  September.  Other  vessels  here  and  else- 
wliere  on  the  coast  come  and  go,  some  trading,  some 
waiting  on  the  incipient  settlements  at  Nootka  and 
Neah  Bay,  all  jealously  watching  each  other — an 
Knglish  and  an  American  shallop  are  on  the  stocks  at 
Xodtka;  a  French  trader  is  on  the  coast;  besides  the 
Spanish  vessels  named  are  the  Gcrtrmlis,  Covcepcion, 
I'r'nurm,  and  the  ISan  (Jarlos;  further,  the  Fenis  and 
St  Joseph  and  the  brig  Hojie  are  n)entioned. 

And  now  at  Nootka,  Bodega  y  Cuadra  solemnly 
possesses  the  Spanish  huts,  and  Vancouver  soknnnly 
])()ssesses  the  English  huts;  the  questions  involved  are 
leforred  to  home  arbitrament;  then  the  several  squad- 
rons sail  each  their  way  leaving  the  bland  Maquinna, 
with  bloody  appetite  new-whetted,  as  formerlv  lord 
I  of  all. 

On  his  way  to   San   Francisco,  Vancouver  names 

Mount    St   Helens,   "in  honor  of  his  Britannic  ma- 

j  jesty's  ambassadors  at  the  court  of  Madrid,"  and  sends 

Wliidbcy  in    the  Dndalus  to   survey   Gray   Harbor, 

land  J^rouj/hton  in  the  Chatham  to  examine  the  Colum- 

jbia,  his  attempt  to  enter  the  latter  with  the  Discovery 

liaviiiijf  failed. 

Yet  twice  again  before  returning  to  England,  Van- 

[couver  appear'^d  upon  the  Northwest  Coast;  once  in 

April   1793,  Broughton  meanwhile  sailing  for  home, 

jaiid  again  in  April  1794,  after  spending  portions  of 

liotli  winters  on  the  southern  coast  and  at  the  Hawaiian 

j  Islands. ^^     As  hitherto,  wherever  he  went  he  found 


1 


1  111 


^''Both  commanders  were  well  aware  that  in  thus  giving  so  largo  a  body  of 
I  land  their  joint  names,  and  so  recording  it  in  the  text  and  on  the  maps  of  the 
j  expeditions  of  Vancouver  and  of  Galiano  and  Valdes,  one,  and  but  one,  would 
Iremiiin,  and  that  would  depend  entirely  as  to  which  nation  the  territory  fell. 
I  '-'111  tlie  expedition  of  1793,  Vancouver  visited  and  named  Cape  Caution; 
iBurkc  Canal,  '  after  the  Right  Honorable  PJdmund ;'  Fisher  Canal,  *  after  a  miioh 
Ircspected  friend;'  points  Walker,  Edmund,  Edward,  and  Raphoe;  King  Is- 
lland,  'after  the  family  of  my  late  highly  esteemed  and  much  lamented  friend, 
ICiiptaiii  James  King  of  the  navy;  Tort  John,  Dean,  Cascade,  and  Muscle 
IcaiiHls,  and  Restoration  and  Poison  coves;  then  ho  entered  Milbank  Sound, 
Iso  iiaiiiud  by  Duncan,  and  gave  the  name  of  liis  third  lieutenant  to  Cape  Swaiue, 


f: 


aO  SUMMARY  OF  EARLIEST  VOYA(!K.S. 

in  almost  every  instance  that  the  Spaniards  liad  been 
heforo  him. 

From  this  time  down  to  tlic  final  abandonment  df 
this  j)cirt  of  the  coast  by  the  Spaniards,  and  the  [)laiit- 

aftiT  wliit'li  names  wore  given  to  Ottrdncr  Canal,  jioints  Hopkins,  rumniiiig, 
Hunt,  anil  I'latxc,  Hawkeahnry  iHland,  Cape  Jlii>i't.s(iii,  I'itt  Aruliiiielago,  'aftir 
till!  Right  Hduoralile  William  I'itt.'SteplieuH  Island,  'a'ter  Sir  riiilip  Steiiliri  i 
of  tiiu  ailniiralty,' and  (irenville  Canal.  Canal  del  I'rincipo  was  navit>atfd  iind 
named  l)y  Caamailo.  Some  of  the  other  jilaoes  seen  and  named  by  Vaaoonvcr 
in  tiiia voyage  were  Rrowu  Passage,  'after  the  eomuuMuUa'of  the  lhiltiriiiu-lh.' 
I)unda8  Island,  'after  the  Right  llonorahle  lli^nry  l)nnilas; '  Point  Maskilyno, 
'after  the  astronomer  royal; '  Point  Ramsilen,  '  after  Mr  Ramsdiai,  the  opti- 
cian;' CaiieFox,  '  after  the  Kiglit  }lf)noral)le  Charles  .lames  Fox; '  Point  Alava, 
'  in  eoniplinient  to  the  Spanish  governfir  at  Nootka; '  Slate  Islet;  Point  Nelscui, 
'afterCaptain  Nelson  of  tlm  navy; '  Point  Sykes,  'after  one  of  the  gentleniin 
of  the  Disconrij: '  ^joints  TroUoj),  Fitzgihhon,  Lees,  Whaley,  Escape,  Higgiiis, 
l)avidson,  Percy,  ami  Wales,  the  last  named  in  honor  of  his  schoolniastir; 
Burrongh  Bay;  Traitor's  Cove;  Revilla  (iigedo  Island;  Behm  Canal;  Cain; 
Nortluunherland;  I'ortland  Can/d;  Moira  Sound;  Wedge  Island,  'after  the siir- 
:e<in  of  the  t'/nUham ;'  Walker  Cove,  'after  a  gentletnan  of  the  ('liiit/niiii;'  li  11 
sland;  'after  Mr  John  Stewart,  one  of  the  mates,' Port  Stewart;  points  Li 
Mesurier,  (irindall,  Rotlisay,  Hightield,  Madan,  Warde,  Onslow,  IJlaquiiii, 
Howe,  Craig,  Hood,  Alexander,  Mitchell,  Maenamara,  Nesbitt,  Harringtdii, 
and  Stanhope;  Bradlield  Canal;  Prince  Ernest  Sound;  Duncan  Canal;  Bushy 
Island;  Duke  of  York  Islands;  points  P-iker,  Protection,  Barrie,  Beaudiic, 
Amelius,  St  All)an,  Hunter,  North,  Fredt  ick,  Buck,  andBorlase;  Conclusimi, 
Coronation,  and  Warren  Islands;  Cajie  Pole;  Cape  Henry;  Alfleck  Canal;  Duke 
of  Clarence  Strait;  Englelield  Bay;  Prince  of  Wales  Archipelago;  Cartwi'iglit 
Sound;  and  Capo  Decision,  the  last  having  been  given  on  making  \ip  his  niiiul 
that  the  earlist  reputed  discoveries  of  the  Spaniards  were  fabulous.  The  cdii- 
tinent  between  Desolation  Sound  aiul  Gardner  Canal  he  named  New  Hanover, 
to  the  nortliward  of  Gardner  Canal  as  far  as  Point  Rotlisay,  New  Cornwall, 
and  to  the  northward  of  New  Cornwall  as  far  as  Cross  Sound,  New  Norfulk. 
These  with  New  Georgia  and  New  Albion  completed  a  'ery  pretty  stretili  ni 
new  deilicated  crmtinent,  ext'^nding  from  Lower  California  to  Alaska.  To  this 
illustrious  navigator  be  the  further  honor  of  intlictin;.  from  his  endlesa  vocali- 
idary  the  nameless  names  of  personal  friendships  upon  the  places  visited  liv 
him  in  his  voyage  of  1794  as  follows:  Point  Macartney,  Sullivan,  Ellis,  Hani.-, 
Coriiwallis,  Kingsmill,  Hobart,Vandeput,Walpole,  Astley,  Windham,  Amiiri, 
Coke,  Styleman,  Salisbury,  Arden,  Hugli,  Gambler,  Pybus,  Napean,  Wmii- 
house,  Bingham,  Sophia,  Frederick,  Augusta,  Townshend,  Gardner,  Saminl, 
Parker,  Marsden,  Retreat,  Bridget,  St  Slary,  Seduction,  and  'after  the  scat 
of  my  ancestors,  Couverden; '  Chatham  Strait,  'after  Lord  Chatham;'  '' 
Addingtim,  'after  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons;'  po  '  <  {Jm, 
Malmesbury,  Houghton,  Snettesham,  Mary,  Conclusioi  Mtl  i,  ainI 
dalgo;    Prince   Frederick   Sound;    Cape  Fanshaw;    H'  \;  Doul< 

Island,  Stephens  Passage,  Barlow  Cove,  Seymour  Car  .luard;  Kiiii;! 

(ieorge  the  Third  Ai'chipelago;  Berners  B<iy;   Lynn  pomts  I)unai.-.l 

Winddedon,    Lavinia,   Latoiiche,    Maid)y,    Fremauti  ilew,   P.  kenliaiii,! 

Pigot,  Nowell,  Culrosi--,  Countess,  Waters,  and  Pyke;  K,.  '  Islan  :  Di,t.'gii| 
Sound;  W'ingham  Ishaid;  Cape  Spencer;  Passage  Canai;  (  ipe  P  .ut;  Haw- 
kins Island;  Bligh  Isiand;  and  points  Elringtou,  Biiinbridge,  Be  ,mck,  ^\  it- 
shed,  Campbell,  Macicinzie,  and  Woronzow.  I  think  we  may  salily  say  that 
no  one  man  ever  gave  so  i;-any  geographical  names,  which  remaiue<l  perma- 
nently placed  as  Vancouver;  I  wish  I  might  truthfully  add  that  no  one  >  vtr 
exercised  better  taste  in  the  execution  of  such  a  task.  Among  the  naiiiM 
given  by  the  Spaniards  in  this  region,  and  for  the  most  part  respected  by  N'au- 


!    I 


GENERAL  TRAFFIC. 


31 


iii'j,'  of  the  post  of  Astoria  at  the  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
liia  River,  by  the  Ainerieaiis,  in  IMll,  many  ships  of 
vuiimis  nations  roasted  Vaneouver  and  Quceii  Cliar- 
lotte  Islands  and  the  adjacent  niainlaiKi,  eliirfly  for 
juu|M)Si's  of  trartie  with  tho  nativi'S,  and  after  and  ah)ni; 
Willi  tluMU  the  adventurers  of  England  trading-  into 
Jludson's  Bay,  first  in  vessels  only,  and  then  with  all 
t lie  i);iraphernalia  for  permanent  •■stahlishnu'nts,  furth"r 
allusion  to  which  is  not  necessary  in  this  connection. 

(liver,  were  tlio  Canal  <le  Ucvilla  O'||;o(lo,  (w  rcprost'iitcd  on  tlio  chart  ci^ 
I  I  iiiiai'iii  K-itrucho  du  Fucnto-i,  I'lifi'^d  d.l  ( 'aftavcral,  Kiitradii  del  CiiriiicM, 
Ciipc  do  t'liaoon,  Isla  du  Z  lyas,  Calio  Caaiiiaiii),  I'uorto  dol  liayli"  HiUMroli, 
(liscdveivd  liy  IJodi'ga  y  Ciiadra  i..  177."),  ('alio  do  San  IJartolimii',  I'liorto  do 
V:dilt's,  tlio  I'uorto  (Jraviiia  Kidalj,'n;  lint,  as  a  rido,  tlio  iiairu's  ;;ivon  liy  Hii."- 
siau  and  S|)anisli  cxidnrcru  wlio  had  lu'toodod  Vancouver  in  tliotio  parts  vcru 
ill  Ills  rc-naiiiiug  igiiorud. 


'I 


i      :i4 


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m 

ml 

his  miiiil 

The  0(111- 

llaiioviT,  I 

Corinviill, 

Mort'dlli.l 
Btrotdi  ci 
To  this  I 
loss  voci'i- 
visited  livl 
is,  Harri=,| 
,111,  Anni'-T, 
an,  Wdiiii- 
Sainu(-1, 1 
or  the  stall 
am;'  ''<]*\ 
(.  ai 

I)<)llL'l,Ul 

ard;  Knisl 
ts  Dun.husj 
Pkeuliaiii, 
iliuilrfl 

..tick,  ^Vit• 

■ly  say  that  I 
lod  poniw- 
lo  one  (  vt'l 
the  iiani(?i| 
edby  Vm-[ 


'0 


CHAPTER  II. 

GENEKAL  VIEW  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 

Eastern  Parallels — Coxfiguration  of  North-western  America — Brit- 
ish Columbia  Coast  —  Puoet  Sound — Vancouver  Island — QuEf»i 
Charlotte  Islands — Climatic  Sections  of  the  Mainland — New 
Caledonia — Heights  of  Land— The  Columbia  and  Fraser  Platead 
Basin — Skeena  and  Siikeen — Oregon,  Washington,  and  Idaho- 
Northwest  Coast  Climates— Thb:  Temperatcre  of  Various  Local- 
iTiES — Fauna  and  Flora — The  Aborigines — Attitudes  o"  the  Fur- 
traders  and  Settlers  toward  the  Natives — Peaceful  Regime  undeb 
THE  Great  Monopoly — The  Chinook  Jargon. 


hi 


Having  thus  sufficiently  refreshed  our  memory  as  to 
the  carhest  appearance  of  Europeans  in  these  parts, 
before  proceeding  in  chronological  order  with  the 
affairs  of  British  Columbia,  I  do  not  regard  it  time 
lost  to  take  a  general  survey  of  the  condition  of  things 
at  this  juncture  throughout  the  north  Pacific  slope; 
for  although  the  careful  reader  of  that  part  of  this 
history  entitled  the  Northwest  Coast  nmst  have  sonic 
knowledge  of  the  present  state  of  affairs,  another 
glance,  as  at  a  picture  of  the  whole,  cannot  fail  to 
give  a  clearer  and  more  lasting  idea  of  the  country  at 
the  beginning  of  what  may  be  termed  British  Colum- 
bia history  proper. 

California  is  opposite  Spain;  Oregon  and  Washing- 
ton are  on  the  parallels  of  France;  British  Columbia 
is  in  the  latitu<le  of  Great  Britain;  as  the  world  is 
round  and  revolving,  there  is  no  reason  why  one  side 
of  it  should  bo  better  than  another.  Nor  is  it.  Civ- 
ilization is  harder  upon  soils  than  savagism ;  and  the 
steppes  of  Russia  and  Siberia,  though  perhaps  some- 

(83) 


TROMIXENT  FEATURES. 


»3 


xshing- 
llumbia 

lorld  w 

|nc  s'ulo 

Civ- 

Ind  the 

some- 


what more  tlonsely  occupied,  and  with  somewhat  more 
advniiced  indigenous  populations,  are  neither  so  at- 
tractive nor  so  virgin  as  the  prairies,  kike  kinds,  and 
river  and  mountain  districts  of  northernmost  America. 
Each  ]ieniis])hero  has  its  freezing  eastern  side,  and  its 
wanner  western  side,  thanks  to  the  modifying  ocean 
streams  which  come  sun-beaten  from  the  tropics;  and 
for  the  rest,  there  is  little  to  choose;  that  little,  how- 
ever, always  being  in  favor  of  what  each  of  us  may 
call  our  own  country. 

Tlio  Northwest  Coast,  if  wc  comprise  within  the 
limits  of  tliat  term  the  territor}^  from  California  to 
Alaska,  and  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
oeeau,  is  more  varied  in  its  configuration,  some  would 
say  more  grandly  beautii'ul,  than  the  opposite  eastern 
plains.  The  rock  formations  of  the  former  are  more 
(Hsturbed;  the  i-eij^ion  is  mountainous  with  a  hiiih 
irregular  plateau  Ix.^tween  two  principal  ranges,  subor- 
dinate plateaus  intei'vcning  in  ]»laces  between  subor- 
dinate I'anges,  and  all  having  in  the  main  the  general 
trend  of  the  coast.  Thus  dropping  the  appellation  of 
the  great  continental  (diain  which  binds  the  two 
Amei'icas  I'rom  Alaska  to  Patagonia,  and  adopting 
liical  nomenclature,  we  have  for  the  representatives  of 
Itlic  ]htter  Hoot  ]Mountains  ol'  Idaho,  taken  collec- 
jtively,  the  Purcell,  Stdkirk,  Columbia,  Cariboo,  and 
iOuiineca  mountains  of  British  Columbia;  the  Cas- 
jciide  Range  is  a  contiimation  of  the  Sierra  Nevada; 
jVaneouver  and  Queon  Charlotte  islands  are  a  contin- 
latidu  of  the  Coast  Range;  the  great  plateau  region 
i  the  Columbia,  the  Fraser,  and  the  Skeona  rivers  is 
continuation  of  the  Utah  and  Nevada  l)asin. 
Western  British  Columbia  is  essentially  moun- 
;ain()us,  breaking  on  the  border  into  iimumerablo 
•lands  and  ocean  inlet:?,  presenting  a  bokl  rocky  i'ront, 
liL'avily  tindjered  to  the  water's  edy-e. 

Exceedingly  beaiuiful  and  very  grand  is  the  water 
system  of  Puget  Sound,  and  the  labyrinth  of  straits, 
inlijts,  bays,  and  islands  all  along  the  coast  of  British 

Uist.  Urit,  Col.    S 


,1  tcf 


,  >  i}  S 


:  'I  I ;:  'il 


^1  -if 


M 


flENERAL   VIEW   OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 


'■  m 


Columbia.  And  while  St  Lawrence  Gulf  and  Lake 
Superior  are  wrapped  in  biting  cold,  roses  sometimes 
dare  to  bloom  here,  and  green  pease  and  strawberries 
to  prepare  for  their  early  gathering. 

The  island  of  Vancouver  presents  a  mountainous 
interior,  subsiding  at  either  end,  and  at  places  along 
its  eastern  side.  The  shores  are  exceedingly  pictur- 
esque, bold,  rocky,  and  rugged,  broken  on  the  western 
side  into  numerous  bays  and  inlets  like  those  of  the 
mainland,  with  intervening  cliffs,  promontories,  and 
beaches,  while  on  the  northern  and  eastern  sides  the 
absence  of  ocean  indentations  is  remarkable,  Tlie 
island  is  generally  wooded,  the  borders  with  fir,  back 
of  which  are  hemlock,  and  the  mountains  with  cedar. 
Between  the  ridy'es  which  cross  and  interlace  are 
small  valleys  affording  but  moderate  agricultural 
fticilities;  but  on  the  southern  and  eastern  border 
there  are  extremely  fertile  tracts  susceptible  of  easy! 
cultivation,  the  open  spots  offering  the  first  attraction 
to  settlers.  Lakes,  streams,  and  water-falls  everv- 
wliere  abound,  though  the  rivers  are  none  of  theiiij 
larije 

The  Queen  Charlotte  Islands  are  mountainous, 
like  all  adjacent  lands;  and  while  there  are  tracts,  par-j 
ticularly  around  the  border,  which  might  be  succcss-i 
fully  cultivated^  it  is  more  to  the  mmeral  resourcesj 
here  embeilded  that  we  nmst  look  for  profitable  re- 
turns. East  of  the  high  interior  of  Moresby  Island  isl 
a  fiat  bolt  growing  alders.  All  these  islands  arcf 
dense^ly  wooded,  cyjiress  and  s[)ruce  being  promineiitJ 
with  redundant  undergrowth.  The  climate  is  niiklj 
and  moist;  the  natives  arc  liglit-coinplexioned,  intel-j 
ligcnt,  courageous,  and  cruel. 

Still  following  the  all-compelling  mountains,  tliej 
mainland  of  British  Colund)ia  may  be  divided  intoj 
three  sections,  the  first  comprising  the  coastwisel 
strip  between  the  ocean  and  the  eastern  slope  of  tliel 
(^ascade  Bange,  extendiuL^  back,  for  instance,  on  tliJ 
Fraser  as  far  as  Yale;   the  second,  a   ])arallel  .'^trijf 


Lake 
timt'S 
erries 

linovis 

along 

)ictur- 

estcrn 

of  tlie 

s,  and 

es  the 
Tlie 

r,  back 

L  cedar. 

ice   are 

-ultural  I 
border 

of  easy! 

traction  j 
every- 
f  tbeuil 

ttalnous,] 
lets,  par- 

success- 
|esourcos| 
^abie  ri 

island  \i\ 
tnds  artl 

unmL'utl 
is  mm 

;d,  intel- 

ims,  tliel 
hcd  Intol 
toast  wii^ej 

le  of  m 

on  M 
llel  ^trip 


RANGES  AND  PASSES. 


35 


whose  eastern  boundary  lino  would  bo  upon  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  Cariboo  Mountains,  and  cross  the 
Fraser,  say  at  Alexandria ;  the  third  extending  thence 
to  the  Rocky  Mouiitains. 

Dense  woods  containing  trees  of  gigantic  growth, 
pine,  fir,  and  red-cedar,  characterize  the  first  section, 
the  low  alluvial  deposits  about  the  rivers  and  inlets 
being  covered  by  jungle,  with  here  and  there  poplars, 
aldersj  balsam,  and  aspen,  and  sometimes  meadows  of 
coarse  nutritious  grass,  all  the  products  of  rich  soils 
and  copious  rains.  Upon  the  drier  surface  of  the 
second  section  a  different  vegetation  appears.  Indeed, 
the  presence  of  cacti,  artemisia,  and  kindred  shrubs  be- 
yond Lytton  are  significant  of  a  hot  as  well  as  a  dry 
climate.  In  place  of  the  massive  forests  and  redundant 
Hora  of  the  seaboard,  we  find  an  open  country,  hills, 
pastures, and  grassy  vales,  with  intervening  forest  belts. 
Less  suited  to  agriculture,  except  in  the  more  favored 
spots,  more  v/ooded,  yet  still  with  vast  luxuriant  pas- 
tures, is  the  third  section.  On  the  great  plateau  stretch- 
ing far  to  the  north  from  the  branch  bends  of  the  Fraser, 
the  climate  is  much  more  severe  than  between  Cariboo 
and  Kamloop.  On  the  other  side,  toward  the  south 
and  east,  the  temperature  is  much  milder,  particularly 
between  Colville  and  the  Dalles,  where  lies  the  great 
Columbia  cactus-bearing  desert  with  occasional  bunch- 
grass  oases. 

The   mountain    passes   are    usually   blockaded   in 

winter;  yet  in  June,  where  lately  rested  ten  or  twenty 

I  feet  of  snow  the  ground  is  flower-spangled,  and  the 

forests  flush  with  the  bursting  green  of  the  sw(!ct  early 

j  foliage.    Crossing  the   grim   Stony  range   from    the 

east  at  Peace  River,  which  stretches  its  branches  far 

land  wide  within  the  sunniiit  line  of  the  continental 

h'idge,  and  steals  for  the  eastern  slo[)o  the  waters  of 

the  western,  the  first  Scotch  explorers  found  thcm- 

Iselves  in  a  labyrinth  of  minor  ridges  whose  blue  lakes, 

jamong  the  pine-clad  steeps,  brought  to  mind  the  lochs 

land  bens  of  their  old  highland  humes;  so  they  called 


i 

1 

ill 


•  4; 

ii 


%i 


I    i,.; 
1 


I 


H 


36 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 


the  place  New  Caledonia  as  elsewhere  I  have  men- 
tioned. Approaching  McLeod  Lake  the  mountains 
put  on  a  more  stupendous  aspect.  Mackenzie  ibund 
the  temperature  there  from  30°  above  to  10°  below 
zero;  and  though  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow, 
the  gray  wren  and  mountain  robin,  the  latter  arrayed 
in  delicate  fawn  with  scarlet  belly,  breast,  and  neck, 
black  wings  edged  with  fawn,  variegated  tail,  and 
tuft-crowned  head,  came  out  hopping,  and  singing, 
and  eating,  as  though  the  dreary  prospect  only  stirred 
in  them  a  higher  happiness,  just  as  adversity  some- 
times brings  sweet  music  from  otherwise  dumb  hu- 
manity. 

In  this  l)oldly  swelling  country  of  New  Caledonia 
the  scenery  is  varied.  In  the  forests  the  cedar,  fii', 
and  hemlock  assume  magnificent  proportions,  while 
the  co[)ses,  separating  plains  and  open  undulations, 
give  pleasing  variety  to  the  eye.  It  is  singularly  and 
beautifully  watered.  Rivers  mark  out  the  region  in 
natural  districts  often  silver -edi>'ed  with  long  narrow 
lakes,  which  glisten  in  the  sunshine  like  the  watoiJi 
of  paradise. 

There  are  many  heights  of  land  round  which  clus- 
ter snow-clad  peaks,  parting  the  flow  of  waters,  partin;,' 
twin  drops,  sending  one  to  the  Pacific  and  its  brotlur 
to  the  Atlantic;  sending  one  to  mingle  with  the  brine | 
of  the  Mexican  Gulf  beneath  the  vapor-beating  sun, 
and  another  to  be  locked  throughout  the  ages  in  tlie 
icy  embrace  of  the  Arctic  Sea.     All  along  the  conti-| 
nental  range  are  such  heifjhts  of  land,  and  at  maiiv 
points  along  the  north-western  table-land.     Between 
the  tributaries  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  those  of  the 
Colund)ia;  between  the  tributaries  of   Peace   River 
and  those  of  Fraser  and  Skeena  rivers;  betvveen  the 
streams  flowing  into  the  Fraser  all  alonrj  its   conrsel 
and   those    which    feed    the    Columbia    on    the   onel 
side  and   the   Bellacoola   and  Skeena  on  the  otiier, 
there  are  nmltitudes  of  these  heights  of  land,  not  toj 
mention  the  ridges  dominating  the  rivulets  runain^'l 


I  "lugged  anc 


OKANAGAN  AND  KOOTENAI. 


37 


to  tho  Stikcen  and  Yukon,  or  to  the  Mackenzie. 
}[c  who  camps  upon  the  narrow  isthmus  joining  the 
Idi'ty  continental  mountains  and  dividing  tho  higli 
rolling  seas  of  hill  and  plain  on  either  side,  may  till 
his  kettle  from  the  limpid  source  either  of  the  Sas- 
katchewan or  the  Columbia.  But  more  than  this, 
and  most  remarkable  of  anything  of  the  kind  on  the 
planet,  at  that  grandest  of  Rocky  jSIountain  passes, 
the  Athabasca,  is  a  little  lake  called  the  Committee's 
I'nnch  Bowl,  one  end  of  which  pays  tribute  to  the 
Mackenzie  and  tlie  other  to  the  Columbia. 

Tlie  plateau  basin  of  the   Columbia   and  Fraser 
livers  compi'isos  thickly  timbered  uplands  interspersed 
witli  woodland  and  grassy  valleys  bordered  by  pine- 
(l(jtted  hills  rolling  gently  upward  from  limpid  lakes 
and   boisterous    streams.     There  are  few  deserts   or 
worthless  tracts,  and  in  the  forests  but  little  under- 
brush; the  country  is  one  vast  pasture;  prairie  and 
forest,  valley  and  hill  being  covered  with  nutritious 
ijrass.     In  the  Okanagjan  River  district  we  find  in- 
dications  of  that  sandy  waste  which  hence  extends 
southward  as  the  great  American  desert  to  Mexico. 
The  lake  country  irom  Chilcotin  to  Fort  Fraser  and 
beyond  is  generally  open ;  the  river  region  to  the  north 
and  east  of  the  Cariboo    Mountains   between   Fort 
George  and  Yellowhead  Pass  is  thickly  wooded,  Avith 
few  if  any  oj)en  spaces.     Northw^ard  only  the  hardier 
ve'fctation  is  able  to  endure  the  sununer  niyht  i'rosts. 
Between  forts  Kootenai  and  Colville,  the  trail  winds 
along  lakes  and  streams  from  whose  borders  rise  moun- 
tains of  black  rock  hidden    beneath   the    dun     pine 
foliage,  which,  mirrored   in    the  transparent  wat\;rs, 
turns  them  to  lakes  and  rivers  of  dark  and  fathondess 
dcpihs,  while  the  setting  sun  tips  with  gold  the  sum- 
mits of  these  gloomy  wii^rras. 

Tired  travellers  do  not  always  take  the  most  hope- 

jful  view  of  the  wilderness  through  which  they  toil. 

Thus  Sir  George  Simpson  finds  the  Kootenai  country 

"rugged  and  boggy,  with  thick  and  tangled  forests, 


If  f  jii 


I    II 


''V 


■  ■  ■  c 


m 


38 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 


\ii\ 


I : 


Sr  '  (- 


\ri 


craggy  peaks,  and  dreary  vales,  here  and  there  hilb 
of  parched  clay  where  every  shrub  and  blade  of  grass 
was  brown  and  sapless  as  if  newly  swept  by  the  blast 
of  a  sirocco,  with  occasional  jirairies  and  open  swards 
interspersed  with  gloomy  woods  or  burning  pine 
forests,"  Passing  over  the  Fraser  basin,  Johnson  ex- 
claims: "Of  all  the  dismal  and  dreary-looking  places 
in  the  world  the  valley  of  the  Thonii)son  Kiver  for 
some  fifteen  or  twentv  miles  from  its  mouth  would 
easily  take  the  palm!  We  have  thought  the  canons 
of  the  Fraser  rugged  enough,  but  here  was  naught 
but  rocks,  whereon  even  the  hardy  fir  refused  to  vege- 
tate." 

Their  vocabulary  is  scarcely  sufficient  for  the  mighty 
fissure  of  the   Fraser,  whose  waters  gathered   from 
scores  of  lakes  and  tributary  streams  dash  throuj^ii 
gorges  and  between  high  perpendicular  rocks  in  suc- 
cessive cascailes  and  rapids,  with  here  and  there  brief 
breathing-places,      ''The  Fraser  River  Valley,"  writes 
an  observer,  "is  one  so  singularly  formed,  that  it  would 
seem  that  some  superhuman  sword  had  at  a  single 
stroke  cut  through  a  labyrinth  of  mountains  for  three 
liundred   miles,   down  deep  into  the    bowels  of  the 
land,"     Again:  "At  no  point  of  its  course  from  Quos- 
nclle  to  Lytton  is  the  Fraser  Kiver  less  than  twelve  I 
liundred    feet  below  the  level   of  the  land  Ivino;  at 
either  side  of  it ;  and  from  one  steep  scarped  bank  to  j 
the  other  is  a  distance  of  a  mile."     Another  standiii^n 
at  Lytton  says :  "Here,  along  the  Fraser,  the  Cascade 
Mountains  lift  their  rugged  heads  and  the  river  Hom's 
at  the  bottom  of  a  vast  tangle  cut  by  nature  throuifli 
the  heart  of  the  mountains,"     Yet  "along  the  Nach- 
arcole  River  there  will  be  found  a  country  admiral  )ly  I 
suited  to  settlement,  and  possessing  a  prairie  land  of 
a  kind  nowhere  else"  found  in  British  Columbia. 

In  the  Skeena  and  Stikcen  countries,  which  give! 
rise  as  well  to  the  rivers  of  their  respective  nuiiie3| 
emptying  into  the  Pacific,  as  to  the  waters  wliicl 
take    their    freezing    fiow    round    by   the    Mackcii-I 


THE  SPOKANE  COUNTRY.  89 

y.'io  to  the  Arctic,  the  wildest  and  most  romantic 
scenory  is  found.  Mountains  of  stone  and  ice  arc 
there,  and  glaciers  equal  to  any  of  Switzerland — <;iant 
glaciers  and  infant  glaciers,  Methusalehs  and  niud- 
hoi'ii.  Ascending  from  the  sea,  through  the  pine- 
eovercd  bolt,  through  spruce,  hendock,  and  balsam, 
willow,  alder,  and  cottonwood,  which  at  every  step 
heeonios  more  broken  and  the  trees  more  scattering, 
tlie  traveller  finally  emerges  into  a  fit  home  for  piti- 
less late,  glittering,  cold,  inexorable  bowlders,  and  snow 
succeeding  snow,  and  bowlders  in  mountain  melange^ 
limitless  variety  in  limitless  unity,  here  and  there  cut 
into  sections  by  ice-ploughed  canons  and  chasms. 

That  which  was  originally  the  bunch-grass  country 
of  eastern  Washington  is  now  famous  for  its  grain- 
growing  properties;  for  though  the  atmoH})here  is  dry, 
wiiter  lies  near  the  surface.  Tlie  intersecting  moun- 
tain ranges,  and  the  deep-gorged  water  channels  of 
eastern  (jregon,  are  less  favorable  to  agriculture  than 
tlic  rolling  plains  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Colum- 
liia.  And  along  this  belt  far  to  the  north,  and  high 
above  the  sea,  the  sheltered  valleys  atford  ample  re 
turns  to  the  husbandman.  At  Fort  Alexandria,  with 
an  altitude  of  fourteen  hundred  and  fifty  fe(^t,  and  at 
other  places  a  thousand  feet  higher,  forty  bushels  of 
wlieat  to  the  acre  are  not  uncounnon,  and  other  prod- 
ucts in  proportion. 

The  lower  slopes  of  the  snow-topped  mountains  of 
Idaho  are  furrowed  with  streams  which  ch^the  the 
fiiot-hills  in  sturdy  forests  and  the  high  prairies  in 
ricli  grasses.  Nestling  below  the  level  of  the  plains 
are  warm,  (juiot  valleys,  protected  alike  from  the  arid 
winds  of  summer  and  the  cold  blasts  of  winter;  and 
on  winter  pastures  the  snow  seldom  remains  long. 

Larch,  cedar,  fir,  and  pine  thickly  overspread  the 
Bitter  lioot  Mountains.  The  Walla  Walla  Valley, 
with  its  bright,  winding  streams,  fringed  with  cotton- 
wood,  presents  a  pleasing  picture.  Xorth  of  the  Spo- 
kane  the   country  is  wooded,  and  much  of  the  soil 


40 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 


arable.     Tlic  Flathead  countiy  is  warm,  with  good 
arable  land  predominating. 

The  well  watered  and  alluvial  Willamette  Valley, 
being  alike  free  from  the  periodical  aridity  of  Cali- 
fornia, the  desiccating  winds  of  eastern  Oregon,  and 
tlie  general  gravelly  character  of  Washington  soils,  is 
[)eculiarly  adapted  to  crt)p-raising  and  fruit-growing. 
For  many  years  the  Yakima  country,  now  known  to 
be  one  of  the  most  fertile  wheat-fields  in  the  world, 
was  regarded  as  fit  only  for  grazing. 

Thus  the  hijT^hest  afjricultural  facilities  of  Oregon 
and  Washington  are  reversed;  those  of  the  former 
lying  west  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  those  of 
the  latter  on  the  eastern  side  of  that  range.  Let 
each,  therefore,  be  duly  thankful.  Not  that  western 
WashinGfton  need  blusli  for  its  resources,  for  althou<;]i 
the  surpassing  fertility  of  the  Willamette  soils  fails 
on  crossinix  the  Columbia  and  enterintx  the  moi'c 
gravelly  plains  of  the  Cowlitz  and  the  region  round 
l*uget  Sound  and  Admiralty  Inlet,  yet  when  this 
old  ocean-bed  emerged  from  the  waters  with  it  came 
coal  and  iron,  and  in  due  time  grand  forests  arose  on 
the  margin  of  beautiful  waters,  and  crept  up  the 
Olympian  heights  to  the  line  of  summer  snow. 

The  climates  of  the  Northwest  Coast  arc  many  and 
variable,  but  all  are  healthful,  and  by  far  the  greater 
l)art  agreeable.  Considering  the  surface  covered,  there 
is  a  remarkable  absence  of  marshy  plains,  miasma, 
malaria,  and  consequent  ague.  Here,  as  elsewhere, 
elevated  districts  are  cold,  but  not  so  cold  as  in  many 
other  places.  A  very  severe  winter  in  New  Cale- 
donia, such  as  happens  once  in  ten  years,  may  be  as 
severe  as  a  verv  mild  winter  in  Canada,  but  not  more 
severe. 

The  Cascade  Range  marks  the  two  great  climatic 
divisions,  both  the  heat  and  the  cold  on  the  casteiii 
side  beiii<r  (greater  than  on  the  western.  East  of  tiiis 
range  the  climate  is  dry;  on  the  western  slope  it  is 


wet,  th( 
nici-  is 

tilU    WC'S 

hi'iglif,  i 

J.  CIllJ) 

;ni(|  (list; 
of  this  r 
not  Jiiihii 
saluhriou 
<'iro  soldo 
from  stro 
<hy  crvst, 
of  tJio^tlK 
the  cast  a 
their  nioui 
Xoj'thwes 
tlieu])por 
I'liiins  siio^ 
'111(1  \vJic?i 
\al leys,  in 
llcdt  an 
^  dry  thai 
^•'ft  tJiat  t 
t'laii   the 
<><van-cnn\ 
Lajts  under 
JJtnivegan, 
'_'uiJt  iiiii()ii(_ 
it-'L't  a  hove  : 
^\'liose  altiti 
J-^'^'I'vegan  < 

Though 
iiiatu  ot'Bi-l 
Ijrtroan.  Th 
fjie  cast  ma 
^i''<^  in  sno\ 
the  ether. 
''"•-•IS  the  A 
I  melting  uio, 


m 


HEAT  AND  COLD. 


41 


wet,  the  humidity  iucroasiiif^  toward  the  north.  Sum- 
iiirr  is  hot,  tiiul  winter  cokl,  on  the  eastern  side;  on 
tliu  western,  .sunnner  is  lovely,  sonic  days  warm  and 
hrisj^ht,  some  rainy,  and  winter  never  severely  cold. 

Temperatures  vary  of  course  with  latitude,  altitude, 
and  distance  from  the  sea;  but  throui^hout  the  whole 
of  this  iv^ion  there  are  comparatively  small  portions 
not  habitable  by  man,  while  by  far  the  greater  ])art  is 
salubrious  and  delightful.  The  well  protected  valleys 
are  seldom  subject  to  extremes  of  weather,  being  free 
fi'om  strong  winds  and  heavy  falls  of  snow,  and  in  the 
dry  crystaUine  air  of  the  higher  plains  even  a  low  fall 
of  the  thermometer  is  easily  endured.  The  rivers  of 
the  cast  arc  often  blocked  by  thick  ice  almost  down  to 
their  mouths,  but  navigation  on  the  lower  waters  of  the 
Xortlnvcst  Coast  is  seldom  impeded.  The  rivers  of 
the  u])per  interior  freeze  in  winter,  but  on  the  elevated 
plains  snow  is  seldom  more  than  eighteen  inches  deep, 
and  wJicn  the  sun  and  spongy  wind  look  in  U})on  the 
valleys,  I'rosty  coverings  vanish  as  if  by  magic. 

ILcat  and  cold  arc  both  more  endurable  by  man  in 
a  dry  than  in  a  wet  atmosphere.  Add  to  this  the 
fact  that  the  western  sides  of  continents  are  warmer 
than  the  eastern  by  reason  of  the  warm  aii-  and 
ocean-currents  thrown  upon  them,  and  we  may  [)er- 
liaps  understand  why  the  mean  temperature  at  Fort 
Diuivfgan,  so  called  from  the  castle  of  the  IMcLeods 
huilt  anionijf  the  cold  bleak  rocks  of  Skvc  one  thousand 
fcL't  aljove  the  sea,  dilFers  little  from  that  of  Quebec, 
whose  altitude  and  latitude  are  much  lower.  And  yet 
Duiivcgan  can  scarcely  be  called  west  of  the  mountains. 

Though  bordering  upon  the  high  latitudes,  the  cli- 
I  mate  of  British  Columbia  is  more  British  than  hyper- 
borean. The  traveller  in  crossing  the  mountains  from 
the  fast  may  find  the  same  clouds  arraying  the  one 
Uidc  in  snow  and  ice,  and  dropping  gentle  rain  upon 
the  (^ther.  Indeed,  along  the  border  of  the  ocean  as 
lai'  as  the  Aleutian  Archipelago  nature  is  always  in  a 
lUL'ltinsjj  mood. 


fi'iii 


■f  i=lL 


42 


GENERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 


As  far  back  as  Idaho  and  Montana  tlic  modifying 
influences  of  the  Japan  currents  arc  felt,  spring,  sum- 
mer, and  autumn  there  being  dehghtful,  while  winter 
is  less  severe  than  in  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  or  Minnesota. 
It  is  onlv  on  the  higher  elevations  that  the  cold  is 
extreme,  or  the  snowfall  heavy.  Both  the  country 
and  climates  of  Idaho  and  Montana  arc  well  adapted 
to  wool-growing  and  horse  and  cattle  raising.  The 
mean  winter  temperature  at  Virginia,  Montana,  is  not  j 
far  from  twenty-iivo  degrees  above  zero. 

Some  parts  of  British  Columbia   are   better  fori 
grazing  purposes  in  winter  than  the  elevated  pastures 
of  Idaho.    Birds  fly  south  when  snow  comes;  but  we 
find  the  stock-raisers  of  Idaho  driving  their  cattle  for  I 
winter  pasturage  into  British  Columbia,  the  low  snow- 
less  valleys  of  Idaho  being  too  small  to  accommodate] 
them,   while  the   Columbia  basin  above   Colville  is 
more  hospitable  than  the  winter-wrapped  upper  plains 
of  Idaho.     Sproat  calls  it  the  climate  of  England  with- 
out the  biting  east  wind.     "  Tliere  can  be  no  doubt,"  I 
says  Palmer,  of  the  royal  engineers,  "that  in  point  of 
salubrity,  the  climate  of  British  Columbia  excels  thatj 
of  Great  Britain,  and  indeed  is  one  of  the  finest  in  I 
the  world." 

Winter  on  Vancouver   Island  is  not  severe,  and 
summer  is  charming.     Rain  is  plentiful,  particularly l 
durinij  winter;  snow  seldom  lies  lonsf  on  the  lower 
levels.     The  climate  here  is  similar  to  the  mainland 
seaboard,   Avith   insular   peculiarities.     On  the   coast! 
the  temperature    is   seldom  over    80°  or   under   20'! 
Fahrenheit. 

The  temperature  at  Stuart  Lake  is  subject  to  I 
sudden  variations,  though  these  are  exceptional.  Wikll 
fruits  flourish  and  ripen  there,  even  the  susceptiblol 
service-berry  blossom  being  seldom  blighted.  Tliej 
hollows  thereabout  are  subject  to  occasional  lioarl 
frosts  in  summer,  which  do  not  appear  on  the  sunnyl 
slopes.  Here,  as  elsewhere  in  British  Columbia,  cii-j 
thusiasts  point  to  the  humming-bird  as  proof  uf  a| 


GAME. 


43 


genial  climate;  yet  I  can  hardly  insist,  as  some  of  the 
old  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  servants  would  almost 
have  me  do,  that  the  winter  climate  of  New  Caledonia 
is  wholly  free  from  inconvenient  cold.  On  the  upper 
Fiiisor  winter  is  capricious,  intense  cold  coming  and 
going  suddenly.  Round  the  rugged  Cariboo  Moun- 
tains snow  falls  freely.  Extremes  are  rare  on  the  upper 
Columbia,  snow  seldom  remaining  long.  The  cliuiato 
here  is  as  delightful  as  the  scenery  is  grand. 

Everywhere  north  of  San  Francisco  Bay,  and 
along  the  coast  as  far  as  the  sixtieth  parallel,  were 
I'ountl  grizzly  bears,  the  grassy  flats  at  the  mouth 
of  livers,  and  the  rank  vegetation  on  the  banks  of 
inlets,  where  berries  were  abundant,  being  their  fa- 
vorite haunts.  For  .  ->me  reason  they  did  not  seem 
to  i'uncy  Vancouver  Island  as  a  dwelling-place,  though 
their  black  brethren  were  there  in  superabundance,  as 
well  as  on  the  mainland. 

Even  more  ferocious  in  this  region  than  the  grizzly 
was  the  brown  bear,  which  seemed  to  prefer  the  in- 
tt'iior  to  the  coast.  On  the  island  and  mainland  were 
elk,  black-tailed  deer,  and  reindeer,  the  cariboo  of 
the  voyageurs  in  the  northern  mountains  of  New 
Caledonia.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
were  mountain-sheep,  moose-deer,  and  wood-buffalo. 
The  fur-bearing  beasts,  whose  skins  constituted  the 
chief  branch  of  commerce  on  the  Northwest  Coast, 
were  brown,  black,  and  grizzly  bear;  beaver;  badgers; 
.silver,  cross,  and  red  foxes;  tishers;  martens;  minks; 
I  the  gray  and  spotted  lynx;  musquash;  sea  and  land 
[otter.s;  panthers;  raccoons;  black,  gray,  and  coyote 
wolves,  and  wolverines. 

The  natives  of  Vancouver  Island  speared  salmon, 
jandeaught  herring,  halibut,  cod,  sturgeon,  and  v/hales; 
they  hunted  the  bear,  wolf,  panther,  elk,  deer,  marten, 
mink,  beaver,  and  raccoon.  On  all  the  large  streams 
of  the  mainland,  salmon  were  ]>lentiful  from  early  spring 
to  late  summer.    They  ascended  the  Fraser  seven  hun- 


Pl 


Wt 


\m 


jii 


44 


OKXKUAL  VIEW  OF  TIIIC  XORTIIWILST  COAST. 


Wl    .i 


(Irod  inilos.  From  staplo  food  of  tlic  natives,  .salmon 
became  at  an  early  day  witli  the  Hudson's  Hay  Com- 
])any  an  article  of  commerce.  Oysters  and  crabs  were 
conunon  on  the  sea-shore.  The  (Mdai-hon,  oi  candlc- 
fish,  is  famous  in  tliese  parts;  sardine,  anchovy,  had- 
dock, and  dog-fish  also  may  be  mentioned. 

])ir(ls  of  song  are  less  conspicuous  than  birds  of 
beaut  ifnl  i)lumage.  Grouse  are  common  on  island  and 
mainland.  Then  there  arc  quails,  ptarmigan,  pigeons, 
geese,  ducks,  and  snipe. 

Thus  we  .sec  in  this  noi'thern  west,  save  upon  the 
briny  border,  a  lan<l  of  bright  skies  and  buoyant  airs; 
of  forested  mountains  ami  fertile  })lains;  of  placid 
bays,  large  rivers,  silvery  lakes,  and  prismatic  water- 
foils;  of  coal,  and  iron,  and  gold,  and  other  exhaust- 
'ess  mineral  wealth;  of  fisheries,  and  agricultural, 
commercial,  and  manufacturing  facilities;  with  soils, 
climates,  and  .secnory  equal  to  any  of  Europe,  equal 
to  any  on  earth.  \Vhat  shall  hinder  (empire,  evolu- 
tion, and  all  that  elevates  and  ennobles,  aiding  niaii| 
here  to  assert  liis  completest  sovcreigut"  ? 

I  can  say  but  a  word  here  regarding  the  aboriginal 
nations  inhabiting  these  parts,  but  must  refer  the  reader 
to  the  work  set  apart  for  that  subject.     The  iirst  vo 
ume  of  the  Native  Races  of  the  Pacific  States  contains! 
descriptions  of  the  .several  peoples  as  first  seen  bv 
Euroi)eans,  and  their  manners  and  customs,  and  in  I 
the  third  volume  will  be  found  something  of  their] 
mythologies  and  languages. 

Nor  have  I  space  to  enter  at  length  upon  the  atti- 
tude of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  toward  the  na-i 
tives,  their  treatment  of,  or  policy  concerning  tliciii. 
These  matters  will  be  found  I'ully  explained  in  thel 
History  of  the  Northwest  Coast. 

This  much  I  can  say,  however,  by  way  of  remiiuli 
ing  the  reader  of  what  is  therein  stated.  Probably 
savagism  was  never  ,so  deftly  and  delicately  .strip])c;ilf 
of  its  belongings,  and  laid  away  to  rot,  as  in  liritii^li 


THE  NATIVES. 


4ft 


Cnluml)in.  Novor  from  Ix'i^inii'j;;,''  to  cud  was  tluic  a 
.sliinic  outbn-ak  or  iiiassacfc  ot'  any  inqtortaiu-u,  savo 
al'Hiu  till!  scaLoard,  and  these  wore  Hi'ldom  illrecti'd 
ii'iaiiist  tlio  I'csident  fur-traders.  Wliy  was  this,  wlieu 
tlif  I'niteil  States  horder  was  everywluu'e  d(  hi^cd  in 
1i1(mmI  ^  Surely  tliese  northern  nations  were  naturally 
as  iicrc'o  and  \  indictivo  as  any  south  of  them.  The 
aiiswt  r  is — Husint'ss.  The  natives  wi  le  ni-eded  for 
liuiiti  IS.  Tliey  Jiad  nothin:^  of  which  the  respeetahlo 
lMiin|i('an  "wished  to  roh  tluMu;  so  their  possi'ssions 
wviv  left  for  a  time  unmolested.  When  the  company 
wanted  their  land,  as  a  matter  of  coui'se  they  took  it ; 
!>ut  at  first  they  re(|ulred  only  the  skins  of  their  wild 
heats,  and  these  the  natives  nmst  secure  and  l)rin<^ 
to  tlicm. 

Tilt!  natives  of  the  seaboard  were  refjcarded  with 
fear  hy  all  .sailors.  As  a  rule,  and  es[)ecially  to 
stiaiiL;(  rs,  they  were  exceed in<i;ly  dan^t.'rous,  as  their 
leapt ure  of  the  lioston,  the  'l}ni(jnlii,  and  other  vessels 
j  almiidantly  proves.  Often  the  traders  fed  them  on  fire- 
Avatef,  and  in  return  the  denionized  sava<;es  cauuht 
and  killed  them  whenever  they  felt  able.  In  cirly 
limes,  rapine  antl  nmrder  along  this  coast  was  the 
normal  condition  of  things.  Against  every  attempt  at 
>>uttleuient  the  natives  fought  desperately. 

And  why  sh.ould  they  not  resist  (  From  time  im- 
lueiiiorial  their  fathers  had  held  the  land;  and  tlie  sea 
\vas  theirs,  kindly  yielding  them  food  and  clothing. 
Tiny  could  not  ask  their  gods  for  more,  unless  it 
should  oe  to  make  them  always  drunk. 

The  oflicers  and  servants  of  the  Hudson's  T>ay 
i  Company  were  as  nmch  gentlemen  hy  instinct  in  their 
1  treatment  of  Indians  as  in  their  treatment  of  civil- 
ized men  and  women.  Hence  it  was,  when  (Jeneral 
[Joe  jjane,  whilom  governor  of  Oregon  and  United 
Stati's  senator,  as  ho  was  once  riding  toward  Niscjually, 
wa'<  heard  to  exclaim  regarding  the  natives  there- 
liiliinit.  "Damn  them  I  it  would  do  my  soul  good  to 
Ijo  alter  them  1 "  his  hearers  could  not  understand  it. 


it 


1 1 


a 


!       ' 


46 


GENERAL  VIKAV  OK  THE  NOR'niWESl,'  COAST. 


Sudi  words  c'.yald  never  have  fallen  from  the  lips  of 
a  ^McLongliliii  or  a  l^oughis.  It  was  a  speeies  of  blood- 
thirsty brutality  totally  beyond  the  conipreliension  of 
men  mIio  had  li'arned  to  look  on  these  children  of  the 
forest  as  men  of  like  creation  and  nature  as  them- 
selves. 

Foi'  llie  trial  of  ti)e  Indians  hani^ed  at  Steilacoom  for 
the  killiiiu;  of  Wallace  at  the  Niscjually  post,  jurymen 
were  brought  all  the  way  from  Oregon  City.  Well 
ma\'  we  say  that  therein  was  much  hollow  form  for  a 
little  sliow  of  justice,  wlien  we  are  told  that  three  or 
four  of  these  men,  during  their  deliberations,  rolled 
tliemselves  in  their  blankets,  and  before  composing 
themselves  to  sleep  remarked,  "Whenever  you  want 
an  Iiidiar.  hanged,  awake  us."  But  this  was  inteHigeiit 
and  jiumane  conduct  in  comparison  with  nmch  tliat 
occurnMJ  in  the  Anglo-American  occupation  of  the 
western  United  States.  I  admit  that  neither  what 
were  called  good  men  nor  the  government  were 
wholly  responsible  for  the  wholesale  butcheries  of 
men,  women,  and  children  for  crimes  which  they 
never  committed;  and  yet,  whenever  t  am  obliged  tn 
allude  to  the  subject,  T  can  but  notice  this  difiereiur 
in  the  treatment  of  tlie  Indians. 

Tlie  frequent  hostility  of  the  Indian  does  not  origi- 
nate in  savage  malignity  or  natural  blood-thirstiness, 
but  in  righteous  retaliation  for  endless  provocations, 
"  Many  a  night,"  writes  one  by  no  me.'ins  sentimental 
in  such  matters,  "have  I  sat  at  the  cam[)-fire  and 
listened  to  the  recital  of  bloody  and  fei'ocious  scenes, 
in  which  the  narrators  were  the  actors  and  the  r-xn 
Indians  the  victims;  and  I  have  felt  my  blood  tingle 
with  sliame  and  boil  with  indignation  to  hear  the  di.i- 
bolical  acts  applauded  by  those  for  whose  amusement 
they  were  related." 

Unfortunately  f  n-  the  poor  savage,  in  his  divinely 
preordained  extinction,  it  was  orden^d  that  he  shonlti 
be  often  brought  into  contact  with  those  who  sought 
to  save  his  soul  and  those  wln)  destroyed  his  bo<ly. 


How  muc 

niisslonari 
proving  t 
hrutal  bo: 
.spent  thei 
natives,  ai 
or  I'etaliat 
him.     Kel 
.spent  thei 
needed  re: 
W  herev 
Bay  (\)m| 
thei'e  was 
ajifcnient  o 
first  of  all 
Tlicy  were 
civil  izatioji 
in  their  de? 
justice,  not 
fasten  upon 
tioii;    tliouj 
tliemselves 
left  to  marr 
\\oi',sliip  tin 
fashion. 

Ihit  the 
this    hap[)y 
'liuughts  of 
till'  savaws 
iiuveiiturers 
■^kipper  and 
"11  nioralitie 
was  confined 
^a\-agc  was 
portance  was 
artless   abor 
i'\ail  of  this 
tiics.     Hut 
f^ponsible  bo 


RELIGION  AND  COMMERCF. 


47 


i 


How  much  better  for  him  would  it  Lave  been  if  the 
iiii!?sionaries  had  (hrected  their  efforts  toward  ini- 
proviug  the  hearts  and  morals  of  the  desperate  and 
l)rutal  l)ordor  men,  the  knaves  and  vagal)onds  who 
spt'iit  their  lives  in  informing;  u]X)n  and  insultinj>'  the 
natives,  and  on  the  first  slin'ht  appearance  of  defence 
or  retaliation  on  the  part  of  the  Indian,  inslauf^hfering 
him.  Better  a  thousand  times  had  the  missionaries 
>|)oiit  their  lives  in  converting  these  men,  for  they 
iK'fdid  regeneration  far  more  tlian  did  the  savage. 

Wherever  the  officers  and  servants  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  had  the  country  entirely  to  themselves, 
there  was  little  trouble  with  the  natives.  Their  man- 
aijeuient  of  them  was  perfect.  They  treated  them, 
first  of  all,  as  human  creatures,  not  as  wild  beasts. 
They  were  to  them  the  children,  not  the  enemy  of 
civilization.  In  their  intercourse  they  were  humane, 
in  their  dealings,  honest.  Offences  were  follov/ed  by 
justice,  not  by  revenge.  Xo  attempt  was  made  to 
fasten  upon  them  the  religions  or  moralities  of  civiliza- 
tion;  thougli  gross  cruelty  and  inhumanity  among 
themselves  were  severely  frowned  upon,  they  were 
left  to  marry  ad  lihiinm  or  not  to  marry  at  all,  and  to 
woi'sliij)  the  gods  of  their  '"reation  after  their  own 
fas]  lion. 

But  the  moment  competitive  traders  came  in,  all 
tliis  happy  state  of  things  was  changed.  Fiery 
diaughts  of  intoxication  were  placed  to  the  lijis  of 
the  savages,  no  less  by  the  benevolent  and  dignified 
adventurers  of  England  than  by  the  heedless  Y'ankee 
•'kippi'V  and  the  i)order  des[)erado.  Conuneivo  le\els 
all  moralities.  Whenever  even  the  most  bitter  rivalry 
was  confined  to  large  and  responsible  comj)anies,  tb 
savage  was  not  nnich  tin;  sufferer;  indeed,  his  im- 
portance was  oftiMi  thereby  greatly  magnified,  and  the 
artless  abori<>inal  was  bv  no  means  slo\;  to  make 
iivail  of  this  inci-eased  purchasing  power  of  his  pel- 
tries. But  in  .sections  wluMc  free  tra[)pers  and  irre- 
^poii.sible  border  men  obtained   permanent    foothold, 


4S 


GENERAL  ^lEW  OP  THE  XORTHWEsT  COAST. 


i-apine,  luimlcr,  and  cxtermiiiutin*^  war  were  sure  to 
follow. 

While;  treating  all  foreignrrs  with  politeness,  and 
while  ever  ready  to  rescue  the  disti'esscd  of  any  na- 
tion, tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company  w(.'re  exceedingly 
jealous  of  interference  m  their  trade.  They  would 
not  have  their  prices  changed,  nor  tlieii'  hunters  de- 
moralized, if  by  any  posi?ihility  tliey  could  ])revent  it. 
Compacts  were  often  Ustade  witli  the  JIussians  and 
with  the  captains  of  AiiK'rican  vessels  trading  on  the 
coast,  not  to  deviate  from  the  company's  tariff,  and 
not  to  sell  licpior  to  the  natives,  wJiieh  pr(^)niises  were 
not  always  kept. 

In  the  Fort  Simpson  journal,  under  date  of  Xovem- 
hcr  1,  183G,  I  find  entered:  "Cai)tain  Snow,  of  the 
hank  Ldf/nnif/c,  saluted  the  body  of  a  Siniseyan  chief 
who  died  of  sinall-j)ox,  with  five  guns,  and  nt)W  he  is 
getting  all  the  trade  of  t, le  tribe — a  contem[)tibk' 
Yankee  trick."  Twenty  years  previous  to  this  entry, 
a  fight  occurred  between  an  American  coasting  vessel 
and  the  Chilcats,  in  wliicli  one  Jiuntlred  of  the  latter 
were  killed.  When  Hie  Hud.soia's  Bay  people  estab- 
lished Fort  Tako,  the  Cliilcats  treated  them  with 
marked  sus])icion.  '"It  is  rather  too  bad,"  writi.s 
J3ouglas  in  his  journal,  "to  Imld  us  responsible  fm- 
the  sins  of  others,  particularly  of  a  people  to  whom 
we  an;  inilel)ted  for  no  i;iterchange  of  good  ofiSces. ' 
The  nativ(!s  early  learned  to  distinguish  the  Kinu' 
(jleorge  men  from  the  ]3o)*toni^.  nv»t  by  th'ess,  but  ly 
features  and  s])eecli,  and  to  tlw-  no  small  disparage- 
ment of  tht;  latter.  Nor  did  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany exert  theuitselvcis  to  promote  go<Mi-feliovvshi[) 
between  their  dusky  j)r()fr(/('s  and  American  tt'aders. 
Yet  I  am  very  sure  that  no  violent  <.«•  unlair  st-  |ts 
were  eve)-  taken  by  otficcis  of  the  coni|K«ny  to  ilil 
themsidves  of  interlopers.  They  woiald  t«  !1  the  na- 
tivet^  to  beware  of  them,  to  have  w)thing  to  do  with 
them,  a,nd  tiiat  was  all. 

Tliough  reatly  on  the  instant  to  draw,  tlie  liudsfu's 


JUST  TREATMEMT. 


49 


Bav  Company  were  slow  to  use  their  weapons  on  the 
nuiives.  The  punisliment  of  insolence  or  (jther  petty 
offciii'o  was  to  knock  the  offender  down,  and  tin;  oiH- 
eei's.troni  governor  to  clerk,  prided  themselves  on  tlicir 
sii]>('rior  skill  in  the  manly  art.  "However  expert  the 
Iiuruuis  may  be  at  tlie  knife,  or  the  spear,  or  the  gun," 
says  Simpson,  "they  are  invariably  taken  aback  by  a 
wliite  list  on  their  noses."  An  offence  was  seldom 
aliiiwod  to  go  unpunished,  and  the  company  were  as 
rcaily  to  do  justice  as  to  exact  it.  "It  was  a  general 
ruli.',"  says  Tod,  "to  mete  to  the  Indians  justice. 
They  would  bring  sometimes  two  or  three  hunch-ed 
dollars'  worth  of  furs;  they  could  not  count  mor<!  than 
ten.  i  would  always  try  to  inake  them  count  Ibr 
themselves  by  ex[)laining  how  to  do  it;  but  they 
won  I   liways  trust  us  to  count  " 

It  !  ,  ••  great  mistake  to  fling  all  aboriginal  men  and 
women  into  one  category  and  damn  them  as  savages. 
As  elsewhere  on  this  planet  there  arc  g(jod  Indians 
ami  b;i('.  Indians,  IxMiest  men  and  tender-hearted 
women,  as  well  as  thieves  and  murderers.  I  have  at 
hand  scores  of  rema,rkal)le  instanees  illustrative  of 
the  honesty  and  humanity  of  the  natives  of  Jiritish 
Columbia.  So  reconeiled  to  civilized  supremacy  did 
they  become  under  the  just  treatment  which  tlun'  ro- 
wived,  that  wliereas  at  first,  in  this  or  other  regions, 
whit"  men  could  traverse  the  country  t)nly  in  l>ands 
III'  tliirt-y  or  forty,  a  sjngh,'  person  belonging  to  the 
all-piwerful  fur  conipany,  or  having  its  protection, 
I'liii!  I  now  go  and  come  at  pleasure  anywhere  in  JJrit- 
i-^h  ( 'ohunbia,  [)assing  in  saiety  through  the  lands  of 
Iseoi'i  s  of  trilx's  hostile  to  each  other,  jis  one  svhoso 
I  lil'e  and  [)i'operty  were  things  sacred; 

Til;  ir  nobler  nature  was  t^aHiily  \vorl&<5d  upon;  many 
|"i''them  would  scorn  to  do  things  wliidi  white  C'liris- 
itiaiis  practise  on  one  an(;ther  without  remorse  of  e'on- 
HJoiiee.  They  loved  honor  and  power;  Cliinamen  and 
lingiiH's  they  regarded  with  .supreme  contempt,  llalf- 
jhiceiU  Iiave  not  proved  a  success. 

UlHl'.  IJUI 1'.  CUL,      1 


BO 


OEXERAL  VIEW  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 


The  statement  of  an  intelligent  officer  of  the  Hud- 
son's ]-Jay  Company,  as  to  their  policy  with  regard  to 
the  natives,  may  be  better  than  mine.  A.  C  Ander- 
son devc^tes  considerable  space  in  his  manuscript  Ilis- 
tory  of  the  Northwest  Coast  to  this  subject.  The  great 
fur  companies  of  British  America,  ho  says,  owe  their 
success  to  tlic  rigid  discipline  maintained  among  their 
servants,  and  the  exercise  of  prudence  and  h\  manity 
in  their  transactions  with  the  natives.  Offences  and 
insurrections  were  nipped  in  the  bud  by  such  cool 
audacity  on  the  part  of  the  superior  race,  as  to  excite 
at  once  admiration  and  fear  in  the  breast  of  the 
savag^c.  Punislinient  of  crimes  was  swift  and  sure; 
but  it  was  inflicted  only  on  the  guilty.  To  guard 
against  surprise,  almost  all  stations  were  surmounted 
by  stockades,  with  armed  bastions  at  the  opposite 
anofles.  Ao^ainst  desultory  outbreaks  these  forts  were 
proof,  but  not  against  well  organized  attack;  but  bv 
holding  the  balance  of  power  among  contending  chiefs 
the  fur-traders  Mere  almost  always  able  to  prevent 
formidable  attacks.  Anderson  regards  the  missionary 
operations  among  the  aboiigincs  as  no  less  injudicious 
than  unsuccessful. 

Peace,  therefore,  we  may  conclude  characterized 
the  intercourse  of  the  resident  fur-traders  with  the 
natives,  and  that  friendship  was  absolutely  essential 
to  traffic.  An  attache  of  the  company  sufficiently 
offending  was  dismissed  the  service;  this  the  savages 
knew,  though  it  seldom  happened.  It  was  sometimes 
exceedingly  difficult,  however,  for  the  trader  to  pro- 
serve  his  patience.  The  natives  of  New  Caledonia 
were  often  uncouth  and  rude,  surly,  lazy,  and  to 
strangers  in  small  parties,  insolent  and  quarrelsome. 
Yet  there  were  the  gentle  Shushwaps,  the  jolly  C.ir 
riers,  the  knightly  Cayuses^  and  others  with  like  good 
(juaHties,  whose  lives  might  preach  perpetual  sermons 
to  congresses  of  philosophers.  There  were  the  filllij 
little  civil  and  faithful  Kootenai^,  the  brave  aiul 
Sitately  Pcnid  d'Oreilles,  and  the  fierce  Nehannes  above 


A  TRADE  JARGON. 


51 


Stikcon,  whose  female  chief  rescued  Mr  Campbell  in 
tlir  Avinter  of  1838-9,  and  treated  him  with  much 
kindness.  There  was  Nicola,  chief  of  the  Okanajjjaus, 
and  ever  the  champion  of  tlie  right;  his  neighbor, 
King  Wanquillt!,  of  tlie  Shushwaps,  ])atriarch  and 
pliiliinthropist,  and  old  King  Freczy  of  the  Songhies, 
the  last  of  a  dynasty  running  down  the  centuries. 
This  last-named  chicftian  was  a  character.  Indeed,  all 
Indian  cliiefs  are  notable  men,  else  they  would  not  bo 
chiefs.  King  Freezy  loved  oliedience,  and  connnandcd 
it.  He  loved  wives,  of  which  at  one  time  he  had  no 
K'ss  than  fifteen,  and  he  commanded  them.  It  was 
a  1'avorite  pastime  of  his  to  cut  off  a  wife's  liead,  and 
(inc  in  which  he  indulj^ed  so  often,  that  in  1859  lie 
had  but  SIX  left.  Ho  died  in  18()4,  and  was  duly 
lamented  by  the  sorrowing  survivors  of  the  faithful 
fitteon. 

To  facilitate  communication  liotwecn  Eurf)peans 
and  the  natives  (»f  the  North \vi\st  Coast,  with  their 
mnncrous  dialects,  a  trade  language  was  adopted  at 
ail  early  day,  called  the  Chinook  jargon,  being  for  the 
tiTcater  part  a  mixture  of  Chinook,  French-Cana- 
dian, and  English  words,  with  perhaps  a  few  additions 
tVoiii  the  Hawaiian  and  Spanish  languages.  This 
jaigoii  varied  somewhat  with  the  various  tribes,  each 
coiitiibutinij;  for  local  use  some  of  the  words  of  their 

CD 

own  language;  but  for  the  most  part  it  was  the 
same  among  all  the  tribes  of  a  very  wide  area,  and 
was  adojited  for  general  use,  not  only  bcjtween  whites. 

:  iiiiii   liuliaiis,  but  between  tiie  dirterent  tribes  them- 

j  .sclvrs.  Of  the  aboriginal  languages  the  Chinook  was 
taken  as  the  base,  owing  to  t\\c  fact  that  the  Chinooks 
al)()ut  tlie  mouth  of  tlie  Cohanbia  were  the  first  to 

I  iiiino  into  intimate  and  continuc)Us  intercourse  with 
Eiiio{;eans.      After  the  building  of  Fort  Astoria  the 

jjiir^oii  rapidly  s]ir».>ad  tow-ard  the  east  and  north. 


CHAPTER  III. 


OCCUPATION   (W  THE  DOMAIX. 

1S41. 

AliOliKlINAI.  15lUTI.S!I  C'ol.r.MniA — Folil'S  ANTi  Fri! -I'lIAIlKItS— SVHTKMS  (ir 
('(l.MMIMCATIDN — In  II  UliKNT  I'nWKI;  (IK  ( 'l  V  [Ll/.AllON  l)V  Kit  SaV'ACISM  ■ 
Fl  K-lHADINi;      Dl.STKKT.S — .SlAlIONS — Ml.SSlONAUV     AM)     AciHII'UI/l'lllAI. 

HK'ri'LKMKNrs — Intku[ok   Fohts^Coast    Siations— Tuk   Hiiinsii   ami 
THK  Rr.NSiAX  Fill  ('(iMiANiKs — TiiK  IlriisoN's  Bav  ('(i.mi'any's  ("ii;ii- 

LATINC    TilliKAUV JdINT  OccI'I'ANCV  oh'   TIIK  N(  HI  TllWl-sr  ( '(lAST  ]iV  KnC- 

land  AM)  THK   UNITED   STATKS— TlIK   TuHATV  DlVIDlNO    THE   Do.MAIN- 

The   XoiiiiiwK.sT   Coast   iMMiniiAi'Kr.v   Pkioh  to   the   Beuinsinu   ok 

BurnsH  CoLIMIilA  lIlMTDUY  I'UDl'KK-    N'iSIT  OK  DoldLAS  TO  THE  SeVE1;AI, 

Posts — ,Sitka  andEtholin — (^»iAi;iii;i.  iikiwekn  INhci.as  and  Mc.\k:i  i. 
— SiiiVKY  OF  the  Stikeen  AND  Tako  Uecjion — Keeeue.sces  eok  This 

AND  THE  PUECEUIXO  CUAPTEIi. 

British  Columbia  in   1841  was  a  silent  \vikk'rues^•. 
Its  lords  were  natural,  healthful,  and  free.     Its  Avild 
beasts,  birds,  and  fishes  were  multitudinous  and  fear- 
less.     Its  forest-plumed  hill-sides  and  its  ravines  wliis- 
peered  et'aselessly  their  soft  psalmody;  its  ])lains  and 
transH\e(l  billows  bared  their  breasts  to  the  eovetij  | 
warmth    of  the    all-t'nd)raeing  sun;    M'liile  its   snow 
silvered  mountain-toi)s,  each  a  sava<»'e  ( )lympus,  marki  d 
the  earth's  hmits  to  tlie  dusky  intellects  within  tlitir 
end)race,  and  sIi.mI  a  dazzlinu;'  radiance  over  the  haiijiv 
liuntinj^-ii-rouuds  of  the  Invisible.     Nature's  pert'ntj 
work  was  here;  inexorable  as  everywhere:  now  wariu 
and    ki.ul  and    beautiful;    a^ain   cold,  cruel,  jHrbastlv. j 
Yet  the  nations  of  this  tlomain  Avere    doomed;    tli 
sludterino-  forests  and  the  innumerable  forma  of  lip 
that  animated  them  were  impreLjnat»d  with  the  poisoiii 
of  ]>rooress;  for  already  the  subtle,  unfelt  clutcl 
civilization  was  on  the  land. 

(62) 


INLAND  NAVIGATION. 


r>:i 


Tliosc  littlo  ] (ifketod  i-iirlosuros  appeariujj;  at  inter- 
vals of  two  or  tlirco  liundred  miles,  like  secluded  fox- 
lidK'S  ill  boundless  })rairies — what  arc  tlieyl  To  the 
uiKiiliylitened  vision  of  the  thou^yhtless  red  man  they 
are  nian'a/ines  of  celestial  condorts,  arms  which  _!:>'ive 
tlio  [)ossessor  superhuman  powi^r  in  war  and  in  the 
iliasc;  containing  inij)lements  of  iron  and  steel  whose 
(■U!iiiin,i>'  causes  even  nature  to  hlush;  woven  wool  which 
wards  off  cold,  disease,  and  death;  glitterinu^  trinkt'ts 
wlinsc  wealth  raises  wrinkled  imbecility  aho\'e  the 
uttiactions  of  youth  and  talents;  and  above  all,  tobacco 
and  that  blessed  drink  of  heaven  which,  indeed,  can 
minister  to  a  mind  diseased,  while  ]tlacing  the  body  Ibr 
a  time  beyond  th.o  reach  of  pain.  To  their  builders,  and 
to  the  white  race  everywhere,  tliese  solitary  and  con- 
tnictcd  pens  have  a  far  different  signitication.  They 
are  de[)ots  of  compressed  pow<  r,  dominatino;  the  land 
and  all  that  is  tlu^rein;  they  are  germs  of  the  highest 
liuman  type,  ^vllich  >hall  shortly  spring  \ip  and  ovcr- 
^pi'cad  the  Aviklerness,  causing  it  to  wither  beneath  its 
I'utal  shade. 


Mi 


Til-  system  oif  connnunication  between  Montreal 
and  Hudson  Bay  and  the  tril)utarifS  of  the  Ar<tic 
and  the  Pacific  was  quite  complete.  Along  thr  main 
livi'is,  along  the  links  of  wateis,  where  lakes  and 
streams  succeeded  each  other  so  as  to  form  a  continu- 
IIU8  lino  of  travel,  having  the  greatest  amount  of  navi- 
^aliK;  waters  with  the  sliortest  portages  and  the  least 
jHissihle  amount  of  land  travel,  were  chaiits  of  posts 
with  outposts,  subordinate  establishments  oi-  feeders 
•  111  cither  side  on  all  the  minor  streams,  and  in  local- 
ities (»tf  the  main  chains  wherevt-r  })eltrics  ^vt■re  to  Imj 
liriititably  purciiased.  Twice  ever}'  year  over  all  these 
i'-nns  of  connnunication  nastsed  reiruiar  bri'_jades  or  c\- 
]iivs>.  s  bringing  into  the  central  posts  the  furs  on 
liuiid.  and  carrying  back  *brt  suij'plies  and  trading 
|,i;"n(l>.  The  Cohnnbia  lliv--r  and  the  Saskat(  howan 
Iwith  its  two  branches,  and  tliA-"  chain  of  lakes  to  tin; 


UviJ 


M 


OtJC'Ul'ATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


eastward,  liavo  ever  been  the  arteries  of  travel  in  tlit- 
Hud.son'^4  Hay  Company's  territories. 

CanofS  and  liorses  were  chief  anionj^  the  aids  of 
transportation.  Whi'n  these  foiled,  the  l)acks  t)f  voy- 
a:L>eui's  and  natives  were  eni[>]oyed,  8onu!tinu;s  in 
winter  the  ulticjuitous  fur-buyers  tlitted  hither  and 
thitlu'r  on  sleds  and  snow-shoes,  often  finding  the^.u- 
selves  among  tlii^  tx'ee-to[>s  forty  feet  from  solid  ground. 
And  most  fortunate  were  tluy  if  tliey  eould  iudd  ti 
their  ctjurse,  avoid  precijiitous  banks  and  (diasnis,  and 
k(tp  themselves  above  the  snow  instead  of  being 
l)uiicd  under  it. 


t£ii 


AVhei'c  sliiiil  we  sec  more  forcibly  displayed  tlic 
]iower  of  trained  and  cnliglitened  intellect  over  tin' 
uncultivated  mind  and  bestiality!  Scatten-d  in  smai! 
bands  over  nn  area  e((ual  to  one  half  of  Xorth  Ann  i- 
ica,  in  tlie  midst  of  i'eroeious  savages  outnund)eriiiL; 
tliem  a  tliousand  to  one,  these  few  indi\  idual  wlntc 
men  Iudd  absolute  swji,v;  having  first  brought  tlnir 
own  passions  under  obedicaice  to  mind,  they  imposi  il 
obedience  upon  the  ])assi()ns  of  tliese  wild  and  law](s> 
inhal)itants  of  the  forest.  This  living  find  laboring  in 
savage  countries  was  attended  l)y  many  dangers  ami 
]>eeuliarities  which  became  as  a  secontl  nature  to  these 
hardy  and  courageous  men.  Nor  was  the  iuHueiirc 
altogetlier  tlia,t  of  civilization  u[K)n  savagism.  To  lU' 
small  extent  the  trader's  and  voyageurs  became  so  far 
ind)ued  with  nature  as  to  marry  aborigines  and  adopt 
many  primitive  customs.  Even  the  C)regon  settlers  df 
is;)  1-4  Ijocame  half-savage  in  some  of  their  ways;  tlio 
women,  f)r  examjde,  l)eing  unalde  to  procure  cloth  tm' 
dresses,  adopted  the  Cdliijnartcc,  or  cedar-bark  petti- 
coat of  the  natives,  the  fibres  being  twisted  into  cord>, 
oi-  frayed  fi'om  the  waist  to  the  knees.  This  A\ii:li 
a  ])iece  of  green  or  s<-arlet  baizi;  over  the  shoulders 
completed  the  costume.  The  men  were  glad  to  g(  t  ;i 
shirt,  M'ith  sonietinn  s  a  blaidvet.  The  servants  ut' 
tlie  fur  com[)anies  M'ere  always  comfortabl)'  clad,  tin' 


GENERAL  DIVISIONS. 


55 


tl 


10 


Is    of 

voy- 

■s    in 

and 

)UIh1. 

lid  t> 
i,  ami 
beiiii;' 


1  the 
;r  till' 

small 
:Vnni'- 
l)criii,^' 

whitf 
\,  tluir 

)()Srll 
\\  1(  >- 

ll^•  ill 

mill 

thr>. 

Urtii'' 
\>  li 

SO  far 
adnjit 

s;  the 

.til   t'"V 

prlti- 

(•oi'i!>, 

^\ '.  ill 

ul<K'l'^ 

(T(  't  a 
its   of 


d,  the 


capote,  or  hooded  cloak,  Lcin<^  conspicuous.  A  uiii- 
Ibrm  was  worn  at  first,  but  afterward  was  laid  aside. 
In  domestic  economies,  even  in  ])ersonal  beariiii^ 
and  mode  of  speech,  the  traders  copied  larj^'ely,  thoui^li 
evidently  unconsciously,  from  their  aboriginal  Iriends. 
Like  the  Indians,  the  fur-traders  were  remarkable 
for  graphic  diction  whenever  their  habitual  reticence 
allowed  their  oral  powers  full  play.  Now  and  then 
ii  I'ur-govcrnor  from  beyond  the  mountains  illumined 
nature  by  his  presence,  on  which  occasion  traders 
everywhere  were  tremulous  with  excitement,  antl  the 
denizens  of  the  forest  spellbound  as  the  mighty  man 
passed  by. 

On  the  consolidation  of  the  Northwest  and  Hudson's 
Bay  companies  in  1821  the  upper  interior  was  known 
to  the  fur-traders  as  the  Columbia  district.  Three 
years  later  wo  find  Archibald  Mai;donald,  then  clerk  of 
one  of  the  Thompson  liiver  posts,  drawing  a  map, "  with 
much  detail  and  wonderful  correction,"  as  his  editor, 
McLeod  says,  in  which  the  territory  between  tho 
Columbia  River  and  the  Arctic  Ocean  was  laid  down 
as  the  Thompson  River  district.  Soon  after,  and 
wliilo  yet  the  whole  region  north  of  California  was 
yxnerally  designated  as  the  Oregon  territory,  the 
Nlw  Caledonia  district  was  portioned  off  in  the  in- 
terit)r,  and  on  the  coast  we  find,  following  the  fancty  of 
Vancouver,  and  beginning  at  Blount  St  Elias,  New 
Xorlolk,  New  Cornwall,  New  Hanover,  New^  Ceor- 
gia,  and  New  Albion,  the  last  named  reaching  down 
to  San  Francisco  Bay.  New  Georgia  lay  between 
Nootka  Sound  and  the  mouth  of  the  Colund)ia 
Riser,  and  New  Hanover  next  above  to  Queen  Char- 
lntl(;  Island. 

In  early  times  all  the  country  north  of  California, 
all  the  region  drained  by  the  liiver  of  the  West,  as 
Well  as  the  seaboard  was  called  Oregon.  It  was  then 
a  mystic  land,  a  region  of  weird  imagery  and  i'able. 
In  the  spring  of  1832  there  was  not  a  single  United 
States   settler  in  all  the  Oregon  territory.     It  was 


■«! 


:iJ 


M 


OCCUl'ATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


during 


this    y 


oar 


that 


AiiK'ricau  omi^jfriitiou  to 
Oregon  hogiiu.  Certain  Fruncli-Canadian  tuniilics, 
i'ornierlv  servants  or  retaini'rs  of  the  Hudson's  J>tiv 
( *onipan_v,  witli  the  fatherly  advice  .'iiid  jissistanee  of 
Joliii  jMcLoughhn,  had  previously  ojx'ui'd  fii'uis  in  the 
ricli  valley  of  the  Willamette  and  on  the  hanks  of  the 
Columhia.  It  was  the  French  Avlio  were  first  in 
Oregon,  who  had  been  first  in  the  !Miss;ss![)pi  Valhy, 
who  had  heen  foremost  in  ('anadn.and  wlio  at  one 
time  had  dominated  four  filths  of  North  America; 
it  was  the  humble  descendants  of  this  chivalrous  race 
who  fii'st  opened  for  cultivation  these  lands  ])rimeval, 
and  paved  the  way  for  the  harder-headed  xVnglo- 
Saxon. 

On  Twiss'  map,  London,  184r),  Oregon  extends 
from  latitude  42°  to  54°  40'  west  of  the  liocky  ]\[oun- 
tains.  It  includes  the  Qu(>en  Charlotte  and  Van- 
couver islands,  and  all  the  mainland  drained  by  tlie 
Fraser  and  Columbia  rivers.  McKinlay  divides  the 
country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mcmntains  into  two  dis- 
tricts: the  Columbia,  extending  to  Utah  and  California; 
and  New  Caledonia,  reaching  from  Thompson  River 
to  the  Russian  ])ossessions.  Were  this  ever  officially 
the  case,  such  partition  did  not  so  remain  long  before 
tlie  territory  was  redistricted.  Says  Anderson :  "  The 
extent  of  New  Caledonia  may  be  briefly  hidicated  as 
C(nn[)rising  the  tract  watered  by  the  Fraser  and  its 
tributaries  from  the  Rocky  ^Mountains  and  Cojist 
Range  down  to  the  point  about  twenty  miles  below 
Alexandria,  now  known  as  Soda  Creek."  Then  conios 
the  Thompson  River  district.  Vancouver's  territorial 
nomenclature  was  never  put  into  practical  use,  nnr 
were  the  fur  company's  districtings  officially  retaincil 
after  the  erection  of  British  Colundjia  into  a  province. 
British  Columbia  to-e'ay  embraces  broadly  all  lands 
and  islands  west  of  the  sunnnit  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains lying  between  Washington  and  Alaska. 

In  183i)  the  Willamette  settlement,  begun  ten  j-cars 
previous  by  a  retired  servant  of  the  Hudson's  Ixi) 


Till';  \' A  mot's  POSTS. 


67 


m 


('(inipanv,  ninnl)t'r('(l  fifty-four  nu^n,  and  uUout  as 
many  fariiis.  Tlicrc  wrva  four  otlii'r  .stations  of  Amer- 
jciii  niissionai'ics,  one  at  the  ])all('s,  ono  at  Walla 
Walla,  one  on  the  (  Icarwatcr,  and  ono  at  KS[)okanc. 
Five  vessels  pei'fonned  the  eoast  servieo.  PixvA  Fraser 
was  in  eliarUi'i'  of  tin;  Jtudson's  liny  ('onii)any's  estab- 
llsliiiient  at  l"inp(iua  when  the  inllux  of  Americans 
was  so  oTcat  as  materially  to  jc'o[)ardi/e  the  interests 
((f  the  fur-trader.s  in  that  (juarter 

I'pon  a  eontiuontal  apex  not  unlike  that  in  the 
vicinity  c)f  tilt!  national  [>ark  which  se|)ai'ates  the 
wat(  IS  of  the  ^lissouii,  the  Columbia,  and  tlu^  Colo- 
rado, stood  Fort  St  James,  the  ca})ital  of  this  wi'st- 
•  iii  Caiedonin.  Old  jMr  Harrison  once  commanded 
tli(  re.  and  so  tlid  younij;"  ifames  J3ouglas  bisfort;  honors 
and  titi(\s  thickened  around  him. 

Its  site  was  the  south-eastern  end  of  ^  tuart  Lake, 
and  it  was  the  ccMitral  iiijfure  of  a  elusti-r  of  forts. 
Twenty-five  mik'S  south-westerly  was  Fort  Fraser; 
sixty  miles  south-easU-i'ly  was  Fort  (leorn'o;  eis^hty 
mill  s  north-easterly  w£is  Fort  McLeod,  and  one  hun- 
<li'cd  mill's  north-westerly  was  Fort  Babinc.  South- 
ward from  this  highland  flow  the  waters  of  the 
Frasei';  northward  and  westward  the  Skeena;  north- 
ward and  eastward  J*eace  Kiver  winding  through  the 
liecky  Mountains  and  thence  onward  to  the  frozen 
ocean. 

Later  for  a  time  in  charge  o?  the  New  Caledonia 
dcj»artmont,  was  (^hief  Factor  Ogden,  whose  head- 
quarters were  at  Fort  St  James  on  Stuart  J^ake, 
On  Lakes  Fraser,  ]^al)ine,  and  !McLcod  were  forts  of 
tlio  same  names.  Fort  Thompson  was  on  the  Ka;n- 
loops  Itiver;  and  from  Fort  Alexandria  on  Frasi'r 
Iiiv(  r,  the  station  of  a  chief  trader,  the  northern 
liriga<lo  took  its  departure  going  north.  At  ]\[cLeod 
Felt,  where  the  y-enial  wide-mouthed  Tod  used  to 
Welcome  governors  to  an  enii>ty  larder,  was  one  of 
the  most  })roIi{ic  fur-fields.  Before  Tod  at  this  ])ost 
was  Peter  Warren  Dease,  and  after  Tod  was  Mr  Mc- 


III.' 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  MS80 

(716)  872-4503 


J 


m 


■!ri.ft. 


U  OCCUPATION  or  THE  DOMAIN. 

Iiitofih,  subse(juently  shot  by  the  siivages.  The  pest 
at  liabiuc  was  built  by  Chief  Trader  Brown  in  1820-7. 
Ill  charjife  of  Fort  Langley  was  Yale;  llae  was  at 
Yerl>a  Bueiia,  and  Simpson  at  the  Jlawaiian  Island 
agency  Wilkes  counted  "six  permanent  ostablish- 
ments  on  the  coast  and  sixteen  in  the  interior,,  besides 
several  migratory  and  hunting  parties." 

Koot(uiai  and  Flathead  were  outposts  of  Colvillc, 
and  yielded  annually  forty  packs  of  peltries;  Chilco- 
tin  sent  in  four  {)aeks,  and  Alexandria  from  twenty  t(» 
thirty  packs.  Fort  St  James  was  a  j)rofitable  station, 
sending  down  yearly  furs  worth  in  London  £50,00(', 
if  we  may  })elieve  Wilkes,  which  I  for  one  do  not, 
especially  when  coupled  with  the  statement  that  only 
twenty-five  cents  in  goods  was  there  paid  for  a  beaver- 
skin  worth  at  Fort  Vancouver  ten  times  that  sum. 
It  was  only  one  y(  ar  prior  to  the  date  of  this  chapter 
that  Samuel  Black,  while  in  charge  of  Kamloops, 
was  killed  by  a  nephew  of  Wanquille.  Some  few  of 
the  conquuiy's  posts,  like  the  missionary  establish- 
ments of  California,  became  subsecjuently  the  nuclei 
of  little  settlements,  particularly  those  hi  gold -pro- 
ducing parts. 

Every  3'ear  tlie  chief  factor  or  chief  trader  haviiiij 
charge  of  a  district  would  go  to  Fort  Vancouver  ami 
tlience  conduct  a  brigade  of  sui)plies  to  his  distribut- 
ing depot,  employing  for  tliat  purpose  boats,  men,  and 
horses  according  to  the  nature  of  the  region  traversed. 
From  Fort  Vancouver  to  Fort  St  James,  for  example, 
the  transport  was  made  by  boats  to  Okanagan,  and 
thence  to  Kamloop  and  Fort  Alexandria  by  liorses, 
in  bands  of  from  two  hundred  to  three  hundred. 
From  Fort  Alexondria  to  Fort  St  James  merchandise 
was  convcyi'd  in  canoes. 

It  was  a  hazardous  occupation,  as  I  have  said,  a 
large  amount  of  im])erfectly  guarded  j)roiX3rty  bein-^ 
constantly  exposed  to  tlie  cujtidity  of  the  savages,  to 
say  nothing  of  tlie  dangers  of  navigation.     The  poit 
ages  made  arduous  the  voyji^e  up  the  Columbia,,  and 


I    I 


ROUTES  OF  TRAVEL 


SO 


the  land  travel  between  Okanagan  and  Kamloop  was 
l)articularly  rough.  The  distance  from  Fort  Van- 
couver toKandoop,  following  the  sinuosities  of  rivers 
and  trails,  was  seven  or  eight  hundred  miles,  though 
supplies  were  carried  in  this  direction  more  than  twice 
that  distance. 

Kamloop  was  the  capital  of  the  Thompson  River 
district  pro[)er.  The  fort  was  compact  and  well  pal- 
isaded; and  within  the  stockades,  standing  at  a  little 
ilistance,  there  was  room  enough  for  the  largest  horse 
brigades  together  with  their  accoutrements. 

To  the  eye  of  the  inhabitant  of  these  lonely  wilds, 
whetlier  white  skm  or  red,  the  arrival  of  the  horse 
l)iigade  was  a  thrilling  siglit.  Through  tlie  deep 
niviiies,  round  precipitous  mountain-sides,  and  over 
hills  and  plains  they  had  come;  sleek,  fat  animals, 
usually  perfect  m  form  and  color,  bearing  the  burdens 
Nvliicli  had  been  carefully  brought  so  far,  from  beyond 
ciiiitinents  and  seas,  and  all  to  be  laid  at  the  feet  of 
the  lordly  savage. 

The  stations  on  the  coast  were  Fort  Langlcy  and 
Fort  Simpson,  the  former  the  first  sea  fort  iii  IJritish 
('(iluinbia,  the  latter  trend)lingly  erected  among  some 
t»l'  the  wickedest  savages  upon  the  coast.  Then  there 
were  Fort  McLoughlin  on  ^lilbank  Sound,  and  Fort 
Tako  on  the  Tako  Kiver,  Yet,  so  well  was  the  mat- 
ter arranged,  that  a  footing  was  obtaiiuid  without 
liuhtiiig  for  it,  and  an  almost  iin[)r(>gnab]e  fortress  wa.s 
I'lected.  By  the  aid  of  these  two  establishments, 
which  were  regularly  served  from  Fort  Vancouver, 
Ih'st  by  the  schooner  Cddhoro,  Cn])tain  Simpson,  and 
subst'(juently  by  the  steanx-r  Jkarcr,  the  indomitable 
.More  engineer,  American  opposition  was  finally  driven 
from  the  coast. 

Flving  the  wilderness  of  water  between  forts  Van- 
cnuver  and  Tako,  sometimes  venturing  boldly  out  to 
si!i,  sometimes  creepitig  more  prudently  through  the 
lahyrinth  of  islaiuls  and  canals  between  Xiscjually  and 
ISitka,  these  historical  craft  of  the  Northwest  Coast 


if:' 


m 


'<   :■  >1 


■■! )-  ii^ 


GO 


OCCUPATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


-i\    ! 


came  and  went,  playing  no  insitijnificant  part  in  the 
yicat  work  of  human  overtuiiiinj'S  hereabout. 

At  first  a  few  ^oods  liad  been  brouglit  over  the 
mountains  from  eastern  ports.  But  so  difficult  and  ex- 
])ensive  was  this  mode  of  trans|)ort  that  it  was  soon 
abandoned,  and  all  supplies  for  the  western  slo[>e 
were  brought  from  England  to  Fort  Vancouver  round 
Cape  Horn.  The  coast  trade  was  confined  to  the 
coast  tribes,  and  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  inland 
trade  conducted  by  the  old  route  from  Fort  Vancou- 
ver up  the  Columbia  to  Okanagan,  Kandoop,  and 
Fort  St  James.  Communication  with  the  <-oast  ports 
was  had  at  first  by  schooners  sailing  regularly  from 
Fort  Vancouver,  and  subsequently  by  the  c()nn)any's 
steamers.  This  coast  trade  was  at  the  first  not  profit- 
able, but  was  persevered  in  for  many  years  at  a  Jieavy 
loss,  in  order  to  clear  the  shore  forever  of  Boston  ships 
and  l:J(>ston  men. 

Between  these  i\\\  lines  of  traffic  intervened  the 
Cascade  Bange,  an  obstacle  to  free  connnercial  intei- 
course  which  might  have  been  overcome  by  the  com- 
pany had  they  chosen  to  do  so.  But  this  partition 
wall  was  not  witliout  its  benefit,  separating  as  it  did 
interior  tribes  from  the  influence  and  opposition  ot 
foreign  traders  along  the  coast. 

Prior  to  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  wliicli 
raised  no  small  commotion  througliout  all  tlie  Colum- 
bia and  New  Caledonia  regions,  John  Lee  ]jewis, 
conspicuous  anuMig  all  the  officers  of  the  comj)any  for 
dasliing  dress,  held  command  at  Fort  Colville.  Jl'j 
was  succeeded  in  1848  by  Alexander  C.  Anderson. 
Besides  fine  personal  appearance,  l^ewes  possessed 
many  good  (jualities.  Indeed,  since  Northwest  rivalry 
had  so  sharpened  wit,  the  service  enforced  the  aj>- 
]>ointment  oidy  of  able  and  energetic  men.  Where 
strength  of  mind  and  body  were  so  essentially  re<|ui- 
slte,  favoritism  went  for  less  than  it  did  formerly 


FARMS  ESTABLISHED. 


61 


111  my  Ilistor}/  of  the  Nort:>Avest  Coast  I  have  stated 
that  in  the  lease  of  a  portion  of  the  Russian  territory 
to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  for  a  term  of  ten  years 
from  1H09,  afterward  increased  seveial  years  more, 
it  was  stipulated  that  during  such  occupation  the 
Russian  American  Fur  Company  should  purchase  all 
their  European  goods  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany, who,  also,  alone  were  to  supply  such  agricul- 
tural products  as  the  several  Russian  posts  and  vessels 
sliould  require. 

Now  the  Russians  were  hearty  eaters,  and  not 
ovcr-lbnd  of  work.  Exercise  sufficient  for  an  appetite 
tho}^  could  get  by  beating  their  poor  seal-hunters,  the 
Aleuts  and  Koniagas,  who  likewise  grew  hungry 
under  the  process.  Even  these  latter  raised  little  or 
n<»  ])r()duce.  But  whence  were  to  come  the  fruits  of 
the  soil  upon  which  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  had 
promised  to  feed  them?  Some  little  planting,  had 
been  done  at  Colville,  Fort  Vancouver,  and  the  Willa- 
mette and  Cowlitz  valleys,  but  barely  sufficient  for  the 
coni|)any's  own  requirements.  The  British  fur-hunters 
weie  hut  little  more  inclined  to  agriculture  than  were 
the  Russian  traders.  There  were  these  points  of 
ditl'eretice,  however,  between  the  two:  the  former  had 
suitable  soil  and  climate  with  enterprise  and  thrift 
to  exercise  upon  it,  all  which  the  latter  lacked.  At 
all  events,  before  making  their  bargain,  they  were 
su})|)()sed  to  have  sufficiently  weighed  results,  and 
would  in  due  time  furnish  the  provisions  agreed  upon. 
Some  they  could  get  from  California,  some  from  the 
Hawaiian  Islands;  but  such  in  the  main  was  not 
their  purpose.  They  preferred  to  develop  home 
rosoiu'ces. 

To  this  end  the  management  determined  to  open 
other  farms  upon  the  banks  of  the  Columbia,  and  in 
tlie  lioh  Willamette  Valley ;  for  which  purpose,  during 
the  same  year  of  1839,  English  and  Scotch  farmers 
wore  brought  from  Canada  across  the  mountains,  and 
l)laeed  in  the  several   most   favorable   parts   of  the 


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OCCUPATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


country.  Likewise  French  Canadians  and  half-breeds 
rctirin*^  from  the  service  of  the  company  were  encour- 
nj^ed  to  settle  upon  lands,  the  best  of  which  were  to 
be  had  without  asking,  and  become  tillers  of  the  soil. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Vancouver,  and  else- 
where, the  areas  of  agriculture  were  soon  greatly 
enlarged,  and  grist-mills  erected  for  making  the 
several  grades  of  flour  required  for  the  Russitm 
American  trade.  More  sheep  and  cattle  were  being 
driven  up  from  California,  and  the  Sandwich  Islands 
swine  were  permitted  rapidly  to  increase.  The  plains 
near  Fort  Nisqually  were  turned  into  sheej)  and 
cattle  ranges,  and  the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural 
Company  was  inaugurated.  Hence  it  was  not  lon^; 
before  wheat,  flour,  butter,  pork,  and  otlier  articles 
in  no  considerable  quantities  were  ready  for  shipment 
to  the  Russian  posts,  not  alone  of  the  American,  but 
of  the  Asiatic  coast,  and  four  barks  of  eight  hun- 
dred tons  each  were  built  in  London  for  the  exporta- 
tion of  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  produce. 

Lieutenants  Warre  and  Vavasour  report:  "At  Nis- 
qually, near  the  head  of  Puget  Sound,  is  the  farm  of 
uhe  Puget  Sound  Company,  commenced  in  1839,  and 
supported  chiefly  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  They  here  cultivate  wheat  and  pota- 
toes, etc.,  but  the  magnificent  range  of  rich  prairie 
country  between  the  shores  of  Puget  Sound  and  the 
Cascade  Mountains  to  the  east  are  chiefly  used  as 
pasturage  for  the  immense  herds  of  cattle  and  slieip, 
the  greater  number  of  which  were  brought  from  Cali- 
fornia in  1840-1."  Operations  here  were  under  the 
management  of  W.  F.  Tolmie  for  the  Puget  Sound 
Agricultural  Company,  an  offshoot  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  Anderson  and  Niell  did  the  honors 
at  this  post  upon  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  tlie 
United  States  exploring  squadron  in  1841.  It  was 
then  in  the  full  beauty  of  growing  fields  and  well-kt'i)t 
gardens,  with  a  fine  dairy  attached. 

Crops  were  raised  by  the  company  at  Fort  Van- 


couver 1 
and  the 
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A  aRCULATING  LIBRARY. 


on 


couver  until  1850,  but  after  1846  the  farms  declined, 
and  the  Russian  Company  contracts,  which,  prior  to 
that  time  had  been  filled  from  Fort  Vancouver,  were 
ifterward  shipped  from  Oregon  City  and  Chanipoeg, 
the  necessary  produce  being  obtained  by  purchase. 

W.  F.  Tolmie  states  that  he  first  met  Mr  Ander- 
son at  Milbank  Sound  in  December  1833,  where  he 
replaced  Anderson  as  clerk.  There,  in  connection 
with  Chief  Trader  Donald  Manson,  he  "conceived  the 
iilea  of  establishing  a  circulating  library  among  the 
oHiccrs  of  the  company.  Anderson,  on  reaching  Fort 
Vancouver,  ventilated  the  matter.  It  was  readily 
taken  up  by  Dr  JMcLoughlin  and  Mr  Douglas.  A  sub- 
siri[)tion  library  was  formed  which  did  nmch  good  for 
altout  ten  years,  soon  after  which  time  it  was  broken 
Ujt.  The  officers  subscribed,  sent  the  order  for  books 
and  periodicals  to  the  company's  agent  in  Loudon;  the 
hooks  were  sent  out,  and  as  everybody  had  subscribed, 
tilt  y  weie  sent  to  all  the  forts  throughout  the  length 
and  hrcadth  of  the  land.  The  library  was  kept  at  Fort 
^'alH•ouver,  subscribers  sending  for  such  books  as  they 
waiiti'd,  and  returning  them  when  read.  Finally  the 
books  were  divided  among  such,  of  the  subscribers  as 
caicd  about  having  them.  The  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
jiaiiy,  l)y  their  ships,  sent  out  the  Times  and  other  lead- 
ing papers  for  circulation.  This  was  the  first  circulating 
lihrary  on  the  Pacific  Slope,  extending  from  1833  to 
1843." 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  territory  west 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  north  of  California  was 
at  this  time  held  by  agreement  in  joint  occupancy  ! 
Great  Britain  and  the  United  States.  That  the  par- 
tition lino  nmst  be  drawn  somewhere  and  shortly  was 
woll  understood.  Some  little  ill-will  had  been  engen- 
tlercd  between  the  subjects  and  citizens  of  the  two 
powers  thus  brought  into  anomalous  contact.  Both 
sicks  claimed  a  right  to  occupy  the  territory,  though 


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OCCUPATION  OF  TlIK  DOMAIN. 


noithor  know  much  about  it  It  was  bad  blood  onI\' 
that  was  stirred ;  it  was  i^iioranco  and  stu})i(Hty  oidy 
that  b(!camo  bhitant.  Wlien  the  ii<»t  most  rehablo  or 
refined  element  in  tlie  United  States,  ])()verty-strirken, 
"W'ith  barefooted  and  bareheaded  wives  and  children, 
and  teams  ot"  bonv  oxen  and  emiitv  wa<>ons  straLJuled 
throu<!;h  the  mountains,  the  olHcers  of  the  Hudson's 
i3ay  Company  behaved  most  ii<»bly.  They  fully  be- 
lieved tiieir  riufht  to  the  territory  as  uood  as  that  of 
the  others.  Though  holdinj^-  under  tlie  stijmlati'd  terms 
of  joint  oceupanc}^,  tlieir  domination  in  these  parts  had 
been  from  the  begiiming  absolute  and  continuous. 
They  iidierited  from  the  Northwest  Company,  wht> 
bought  from  the  Pacific  Company,  which  latter  was 
supposed  to  bo  an  American  incorporation,  tliough 
made  up  almost  wliolly  of  foreigners.  Between  the 
shock-lieaded,  dirt-becoated,  tobacco -spitting,  and 
swearing  ox-drivers  from  the  United  States  l)ord(r 
and  tlie  educated  and  j)unetilious  business  men  of  tlie 
fur  monopoly  there  was  a  marked  contrast,  and  the 
latter,  I  say,  behaved  nobly. 

There  was  much  in  this  immigration  to  exasperate 
them.  The  interlopers,  as  from  their  standpoint  they 
could  but  regard  them,  had  come  to  s[)oil  their  trade, 
to  drive  away  the  game,  to  demoralize  the  natives,  and 
to  take  the  land  for  eultivation.  ICven  if  they  did  nut 
so  declare,  such  would  be  the  ijievitable  effect.  And  yet 
they  were  kindly  treated,  and  fed  and  ( lothed,  as  we 
have  many  times  seen  in  the  pursuance  of  this  history. 
And  I  hold  it  churli.sh  in  any  American,  or  in  any 
man,  to  deny  ^IcLoughlin,  ])ouglas.  Work,  and  Olj- 
den,  and  all  the  rest  of  these  fearless,  warm-hearted, 
open-liand(Hl,  and  clear-headed  Scotch,  Irish,  and  Eng- 
lish men,  their  full  meed  of  praise.  It  is  not  a  ques- 
tion that  turns  upon  the  relative  merits  and  demerits 
of  the  nations;  such  discussion  I  leave  entirely  to 
the  stump-orators  and  long-eared  logicians  on  either 
side.  I  deal  only  with  men;  and  it  matters  not  tnie 
whitM'ith  me  tlie  accidents  of  color,  creed,  or  country. 


IJlO    1 

meetinjjf 


FUR-HUXTERS  AND  SETTLKRS.  » 

Tho  roprosontatives  of  tlio  two  nationalities,  tlius 
met'ting  ill  o^jpugnant  interests  in  the  new  North- 
west, were  of  totally  different  classes,  and  in  review- 
ing their  character,  they  cannot  bo  justly  })laccd  upon 
the  same  plane.  Among  the  self-hjacrificing  jiioneers 
of  tlic  Pacific  there  were  many  intelligent,  higli- 
niinded,  and  li<)n()rable  men  and  devoted  women,  wlu), 
it  is  scarcely  m^cessary  for  me  to  say  to  the  read<T 
of  tlie  previous  volumes,  of  this  history,  are  W(trtliy  of 
every  honor,  every  gratitude  that  history  and  pos- 
terity can  give.  Yet  none  of  us  can  deny  that  anioiig 
the  emiijrants  were  i^^norant  and  ill-mannered  men 
and  slatternly  M'omen,  Avho  in  their  attitude  and  deal- 
ings compared  unfavorably  with  first-class  business 
men  trained  to  strict  accountal)ility  from  boy]>ood. 

8a\s  jny  friend  Elwood  Evans,  ever  ready  enough 
to  do  battle  for  his  country:  "It  was  a  motley  settle- 
ment, indeed,  if  we  consider  the  caste  to  which  each 
settler  belon<;ed,  or  the  influence  wliich  brou<fht  luni 
thither.     There    were    the    Hudson's  Bay  Company 
and  its  retainers,  holding  almost  exclusive  possession 
of  the  country,  insidiously  retarding  and  discouraging 
American  settlement,  and  destroying  by  its  policy  of 
trade  every  American  enterprise.      Here,  too,  were 
the  discharged  or  retired   servants  of  tho  company, 
located   in  the  country  l)y  its  permission,  and   over 
whom  it  yet  exercised  controlling  influence,  men  of 
every  variety  of  color   and   nationality.     Here    and 
there  were  Americans  who  had  dropped  out  of  and 
remained  behind  the  various  companies  and  expedi- 
tions wliich  had  been  crushed  out  or  sui)planted  by 
the  great  monopoly  of  trade  enjoyed  by  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  of  necessity  entertaining  no  very  kind 
feeling  toward  the  company,  nor  friendship  for  its 
studied  and  persistent  attempts  to  convert  Oregon 
into  a  British  province.     Thsn  came  the  missionary 
colonies  with  denominational  castes,  each  imbued  with 
:  a  loading  pnnciple,  true  to  themselves,  yet  zealous  to 
I  outvie  in  evidences  of  successful  labor  their  rivals  in 

Hisr,  BniT.  Col.    5 


ilHi 


li- 


h  g 


'Ki 


I  r 


I 


il  OCCUPATION  OF  THK  DOMAIN. 

Bimilar  services;  soon  after  whom,  and  last  of  all,  fol- 
lowed tlio  American  emigrants  proper,  men,  women, 
and  children,  seeking  homes  for  themselves  and  their 
posterity,  each  in  proper  person  asserting  faith  in  the 
American  title  to  Oregon,  and  prepared  to  struggle 
against  every  effort  and  influence  which  would  wrest 
the  country  fnmi  the  United  States.  Such  was  the 
Orcgt)ii  of  that  period,  and  it  is  difficult,  indeed,  out 
of  these  heterogeneous  elements,  each  having  its  own 
peculiar  history,  to  present  an  intelligible  and  intelli- 
gent view  of  affairs." 

The  treaty  of  1046,  which  drew  the  dividing  lino 
between  ./American  and  British  territory  on  the  Pa- 
cific, befitting  in  my  mind  the  history  of  Oregon 
rather  than  the  history  of  British  Columbia,  has  been 
fally  analyzed  iii  a  previous  volume.  Its  effect  upon 
tlie  interests  of  United  States  settlers  was  primary 
and  innnediate;  its  effect  on  the  fur-traders  was  to 
remove  their  operations  farther  to  the  northward. 
Xor  should  the  fact  be  lost  sight  of  in  any  discussion 
of  the  differences  arising  between  the  fur-traders  and 
the  Kettk!rs,  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  was  by 
ro  means  a  free  and  full  representation  of  the  British 
nation.  They  were  simply  an  incorporated  commer- 
cial association,  acting  for  themselves,  solely  in  their 
own  pecuniary  interests,  and  were  as  deadly  opposed 
to  opposition  from  pcoi)le  of  their  own  nationality  as 
from  those  <;f  any  other  nation. 

I  cannot  do  better,  in  concluding  this  general  view 
of  the  Northwest  Coast  at  the  beginning  of  British 
Ct)lumbia  history  proper,  than  to  give  a  resume  of 
the  doings  of  James  Douglas  innnediately  antecedent 
to  the  o})ening  of  operations  on  Vancouver  Island; 
that  gentleman  being  then  not  only  foremost  in  north- 
coast  fur  affairs,  but  rapidly  rising  to  sole  rulership 
in  the  commercial  and  political  interests  of  Pacific 
British  America.  The  information  here  given  is  ( pit- 
omized  from  his  ji)urnal8  of  1840-1. 


Leavi 
I^ouglas 
wliere   J 
Langley 
tion  was 
leased  fn 
t'stablish; 
territory. 
TJie  d( 
ill-timed  i 
tliat  post 
lute  to  ob 
tlie    hype 
alone  upoi 
often  don( 
but  remar 
tiio  Cowli 
Jinbitants 
attributes  i 
0^'  providei 
TJie  first 
first  to  set 
sufficed  not 
tlie  sca-coEu 
l^i'd.s  and  b 
scene  harro' 
drawn  up  i 
^viJlow  bono 
^vatclifu]^  b1 
l^f  the  humi 
^'rds,  the  1 
°;-^S'i^t  sumn 
t"e  abode  oi 
fiJitid  with  pi 
sy"ij)athi2ini 
ague  await  y 
tie  more  vir 
I^'oceedinj 
%,  Bougla 


DOUGLAS'  JOURNAL. 


67 


Leaving  Fort  Vancouver  the  22d  of  April  1840, 
Douglas  passed  round  by  the  Cowlitz  to  Nisqually, 
where  ho  learned  of  the  total  destruction  of  Fort 
Langley  by  fire.  The  object  of  the  present  expedi- 
tion was  the  occupation  of  the  Stikeen  post,  lately 
leased  from  the  Russians,  and  the  building  of  another 
establishment  on  the  Tako  River,  also  within  Russian 
territory. 

The  destruction  of  Langley  at  this  junctr.re  was 
ill-timed  and  inconvenient,  depending  as  thev  were  on 
that  post  for  salt  provisions,  which  it  was  now  too 
late  to  obtain  from  any  other  source.  The  lessors  of 
the  hyperborean  domains,  therefore,  must  depend 
alone  upon  the  ravens  of  their  religion,  as  they  had 
often  done  elsewhere,  to  feed  them.  Douglas  could 
but  remark  in  passing  on  the  early  depopulation  of 
the  Cowlitz  country,  for  of  the  once  numerous  in- 
habitants there  now  remained  but  sixty  men.  He 
attributes  the  cause  to  ague  and  the  mysterious  ways 
of  j>rovidence. 

The  first  ague  summer,  says  Plomondo,  one  of  the 
first  to  settle  there,  was  in  1830,  when  "the  living 
sufficed  not  to  bury  their  dead,  but  fled  in  terror  to 
the  sea-coast,  abandoning  the  dead  and  dying  to  the 
birds  and  beasts  of  prey.  Every  village  presented  a 
scone  harrowing  to  the  feelings;  the  canoes  were  there 
drawn  up  upon  the  beach,  the  nets  extended  on  the 
willow  boughs  to  dry,  the  very  dogs  appeared  as  ever 
watchful,  but  there  was  not  heard  the  cheerful  sound 
of  the  human  voice.  The  green  woods,  the  music  of 
birds,  the  busy  humming  of  the  insect  tribes,  the 
brigiit  summer  sky,  spoke  of  life  and  happiness,  while 
the  abode  of  man  was  silent  as  the  grave,  and  like  it 
filled  with  putrid,  festering  carcasses. '  All  hail,  sweet 
sympathizing  friends;  providence,  civilization,  and  the 
ague  await  your  coming  to  reap  alike  rich  harvests  in 
the  more  virgin  north. 

Proceeding  from  Nisqually  in  the  steamer  to  Lang- 
ley, Douglas  there  found   Yale  busy  erecting  a  new 


)  I 


I       a 


^ 


111 


1^    I 


OCCUPATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


stockade.  Twenty  riu'n  from  tlio  stoanior  worn  loanod 
tlu!  tort  l>iiil<l«'rs  tor  a  sliort  time;  after  wliieh  the 
ve.ssel  eoiitinurd  its  way,  takint;  in  wood  and  water  at 
the  nortli  end  of  Tejada  iKhuid,  huyiiij^  tifty  heaver- 
skins  from  the  saiiey  natives  of  the  (,'()mux  viHa<rc'  otf 
ViAnt  Mudj^e,  wlio  were  yet  umeehumed  by  Chris- 
tianity and  undisripUiu'd  hy  oiviUzed  a<<ue,  and  an- 
choring m  McNeill  Harhor  on  the  Bth  of  May 

Opening  trade  with  the  QuackoUs  from  C'heslakee, 
twenty   sea-otter   an<l   seventy  heaver  were    lunight. 
Continuing,  a  few  skins  were  traded  at  l*ort  J^till; 
500  hushels  of  potatoes,  500  pieces  <»f  cedar  haik,  and 
thirty  cf)rds  of  wood  were  taken  on  hoard  at    Foil 
McLoughlin,  and    on   the    14th    Fort   Simpion  was 
reached.     Thence  hv  wav  of  Stikeen,  ])out:!as  wi'iit 
to  Sitka  and  talked  wit!;  J.iLliolin,  the  liussian  gov- 
ernor, ahout  their  territorial  hounds  and  trade,  whidi 
questions    were    satisfactorily  settled.      Each    might 
buy  provisions  anywhere,  hut  furs  only  within  their 
own    territory.     A    tariff  was  a<jreetl    upon    for  the 
Indian  trafttc,  and  some  furs  were  exchanged  hetwceii 
themselves.     Permission  was  granted    the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  to  buy  sheep  at  Bodega  ])rovidetI  tlio 
sanction  of  the  California  authorities  could  beobtainid, 
but  not  otherwise.     The  Russians  ofl'ered  to  sell   IJo- 
dega  for  $30,000,  with  1,500  sheep  at  o'     and  a  hiilf 
dollars  cash,  and  3,000  cattle  and  horses  at  ten  dollars 
each.     Etholin  had   sugar  enough  to  last  him  four 
years,  but  he  would  take  some  blankets,  and  agree  to 
furnish  two  hundred  pairs  of   Finland  shoes  at  live 
shillings  each.     Douglas  otfered  to  grind  part  of  their 
wheat  into    tine  tlour,  but  Etholin  replied    that   liis 
people  did  not  use  much  tine  flour.     The  question  of 
selling  arms  and  alcohol  to  savages  was  oj)ened  and 
closed  without  effecting  anything;    the  Sitka  people 
did  so  love  liquor,  and  arms  were  essential  to  success- 
ful hunting.     As  to  next  year's  supply  of  provisions. 
the  Russians  would  want  one  hundredweight  of  but- 
ter; if  they  did  not  sell  Bodega,  they  could  there  cure 


all  the  1 
arixui  in 
Would  pji 

1'lius 

other's  hi 

growls  ()\ 

ii^linieiit.'^ 

and  idle  < 

iiiLT    of  nj 

iKifhing    ( 

wholly   ui 

term  f>f  se 

frnin  both 

t<en  vesse 

sian  servic 

'iiiniuillv  f( 

|»!o(Ju,'tive 
|'iwsn(>  a  (., 

tile  superHi 
'^'"ed  anni 
otter  were 
<'e(|  t\vent\ 


DOU(JLAa  AND  ETHOUN. 


CO 


all  tlio  bcof  thoy  would  require,  tlioy  woiild  receive 
iffinn  \n  ('nlitonua  it'  the  Hudson's  May  Company 
would  |)uy  tlio  tVoii^ht  to  Sitlvu. 

Thus  these  dii^uitaries  di<kered,  each  lioldin«^  the 
othf-r's  business  methods  in  contempt,  Doui^las  lu-re 
(^Tuwls  over  st^veral  })a}jfes.  The  two  llussian  estab- 
lishments visited  by  liim  were  crowded  with  lazy 
and  idle  officers  and  men.  It  was  bad,  the  api)oint- 
iii^  of  naval  officiTs  1.)  the  conunand,  who  knew 
imthin*;'  of  the  service*;  it  was  bad  liavin^  officers 
wjioliy  un«pialiHed  for  l>usiness  undertakinj^s,  whose 
term  of  service  was  only  five  years,  and  who  drew  ])ay 
from  both  the  government  and  the  fur  company.  Fif- 
teen vessels  W(Te  kept  consi,.t.i  '.y  afloat  in  the  Kus 
sian  service,  and  six  thousand  dollars  were  expended 
iiimually  for  provisions.  The  seal  islands  were  not  so 
)i!(t(Iuctive  as  formerly,  and  they  were  now  obliged  to 
|MUsue  a  cf)urse  of  rmrsinj^,  only  fifteen  thousand  of 
the  superfluous  young  males  being  now  allowed  to  be 
kilK'd  ammally.  Twenty-five  thousand  beaver  and 
otter  were  traded  each  year,  at  a  net  profit  not  to  ex- 
ceed twenty  [)er  cent  on  the  capital  employed.  Their 
fuis  wen?  mostly  exchanged  on  the  China  frontier  for 
teas,  at  the  rate  of  seventy-five  roubles,  or  fifteen  dol- 
lars, for  otter,  atul  fifteen  roubles  for  beaver.  In  all 
whicli  Doutjlas  doubtless  was  ri<;ht. 

Ktturning  to  Stikeen,  a  misunderstanding  arose 
hetween  Douglas,  connnander  of  the  expedition,  and 
McNeill,  captain  of  the  steamer,  a  brief  account  of 
which  will  best  illustrate  the  nuitual  relations  and 
duties  of  these  officials  in  the  company's  service. 

The  Jiours  of  labor  were  from  six  to  six.  In  taking 
on  wood,  Saturday,  the  30tli  of  May,  Douglas,  being 
anxious  to  ex])edite  affairs,  ordered  work  continued 
until  nine  o'clock  at  night.  The  captain  disliked  to 
<liivo  the  men  so  hard,  lest  they  should  complain, 
and  reasonably,  as  it  was  against  the  rules  of  the 
sliip.  Prayers  were  held  on  Sunday  between  one  and 
two,  and   after   further   resting   until  four,  Douglas 


d 


il; 


fiS!  -  'it 

1*1 

i 


!,.;     r 


'  ;P 


^1 


.  li- 


I    5 


II 


70 


OCCUPATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


ordered  the  wooding  to  proceed,  the  captain  remain- 
in  j^  ashore  all  Jay  in  an  ill  humor.  Next  morning 
McNeill  was  more  angry  than  ever,  and  on  encoun- 
tering Douglas  in  the  cabin,  addressed  him  in  an  agi- 
tated manner. 

"Mr  Douglas,  if  you  interfere  with  the  duties  of 
the  sliip,  I  will  leave  her  as  soon  as  we  get  to  Fort 
bnnpsoi' 

"In  what  instance  sir  have  I  interfered  with  the 
ship's  duties?" 

"In  various  ways." 

"You  would  ol)lige  me,  sir,  by  more  explicit  infor- 
mation. It  was  certainly  never  my  intention  to  do 
anything  on  board  this  ship  to  diminish  the  respect 
due  to  you.  However,  in  my  ignorance  of  naval 
routine,  1  may  have  inadvertently  trespassed  on  some 
point  of  etiquette,  and  I  wish  you  to  point  it  out,  that 
I  may  avoid  it  in  future." 

"The  mate,  an  hour  ago,  asked  me  whose  orders  he 
should  obey — ^yours  or  mine." 

"Call  him.  Sir,  why  did  you  put  such  a  quastioii 
to  the  captain?" 

"Because  you  gave  me  several  orders  yesterdiiy 
when  the  captain  was  ashore." 

"  Did  I  ever  tell  you,  sir,  to  disobey  the  captain's 
Oiders  i 

"No,  sir." 

"Well,  sir,  you  have  acted  very  improperly,  and  in 
a  manner  more  becoming  an  inmate  of  the  forecastle 
than  a  gentleman  and  an  officer." 

"Very  well,  1  will  go  away." 

"Go  to  the  devil,  sir,  if  you  please." 

*''Ca})tain  McNeill,  I  refuse  duty,"  exclaimed  the 
mate,  as  he  left  the  cabin  and  went  on  deck.  Dougliis 
followed  him,  and  ordered  him  back  to  the  cabin  Tlio 
mate  moved  slowly  and  reluctantly.  Douglas  was 
very  angr^".  Seizing  in  his  powerful  grasp  the  collar 
of  the  mate's  jacket,  he  shook  him  as  he  would  havo 
done  a  scht)ol-boy. 


"Wou 
mate.     ] 
leased  hi 
cabin.     J 
no  intent 
he  deem 
they  mus 
service,   : 
now  in  cl 
While 
Vancouve 
wliat  dis] 
needed  ai 
and  thert 
ready  the 
to  sfiid  t 
ilcliver  th 
proceed   t 
\V''ork  doe 
Fort  Vaii 
Fort  McI 
for  trade, 
hoarding-i 
with  safoi 
This  pla 
execution, 
with  Rodi 
Stephens 
uoon  of 
huiits  and 
(listance   o 
informed 
Three  day 
liigher  ele> 
•T-iid  snow, 
W'iiig  plant 
it,  so  singu 
olation  an( 
it  Kden. 


\'<i 


EXPLORATION  OF  THE  TAKO. 


VI 


"Would  you  lay  violent  hands  on  mo?"  shouted  the 
mate.  Instantly  remembering  himself,  Douglas  re- 
leased his  hold,  and  the  man  inarched  quietl}'  into  the 
<-abin.  Douglas  then  assured  the  officers  that  he  had 
no  intention  of  interfering  with  their  duties,  hut  should 
he  deem  it  necessary  at  any  time  to  issue  orders, 
they  must  be  obeyed  by  every  person  in  the  company's 
service,  master  and  mate  included.  Mr  Work  was 
now  in  charge  of  Fort  Simpson,  and  Ilae  of  Stikeen. 

While  at  the  former  place  a  few  da}'s,  the  ship 
Vancouver  arrived,  whereupot\  Douglas  was  perph^xed 
what  disposition  to  make  of  the  vessels,  which  were 
needed  at  once  at  the  Columbia  for  general  service, 
and  there  upon  the  north  coast  to  assist  in  making 
ready  the  new  establishments.  He  finally  concluded 
to  send  both  the  sailing  vessel  and  the  steamer  to 
ck^liver  the  outfits  at  Stikeen  and  Tako;  thence  {o 
proceed  to  Sitka,  returning  to  Simpson,  when,  if 
Work  deemed  it  necessary,  he  n^.ight  shi[)  his  furs  to 
Fort  Vancouver,  meanwhile  landing  the  outfit  for 
Fort  McLoughlin,  and  touching  on  the  coast  below 
for  trade,  that  is  to  say,  if  a  vessel  unprovided  with 
lioarding-nettings,  as  was  the  Vancouver,  might  do  so 
with  safety. 

This  plan  Douglas  proceeded  to  put  into  immediate 
execution,  still  retaining  his  place  on  board  the  Ikaver, 
with  Roderick  Finlayson  of  the  party.  Arriving  at 
Stephens  Passage  on  the  17th  of  June,  in  the  after- 
noon of  tbe  same  day  he  set  out  with  two  armed 
boats  and  twenty  men  to  ex})lore  the  Tako  lilver  to  a 
distance  of  thirty-five  miles,  where  his  instructions 
Informed  him  was  to  be  placed  the  post  of  Tako. 
Three  days  were  occupied  in  this  expedition.  The 
higher  elevations  everywhere  were  covered  with  ice 
and  snow,  the  lower  level  with  green  grasses  and  flow- 
ci'liig  plants  in  full  bloom.  So  strangely  beautiful  was 
it,  so  singular  the  contrast  between  the  heaveidy  des- 
olation and  the  earthly  jaradlse,  that  Douglas  calh^d 
it  Eden.     Ytt  so   swift  and   di*ngerous  was  the  cur- 


11: 


'    '\\i 


\k. 


if.-'* 


72 


OCCUPATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


rop.t,  moreover  bcin<^  Wicked  by  ice  during  the  winter, 
that  Douglas  finally  decided  not  to  place  the  fort  far 
up  the  river,  but  to  build  it  where  an  intelligent  native 
had  directed  him,  some  twenty  miles  south  of  Point 
Salisbury.  Pickets  and  block-houses  were  quickly 
thrown  up,  and  a  salute  fired  on  the  fourth  of  July  an- 
nounced the  guns  in  place.  Trading  began,  but  it 
was  not  wholly  satisfactory,  the  savages  being  so  ab- 
sorbed in  dealing  in  slaves,  who  were  brought  from 
a  distance  and  used  in  conniierce  as  a  sort  of  currency, 
that  they  had  but  few  skins  left  to  buy  whiskey  with. 
Arrived  at  Tako  the  12th  of  August  the  Cadhoro, 
brinointr  news  from  all  the  coast  stations.  Discharj?- 
inii^  and  rcceivintj  her  carjjo  she  soon  set  sail  on  her 
return  voyage,  Fort  Vancouver  being  her  destina- 
tion, w'liilc  Nisqually  was  that  of  the  Beaver.  Be- 
fore leaving  these  parts  Douglas  made  a  short  cruise 
into  the  nciii:hborinL!:  inlets  to  exhort  the  savai^es  to 
bring  their  skins  to  Tako  and  buy  some  tobacco  and 
blankets  with  them,  and  not  waste  them  on  filthy 
human  beings.  A  lengthy  account  is  given  in  his 
journal  by  Douglas,  of  the  occurrences  at  the  several 
stations  during  his  return  trip,  which  it  is  needless 
for  me  to  reproduce.  Year  after  year  the  company's 
vessels,  with  but  little  variation  and  with  few  inci- 
dents worth  recording,  coasted  up  and  down,  supply- 
ing the  stations,  and  trading  on  the  vessel's  deck 
where  no  posts  were  established.  During  the  follow- 
ing winter,  1840-1,  Douglas  visited  California  to  pur- 
chase grain  and  send  overland  to  the  Columbia  a  large 
herd  of  live-stock. 


Much  has  been  written  on  the  climates,  physical  features,  natural  wealth, 
ftlwtigincs,  and  occupation  of  the  Nortliwest  Coast.  I  liavo  given  in  the  two 
preceding  chapters  hut  an  outline.  A  volume  would  not  exhaust  the  sub- 
ject. I  am  obliged,  therefore,  to  refer  those  desirous  of  further  infoniuitiou 
«lion  tiu;  subject  to  other  works,  among  which  after  my  Xative  /'a<vn  of  the 
J'licijlr  Sliile.1  and  tlio  former  volumes  of  this  Ilistorij  of  the  F<'rijic  .^tulK, 
I  may  mention  the  following:  A.  C,  Anderson,  who  in  his  Norlhwent  Coast, 
MS.,  'I'ih-'i'l,  discusses  the  climates  of  Stuart  Luke  and  of  Victoria,  and  do- 


AUTHORITIES  ON  PHYSKLAL  FEATURES. 


73 


votes  a  large  part  of  his  prize  essay  on  The  Dominion  of  the  We«l  to  the 
Scdgraphiciil  features  of  lioth  islaiula  anil  iiiainlaiul. 

Oil  the  configuration  and  climate  of  Vancouver  Island,  see  Forl>es'  Essay, 
(!•_',  tliu  harbors  particularly;  Pemlicrtons  V.  1.,  148,  150,  on  timber;  MoffaCa 
Jiiiir.,  in  /(/.,  14G,  140,  natural  products;  lloretzkys  Camula  on  the  Pacific, 
p.isisim;  Jlihln'ns  C'lddr  J}.  C,  passim,  on  both  islands  and  mainland;  Mac- 
diinaUVs  Lecture,  43-4;  Hnzlilt's  li.  C,  217-18;  Poole's  Queen  Charlotte  Islands, 
riS-fil,  for  a  good  description  of  the  harbors  of  Vancouver  Island  and  tlie  main- 
liiiid  opposite;  Mnrtip\t  II.  D.,  32-0,  copying  jr<i/Te  and  Vavasovrs  lieyort, 
for  physical  aspect  and  resources  of  the  island;  Brit.  S.  Am.,  30G-9,  for 
g.iino,  timber,  fish,  fur,  and  coal.  Victor  says,  Orejon,  254,  that  there  is  but 
little  good  land  on  the  island,  though  sheep-raising  is  carried  on  largely. 
The  wealth  of  the  islanil  is  in  its  timber,  coal,  and  fisheries;  probably  gold, 
copper,  and  salt  might  be  remunerative,  (rrant,  London  Ofoj.  Sue.,  Jour., 
xxvii.  208-320,  gives  a  full  description,  remarking  that  the  soil  is  'rich  where 
tliLTc  IS  any. .  .the  singular  system  of  inland  seas  by  which  it  is  environed 
tfeiiis  ■»  itl.  fish  of  e\-ery  description,'  and  that  it  is  a  fine  seat  for  a  colony. 
For  the  western  side,  see  the  voyages  of  Meares,  Dixon,  Cook,  Sutil  y  Mexi- 
can;!, \  ancoiiver,  and  for  the  interior,  the  journeys  of  Mackenzie,  Lewis  and 
I'liirko,  Eraser,  Stuart,  Simpson,  Franchere,  Cox,  and  others,  and  also  the 
Bevond  geological,  geographical,  and  roa<l  and  railway  explorations.  McLeod, 
I'i'div  Hirer,  5-0,  states  that  the  rivers  and  lakes  north  of  Cariboo  are  seldfuu 
fnizt'u  after  March,  oven  on  the  plateau.  Harmon  in  liis  Journal,  191,  calls 
attention  to  the  raid  of  the  far  reaching  branches  of  I'eace  River  upon  the 
wators  of  the  western  side  of  the  continental  water-shed,  both  Findlay  and 
I'ursuiii  rivers,  before  tlieir  junction,  running  along  the  western  base  of  tlio 
nioiiiitiiins  with  their  stolen  moisture,  as  if  in  search  of  a  passage  through. 

l{;ittray,  V.  /.,  22-54,  has  a  long  cliapter  on  the  climate  of  Vancouver 
l>hm(l  and  Rritish  Columbia,  its  salubrity  and  variations,  the  force  of  winds, 
temperature,  rainfall,  barometric  rangits,  with  tables  and  chart.  Also  73-7 
an  artUlo  on  timber,  its  produce,  uses,  and  value.  Good,  Jl.  ( '.,  MS.,  53-114, 
gives  a  long  description  of  a  trip  up  the  Eraser  by  steamer  to  Yale  and  thence 
hy  rreid  to  Clinton.  An  eloipmiit  and  graphic  description  is  f;iven  of  tlie 
conntn,  its  topographical  features  anil  scenery,  particularly  of  the  Kamloop, 
Xicoli,  and  Oiianagan  districts.  Indeed,  I  might  give  volumes  of  descrip- 
tiim  from  tlie  hundreds  of  writers  on  the  subject,  every  one  of  whom  has 
siiiiirthing  to  say  of  the  country  that  he  has  either  Keen  or  heard  of.  I 
have  se.ireely  space  in  this  volume  for  reference  even,  and  therefore  will  con- 
diMisu  as  much  as  possible,  and  omit  all  but  the  more  important.  On  giuieral 
ffatnrcs  and  climate,  see  further,  Lamjemns  Rept.,  40-4;  Conncnllis'  Xew  El 
l>nr,„l„,  27,  3G,  113;  Macfie's  V.  L  ami  li.  C,  chap,  ii,;  T)e  Smrt,  Misx.  de 
("r.,  1 14,  wliere  an  account  is  given  of  the  twelve  voyageurs  swallowed  in 
tiio  Ualles  des  Morts  in  1838;  (hrenhow's  Or.  ami  (\il.,  27-9;  Butlers  Xorth 
I.iiiiil,  11)3;  Eraser's  2d  Jour.,  MS.,  3;  Umfreville's  II.  B.,  passim;  (iladman  iii 
UmiM'  Coin,  /fi'pf.,  1857,  390-2;  ('hicaijo  Acad.  Sri,  i,  GI-78,  more  especially 
witli  reference  to  the  geology  of  the  Mackenzie  River;  Nines'  Or.  and  its 
IiiMil.,  7,  -ind  J  fines'  E.r.  to  Or.,  chap,  xvi;  Dotlijes'  Plains,  passim;  Macdonald'a 
R.  C,  chap,  i.-iii.;  Absaraka,  chap,  iii.,  on  Dakota-  Taylor's  yortf(west  Am 


1        :!l 


m 


'•(  I 


n 


OCCUPATION  OF  THE  DOMAIJf. 


MS.,  47,  65;  N7W  Heginter,  xvi.  235;  Dalles  Mountaineer,  AprU  4,  1868;  Mae- 
loizie's  Hist.  TojHxj.,  314-15;  Cox's  Adv.,  ii.  300-92,  about  New  Caledonia; 
TliomUm's  Or.,  i.  chap,  xix;  Parker's  Tour,  chap.  i. ;  Malte-Brun,  Precis  de 
Giog.,  vi.  310-14,  compiled  from  Vancouver,  Lewis  and  Clarke,  and  others; 
Richards    V.  I.  Pilot,  1-255;  Findlays  Direct.  N.    W.  Am.,  392-436;  Imray's 
Sailinrj  Direct.  A\  W.  Am.,  23»-45,  261-312,  357-60;  Bmoe's  Colon.  Emp.,  i. 
117-29,  134-7;  Tolmie's  Pwjet  Sound,  MS.,  13-14,  on  Committee's  Punch  Bowl. 
Burnett  in  his  ^ecoZ.,  MS.,  i.  115-16,  tells  about  one  Black  Harris,  atrapper, 
who  claimed  to  have  di8covere<l  a  petrified  forest  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  on 
first  coming  in  sight  of  which  he  had  supposed  it  a  beautiful  grove  of  gum 
timber,  '  and  so  sudden  had  been  the  petrification  that  the  green  loavea  were 
all  petrified,  and  the  very  birds  that  were  there  singing  in  the  grove  were 
also  petrified  in  the  act  of  singing,  because  their  mouths  were  still  open  ia 
the  petrified  state.'    Black  Harris  mast  have   been  reading  the  Av^iitn 
Nig/Us;  but  stranger  than  the  story  of  the  forest  is  the  fact  that  so  sensible  a 
man  aa  Governor  Burnett  should  half  believe  it.     The  ignorance  of  politicans 
concerning  this  country  is  painfully  apparent,  when  we  sec  congressmaa  like 
Mr  Baylies  as  late  as  1826,  men  who  claimed  knowledge  sufficiently  extra- 
ordinary and  accurate  to  warrant  a  printed  communication  of  the  same  to 
congress,  cotilly  asserting  the  existence  of  five  establishments  subordiiiato  to 
Astoria,  one  '  at  the  mouth  of  Lewis  River,  one  at  Lanton,  a  third  on  tlie 
Columbia,  six  hundred  miVs  from  the  ocean  at  the  coufiuenco  of  the  Wantana 
[xir]  River,  a  fourth  on  the  east  fork  of  Lewis  River,  and  the  fifth  on  the 
Multnomah.'    Lewis  and  Clarke  were  not  favorably  impressed  with  the 
country.     It  was  a  <1reary  time  they  had  of  it.     At  the  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
bia they  saM-  little  land  that  they  thought  fit  for  cultivation,  and  the  accniint 
they  gave  was  such  tliat,  for  twenty  years  after  their  visit,  Oregon  was  re- 
garded an  almost  desert  region  fit  only  for  fur-bearing  animals  and  hungry 
savages.     So  says  Jesse  Applegate   in  Saxtoni  Or.   Ter.,  MS.,  142.     Con- 
tinuing our  lists  of  references  there  is  Franclvere's  2^ar.,  229,  on  the  Coluniliia 
region;    Virtor'n  Oregon,  one  of  the  best  works  extant  for  general  descrip- 
tion; TowHuenifn  Xar.,  67,  who  says  of  the  Wind  River  Mountains:     'Tliia 
chain  gives  rise  to  the  sources  of  the  Missouri,  the  Colorado  of  the  west,  anil 
licwis  River  of  the  Columbia,  and  is  the  highest  land  on  the  continent  (if 
North  America,'  which  hist  assertion  he  was  somev.hat  premature  in  making, 
as  he  had  not  measured  all  the  elevations;  If.  S,  Ev.  II.  B.  Co.  Claims,  35  45, 
67,  on  the  soil  of  Iiliiho;  Fremont's  Ex.,  274-6;  Douglas'  Printte  Ptipers,  MS., 
Ber.  i.  8-27,  73,  for  scenery  on  the  Columbia  and  Cowlitz;  Pass'  Fur  Ilunt'f*, 
i.  .'J4,  70,  :i.")8,  ii.  80-3,  360,  for  Okanagau,  Grand  Conte,  Falls  of  the  Colum- 
bia, and   New  Cah^donia;  Simpson's  Journey,   i.    150-5  et  se(j.,  et  passim; 
Hmoard  and  Burnett's  Direct.,  1863,  192-3;  Dawson  on  Mines,  1-3;  Overliml 
from  Minnesota  to  Eraser  River,  passim;  llnrnelt's  Lect.,  42-5;  Churchill  mid 
Coojters  B.   C,  4;  Scliin/n's  Oiol.  Sur.  Rept.,  passim;  Compton's  Ah.  B.  C, 
MS.,  1-3;  De  drnot's  B.  C,  6,  8;  Canada  Hand  Book,  52;  Jobjs  Rept.  on  For- 
estry in  Aij.  Rept.,   1877,   1-20;   Waddingtons  Overland  Route,   15;  Riiwl'ii'j* 
North  Am.,  chap,  viii.,  ix.;  McLellan's  Golden  State,  W>i;  Johnson's  Ven/ Ftu 
Went,  94;  P(diiier'i  North  Bentinck  Route,  passim,  on  Williams  Lake  and  t  'ari- 
boo;  Isbister'a  Proposal,  passim;  Hist.  Mag.,  March  1803;  Laml  aiut    Work's 


Rept.,  1865;  , 

Direct.,  18;  j 

Or.,  passim; 

throp's  Canoe 

House  Com.  1 

iv.,  passim;  , 

Hoojier's  Tern 

aurora  boreali 

ter's  MLvii.   Vo 

In  relation 

ariea,  besides 

IIS.,  14;  BrU. 

Ni'in  Caledonu 

Chinook  jargo 

/(w'  Primte  Po 

8-11.     XoInU, 

payments  to  n 

3lJ'f-7;   Anders 

decrease,  U.  S. 

200-7;   Seenuin 

Hi-p.   Dej>t.   /, 

various  reports 

I,  1(^74,  passim 

1%  41;   Fitzge 


WRITERS  ON  THE  NATIVES  75 

Efft.,  1865;  Jour,  and  Sens.  Papers,  B.  C,  187»^;  MaUandaine'%  First  Vic. 
Direct.,  13;  Nevada  Jour.,  June  11,  1858;  Harmon's  Jour.,  passim;  Dunn's 
Or.,  passim;  Remy  ar  '  Brenshley,  Jour.,  ii.  509;  BulfincKa  Or.,  15C;  Wtn- 
Ihrop's  Canoe  Jour.,  ^  i;  Stuart's  Montana,  89-92;  W.  McD.  Dawson,  in 
Hou»e  Com.  Kept.,  H.  £.  Co.,  1857,  399-402;  Wilkes'  Nar.  U.  S.  Expl.  Ex., 
iv.,  passim;  McTavish's  Dep.,  passim;  Richardson's  Polar  Regions,  219-97; 
Hmi>ers  Tents  of  the  Tuski,  309-86,  where  is  an  excellent  description  of  the 
aurora  borealis;  Qray's  Or.,  610-19;  Lee  and  Frost's  Or.,  81-95,  196-203;  Fos- 
kr'n  Mmi.  Valley,  36,  180,  197-9,  252,  257. 

In  relation  to  the  policy  of  the  European  fur-traders,  settlers,  and  mission- 
aries, besides  the  authorities  already  quoted,  I  would  mention  Rol>erts'  Rec, 
M.S.,  14;  Brit.  Col.  Sketches,  MS.,  30;  Compton's  Forts,  MS.,  passim;  Toil's 
N,'w  Caledonia,  MS.,  24-6,  29-34;   Hancofk's  Thirteen  Years,  MS.,  359-60, 
t'liiuook  jargon;  McKay's  Rec,  MS.,  17-18;  Dean's  V.  I.,  MS.,  22-4;  Dowj- 
Iud'  PriixUe  Papers,  MS.,  ser  i.,  33-4,  55-6,  83;   Voioell's  Minimj  Dmt.,  MS., 
8-11.     NMli,  iu  De  Smet,  Miss,  de  I'Or.,  153;  Pub.  Accts.  Canada,  iii.  43; 
payments  to  natives  B  C,  1876,  House  of  Commons  Rept.,  H.  B.  Co.,  1857, 
3GIt-7;   Anderson,  in   Hist.  Mag.,  vii.   76;   census   carriers  and  remarks  on 
decrease,  U.  S.  I  ml.  Affairs  Rept.,  1869,  533-4,  558-60;  Overland  Monthly,  ii. 
2i)G-7;   Seenuinn's    Voy.    Herald,   i.    104-6;    Canada    Year-Dook,    1878,    44; 
Rrp.   Dept.   Int.,   1875,  xlvi.  44-6;  Indian   reservations,  Coliiinlmi  Mission, 
various  reports;  KirchJioff,  Reisebilder,  ii.  81;  B.  C,  Jnurnid  and  Sen",.  Pap., 
1,  1874,  passim,  and  Rept.  1875,  673;  BiJth  Cong.  3d  Sess.,  House  Com.  Rept. 
101,  41;   Fitzgerald's  H.  B.  Co.,  chap,  vii.;   Douglas'  Addresses  and  Mem., 
tj8;  Armstrong's  Or.,  25-6;  U.  S.  Statutes  at  Large,  passim;  Sliasta  Courier, 
hue.  24,  1864;  Ishister,  in  Hou-^e  Com.  Rept.,  H.  B.  Co.,  1857,  123;  McKin- 
liujH  Xar.,  MS.,  13-14;  Simpson's  Nar.,  i.  210;  Allen's  Cont.,  MS.,  20;  Fori 
Simpson  Journal,  MS.,  11;  Sprout's  Scenes,  passim;  Simmons,  in   If.  S,  Ev. 
Jf.  B.  Co.  Claims,  \U. 

As  to  original  populations  in  these  parts,  Lieutenants  Warre  and  Vavasour 
ill  tlu'ir  report  of  the  26th  of  October,  1845,  give  the  census  of  the  tribes  in- 
liiil)iting  the  Oregon  Territory  between  the  forty-second  and  fifty-fourth  par- 
allels and  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  at  86,947.  This  census  was  made  up 
from  the  trading-lists  of  the  several  stations,  and  from  other  good  authority. 
*)t  the  number  named,  11,079  were  ari-'-ved  av  by  estimate,  and  7.j,8li8  by  ac- 
curate census.  The  last  named  cot.  ni  33,956  males,  35, 182  females, 
l,jS-l  cliildren  under  twelve,  and  5,M',>  jLiVos. 

Lord,  B.  C.  Naturalist,  ii.  22(),  estimates  th»>  native  population  of  Van- 
couver I.-iland  and  British  Columbia  in  1860  at  .30,000.  In  the  United  States 
the  munbers  have  fallen  from  2,000,000  to  300,000.  Douglas,  Primte  Papers, 
M.S.,  ser.  ii.,  7-33,  gives  census  tables  of  native  British  Columbia  populations 
ot  till'  several  districts  in  columns  showing  heads  of  families,  women,  canoes, 
guns,  etc.,  most  of  which  are  for  the  years  18.38-9.  These  statistics  were 
louiiil  very  useful  to  the  Company  in  its  commercial  o^ierations.  Kane,  Wan- 
deriit'ii  of  an  Artist,  also  gives  tables  of  population,  all  which  are  contra- 
dictory and  unsatisfactory. 

Ah)nginal  Britlih  Cnlumhia,  by  P.  N  Compton,  is  a  manuscript  of  120 
pages,  tilled  with  interesting  and  valuable  detail  concerning  the  geography. 


I   % 


ii'i 


i'l  ' 


M 


I 


7« 


OCCUPATION  OF  THE  DOMAIN. 


natural  wealth,  anrl  native  inhabitants  of  the  country.  Most  of  it  is  the  re- 
sult of  personal  observation.  The  style  is  plain,  simple,  and  practical,  com- 
mon sense  characterizing  every  page.  It  is  probably  tlie  most  complete  work 
extant  on  the  aborigines,  particular  attention  being  given  as  well  to  their 
fisheries,  game,  food,  and  commerce  as  to  their  character,  customs,  and  lan- 
guages. Not  the  least  interesting  part  of  the  work  is  a  division  on  the  natural 
history  oi  this  region,  devoted  chiefly  to  the  bear  tribe. 

For  fort-dwellers,  settlers,  and  missionary  stations  I  would  refer  more 
especially  to  McLowjhlins  Pnmte  Papers,  MS.,  ser.  i.  1;  Saxtmis  Or.  Ter., 
MS.,  38;  tlie  observations  of  Wilkes  and  Simpson  before  quoted.  Belcher, 
Voy.,  i.  301,  mentions  as  occupying  the  Willamette  Valley  24  Canadians,  '20 
American  stragglers,  mostly  from  California,  and  ten  Methodist  clergymen 
and  teachers.  The  five  vessels  performing  the  coast  service  were  the  bark 
Columhiti,  310  tons,  6  guns,  and  24  men;  the  bark  Vancouver,  324  tons,  C 
guns,  and  24  men;  ship  Nereid,  283  tons,  10  guns,  and  26  men;  schooner 
Vwllioro,  71  tons,  4  guns,  and  12  men;  and  steamer  Beaver,  109  tons,  5  guns, 
and  26  men.  See  also  House  Commons  Returns  to  Three  Addresses,  7;  McKmjii 
Hec,  MS.,  2;  FinUiysons  V.  I.  and  N.  C,  MS.,  90-1;  Tolmie's  Hist.  Pwjet 
Sound,  MS.,  59-60;  i'4<A  Cong.  1st  Sess.,  Senate  Doc.  2C2,  27-30,  iii.;  Evans 
Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  xxi. 

McKinlay  states.  Narrative,  MS.,  13-15,  that  Wanquille  River  was 
named  after  the  Indian  chief  Wanquille,  and  Nicola  Lake  after  the  chief  of 
the  Okanagans  who  lived  there.  McLeod,  in  McDonald's  Jour.,  113,  statf^s 
tliat  Tote  Jaune  Cache  at  Yellowhead  or  Leather  Pass  derived  its  name 
from  the  fact  that  the  Hudson's  Biiy  Company,  requiring  large  quantities 
of  leather  for  their  carrying  service  in  the  Columbia,  Thompson  River,  and 
New  Caledonia  districts,  brought  from  the  eastern  side  by  this  pass  dressed 
moose  and  deer  skins  which  were  here  cached  for  convenience.  Two  miles 
below  Fort  Vancouver  the  country  was  called  Cox's  Plain,  '  from  Old  Cox, 
tlie  H.  B.  Co.  swineherd,  who  had  his  residence  there  among  the  oaks, 
as  mentioned  in  a  former  volume.  Hines,  Ex.  Or.,  says  that  ten  miles  soutli- 
west  of  Corvallis  rises  the  most  beautiful  mountain  of  the  Coast  Ranjie, 
Mary's  Peak.  Among  a  party  travelling  in  that  vicinity  in  early  times  wa.s 
Mary,  an  Indian  woman,  the  wife  of  a  white  man.  In  crossing  a  river  here- 
about, her  mule  threw  her,  and  she  narrowly  escaped  drowning;  in  compen- 
sation for  which  disaster  both  river  and  mountain  were  honored  by  her  name. 
Indian  tradition  says  that  the  falls  at  the  Dalles  were  once  so  great  that  fish 
could  not  scale  them;  also  that  from  Swalalahhost  Mountain  south-i^ust  nf 
Young  Bay,  thunder  and  smoke  once  issued;  also  that  the  waters  at  the  Cas- 
cades on  the  Columbia  once  flowed  smoothly  and  without  obstacle  beneiith 
lines  of  projecting  rocks  until  they  fell;  ever  since  which  time  the  water  liiis 
stumbled  over  them;  also,  that  the  chasm  at  the  Dalles  was  once  arched  over, 
and  was  subsequently  rent  by  an  earthquake.  Mt  St  Helena  is  said  to  have 
erupted  in  1831,  The  TacuUies  called  the  reindeer  of  their  region  hotsee- 
kaya;  the  Canadian  voyageurs,  caribou,  whence  the  name  of  the  Cariboo 
country.  Many  years  ago  the  Beaver  Indians  inhabited  the  country  round 
the  rivers  Beaver  and  Athabasca,  formerly  Hk,  -nd  lakes  Deor  and  Wnllas- 
ton.     Then  came  the  Knisteneaux,  the  most  warlike  and  powerful  people  in 


NOMENCLATURE.  77 

all  these  parts,  and  drove  the  Beavers,  together  with  their  neighbors  the 
Slaves,  down  the  Athabasca  River  and  beyond  the  Ath.abasca  Lake,  once 
called  Lake  of  the  Hills.  Thence  the  Slaves  fled  down  the  Slave  River  to 
Slave  Lake,  thus  giving  these  two  bodi  t.  of  water  their  name.  The  Beavers 
turned  into  Peace  River,  where,  upon  a  point  not  far  distant  from  its  mouth, 
tliey  halted  and  made  terms  with  their  pursuers,  and  made  this  point  their 
boundary,  from  which  circumstance  the  place  was  called  Peace  Point,  and 
the  river  Unjigah  or  Peac«  River. 


hi, 


m 


,i? 


I 


I 


I 


11*11 


Ri|,.i. 


CHAPTER  rV. 

CAMOSUN  AND  ESQUIMALT. 

1842. 

Necessities  of  a  Northern  Metropoutan  Post — Encroachments  of  Set- 
tlers ON  THE  Columbia— The  Dividing  Line — Growinq  Impokta.ncb 
of  Agriculture — The  Question  op  Locality — A  Northern  Hesdf.z- 
vous  FOR  Whalers — The  Southern  End  of  Vancouver  Island— Iiii 
Advaniaoeous  Position — Douglas  Surveys  the  Harbors — Camosln 

AND  EsQUIMALT  COMPARED — REPORT  OF  DoUGLAS. 

Several  caust  s  united  at  this  juncture  to  render 
necessary  the  building  of  a  metropolitan  post  some- 
where to  the  northward. 

When  John  McLoughlin  came  to  Astoria  in  1824, 
he  saw  at  once  that  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  was 
not  the  proper  place  for  the  chief  factory,  or  general 
distributing  depot  of  his  company  on  the  Northwest 
Coast.  Here  as  elsewhere  the  adventurers  of  Eni:j- 
land  trading  into  Hudson  Bay  must  have  absolute 
control  of  the  country,  its  lands  and  waters,  its  forests 
and  prairies,  its  aborigines  and  its  wild  beasts.  It 
must  be  all  or  nothing.  Competition  might  be  en- 
dured along  the  seaboard  where  the  savages  were 
blood-thirsty  and  jealous,  and  where  the  silent  sailing 
of  the  ships  neither  disturbed  the  game  nor  mate- 
rially changed  the  relative  attitude  of  the  inhabitants. 
Astoria  might  be  the  best  location  for  a  fortress  in 
repelling  foreign  invasion,  but  there  was  something 
more  to  be  feared  than  foreign  invasion.  In  fact,  the 
thought  of  forcible  entry  from  the  sea  in  such  numbers 
as  to  do  much  injury  gave  little  concern.  Game  must 
be  preserved  and  the  native  hunters  controlled.    This 

178J 


m 


i 


QUARRELS  OF  THE  FUR-TRADERS. 


79 


could  be  done  only  by  keeping  others  away;  all  others 
except  members  of  the  monopoly;  for  their  own  coun- 
trymen, English,  Scotch,  and  Irish,  as  we  have  often 
ol)served,  were  as  bitterly  detested  as  opponents  as 
wore  the  Russians  or  Americans — instance  the  long 
and  bitter  rivalry  of  the  Northwest  C^onipany,  culmi- 
nating in  the  bloody  fueds  of  Red  River.  ^ 

'  Fully  to  realize  the  extent  to  which  this  brotherly  hate  was  carried, 
one  shoulil  have  been  present  at  a  meeting  of  the  clans  at  York  Factory 
(.r  Fort  William  immediately  after  the  coalition.  Before  me  is  a  vivid 
account  of  one  such  meeting,  early  in  the  summer  of  18'J2,  at  the  former 
post,  for  which  I  am  indebted,  among  other  kindnesses,  to  Mr  John  Tod.  Tlie 
liittomess  of  the  Northwesters  was  somewhat  intensilied  because  of  their  sup- 
jiosed  defeat,  though,  aa  a  matter  of  fact,  they  were  less  defeated  than  their 
oiiponeuts.  The  loss  of  their  name,  and  the  scattering  of  the  hitherto  proud 
r.nd  iiowerful  Montreal  associates,  gave  the  retainers  of  the  old  chartered  com- 
jiuiiy  an  opportunity  to  assume  superiority,  of  wliich  they  did  not  hesitate  to 
make  avail.  A  dinner  at  York  Factory  in  those  days  was  closely  akin  to  a 
tragedy.  There  were  the  haughty  Highlanders  of  the  Northwest  t'onipany, 
an<l  the  equally  independent  servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  stalking 
the  8ond)re  halls  of  the  dilapidated  fortress,  and  glaring  deadly  scorn  from 
tuiilcr  shaggy  eyebrows  as  paths  met.  Company  colors  were  still  Iwavely 
flaunted,  the  former  arrayed  in  gray,  the  latter  in  blue.  At  the  sounding  of 
the  bull,  seventy  or  eighty  of  these  two  kindred  souls  marched  promiscuously 
i:ito  the  dining-hall  and  stood  along  the  walls  ir^  sullen  silence,  jealously 
watching  colors  in  the  appointments  of  place  and  i)recedeuce.  But '  that  crafty 
fox,  Sir  tieorgc  Simpson,  as  my  friend  of  the  grays  calls  him,  was  happy  with 
his  small  talk  and  diplomacy,  and  presently  the  party  was  seated.  Brought 
thus  into  vet  nearer  and  more  nervous  conjunction,  it  was  interesting  to  see 
thcni  handling  the  knives  intended  for  cutting  their  meat,  but  seemingly  it 
■would  have  given  greater  satisfaction  to  have  applied  them  to  the  throat  of 
their  vii-d-vis.  There  was  blind  McDonnel  savagely  blinking  at  his  enemy  of 
Swan  Kiver,  Chief  Factor  Kennedy,  whom  he  had  fought  with  naked  sword 
within  these  tliree  months,  and  who  still  carried  marks  of  the  encounter  upon 
his  face.  'I  shall  never  forget  the  looks  of  scorn  and  dcliance, '  says  my 
friend,  *as  their  eyes  met.  The  Highlimder's  nostrils  expanded;  be  snorted, 
Fquirted,  and  spat,  while  the  other  looked  all  that,  and  more.'  At  either  end 
of  the  table  sat  the  respective  chiefs  of  the  lately  op^josiug  companies.  Sir 
George  Simpson  and  Simon  McGillivray,  who  interposed  wine  and  good  cheer 
between  the  would-be  combatants  with  such  polished  stratagem  as  to  save 
the  dining-hall  the  scene  of  open  hostilities.  Indeed,  under  the  Hudson's 
Bay  governor  preceding  Simpson,  the  bluflf  and  rugged  Williams,  whose 
ultimate  appeal  in  matters  of  dispute  was  always  war,  the  coalition  would 
scarcely  have  been  achieved.  'Immediately  on  the  right  of  McUillivray,' 
continues  the  gray,  speaking  of  this  special  occasion,  'sat  that  Uexible  ch!" 
acter,  Mcintosh,  his  ever-shifting  countenance  and  restless  black  eye  indica,- 
ing  that  nature  had  designed  him  for  the  harbinger  of  plots,  treasons,  and 
stratagems.  I  allude  to  the  same  who,  some  years  before,  in  Peace  River, 
tried  hard  to  poison  poor  little  Yale,  but  could  not  succeed,  for  bo  invulnera- 
ble had  the  integuments  of  the  latter's  stomach  become  by  long  acquaintance 
with  tlie  tough  faro  of  that  inhospitable  step-mother.  New  Caledonia,  that  the 
diabolical  attempt  altogether  failed.  Directly  in  front  of  Mcintosh  sat  his 
gallant  enemy  ol  the  preceding  winter,  the  pompous  but  good-natured  John 
(lark,  with  neckerchief  and  shirt-collar  always  up  to  his  cars,  and  his  head 
aljove  the  level  of  ordinary  men. '  I  may  remark  that  the  two  leaders,  Mcintosh 


!-t   :!8 


11(1 :  ■  1  Til  iit  :•*-  i  ;■  ip  8* 


^3    ^     '  ij'-l  ' 


;.tlii:    * 


[4    l-'.ll 

l'^  i 


nd 


CAMOSUN  AND  ESQUIMALT. 


'm 


m 


i 


But  to  protect  the  dusky  children  of  their  adoption, 
to  -watch  white  interlopers,  to  prevent  the  too  rapid 
slaughter  of  fur-bearing  animals,  and  to  delay  settle- 
ment, a  location  more  central  than  the  seaboard  was 
deemed  advisable.  Hence  head-quarters  had  been 
removed  up  the  river,  near  the  head  of  ocean  naviga- 
tion, and  near  the  mouth  of  a  large  river  flowing  in 
through  the  fertile  Valley  Willamette,  from  far  to 
the  southward.  The  northern  bank  of  the  Columbia 
had  been  chosen,  that  should  this  str::im  prove  event- 
ually the  boundary  line  between  British  and  American 
Pacific  domain,  as  was  then  thought  probable,  the 
chief  post  of  the  company  might  still  be  found  planted 
within  British  possessions. 

In  1824  agriculture  also  began  to  assume  impor- 
tance in  fur-trading  circles.  The  subordinate  estab- 
lishments, of  which  there  were  a  score  or  so  on  the 
Pacific  slope,  needed  supplies.  The  servants  of  the 
company  wore  no  longer  satisfied  to  trust  entirely  for 
food  to  the  game  which  they  might  kill  or  purchase. 
Some  of  the  interior  I'orts  might,  it  is  true,  and  did, 
cultivate  vegetable  patches,  and  Colville  raised  no  in- 
considerable quantities  of  grain  and  live-stock.  But 
every  locality  was  not  suited  to  growing  grain ;  further- 
more, mills  were  necessary,  and  the  more  the  occu- 
pants of  the  several  posts  cumbered  themselves  witli 
the  paraphernalia  of  civilized  life,  the  more  their  traffic 
was  impeded.  But  the  central  establishment  might 
very  properly  and  profitably  turn  some  attention  to 
agriculture,  and  while  securing  land  to  themselves 
prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  others.     It  was 

and  Clark,  each  on  his  respective  side,  were  for  several  years  close  neighbors, 
and  constituted  the  advance  guard  of  that  tierce  rivalry  which  so  long  kept 
the  fur-tradera  in  a  turmoil.  It  was  only  witliin  the  past  six  months  that  after 
a  long  day's  niarcli,  side  by  side  on  snow-shoes,  they  had  agreed  to  settle  a 
dispute  by  combat;  and  across  the  blazing  camp-fire  that  nigiit  lively  pistol- 
lings  began,  which  were  unfortunately  interfered  with  by  their  companions. 
These  festive  occasions,  however,  greatly  assisted  in  healing  personal  femls, 
which  could  not  long  continue  after  their  pecuniary  interests  became  one;  fur 
before  this  present  York  Factory  feast  is  over  we  see  McVicor  taking  wine 
with  his  late  jailer  who  had  burned  brimstone  and  phosphorus  in  his  cull, 
thus  giving  him  u  somewhat  unpalatable  foretaste  of  what  might  be  his  fate 
hereafter. 


CHANCiK  OF  LCK'ALITY  FOR  HKAD-yUARTElW. 


81 


wise  policy  on  the  part  of  McLoughlin  and  liis  asso* 
ciates  to  move  their  Pacific  head-quarters  from  Astoria ; 
and  all  things  considered,  the  site  of  Fort  Vancouver 
\vas  as  well  chosen  as  was  then  possible. 

And  now  in  1843  a  second  move  seemed  no  less 
necessary  than  had  the  first  in  1824.  The  ownership 
of  the  territory  was  still  in  dispute.  Settlers  from 
tlic  United  States  and  elsewliere  were  coming  in,  and 
tlio  land  could  no  longer  be  kept  wholly  as  a  game 
preserve.  The  representatives  of  two  powerful  nations 
occupied  in  conmion  l)y  agreement.  In  the  very  nature 
of  things,  this  partnership  must  be  dissolved.  In  sen- 
timent and  in  policy  the  subjects  and  citizens  of  the 
two  powers  were  to  some  extent  antagonistic.  Still 
more  were  the  private  interests  of  the  fur  company, 
who,  down  to  near  the  present  time,  had  singly  domi- 
nated this  common  territory,  oj)pugnant  to  the  in- 
terests of  the  incoming  agriculturists.  Some  day,  and 
that  not  far  distant,  either  with  war  or  \,  ^thout  war, 
tliure  would  be  drawn  the  dividing  line;  and  that 
line  it  was  now  certain  would  not  be  south  of  the 
Columbia,  though  it  was  possible  the  lower  Columbia 
niinht  be  upon  that  line. 

But  in  any  event,  whether  the  territory  was  divided 
soon  or  late,  whether  the  forty-sixth  or  the  forty-ninth 
parallel  should  separate  the  ownership  of  the  twi) 
nations,  it  was  no  less  important  that  the  head- 
(juarters  of  the  fur  company  should  be  moved.  It 
was  impossible  to  prevent  settlement;  it  was  impos- 
.silile  to  treat  settlers  as  enemies,  for  the  officers  and 
servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were,  as  a 
rule,  just  and  humane  men.  Nor  was  it  any  the  loss 
inij)ossible  to  conduct  a  successful  peltry  business  in 
tlk'  face  of  increasing  settlement.  For  several  years 
past  these  ideas  had  been  patent  in  the  minds  of  all 
who  thought  upon  the  subject. 


Having  determined  upon  the  necessity  of  a  move, 
e  next   consideration  was   the  selection  of  a  site. 

llliiT.  URIT.  COU     6 


u 


,1 " 


.  I 


I 


nm 


If! 


I' 


•a  t 


til 
I,  i'i..S 


■\t 


IM 


Wi 


III 


ri . 


m 


'Ml 


82 


CAMOSUN  AND  ESQUIMALT. 


I'hc  nearest  northern  post  Avas  Nisqually.  Too  near, 
in  fact,  tor  already  the  agriculturists  were  upon  them. 
There  were  the  Cowlitz  farms;  and  round  Fort  Nis- 
qually the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural  Company  was 
rapidly  laying  wide  tracts  under  contribution.  But 
this  was  not  the  worst  of  it.  The  agricultural  im- 
provements on  Cowlitz  Plains  and  round  Nisqually 
belonged  to  the  Puget  Sound  Company,  which  be- 
longed to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  All  this  could 
be  easily  controlled;  and  the  agricultural  interest 
might  indeed  have  been  subordinated  to  the  fur  traffic 
to  the  benefit  of  both.  For  it  need  not  necessarily 
follow  that  the  principal  post  of  supply  should  be  in 
the  centre  of  a  fur-bearinu:  rejjion.  But  it  was  better 
it  should  be  back  of  settlement;  and  settlement  in 
earnest  had  already  set  in  between  the  Columbia  and 
Puget  Sound.  Then  Ni.squally,  while  distant  from 
the  northern  posts,  was  likewise  distant  from  the  sea; 
and  too  much  threading  of  inlets  would  more  than 
offset  any  other  advantages  Puget  Sound  might  ofl'er. 
But  most  of  all  to  be  considered,  Nisqually  might  be 
on  the  southern  side  of  the  line  when  the  national 
partition  should  be  made,  and  it  was  surely  desirable 
that  any  further  improvements  made  by  the  British 
fur  company  s'lould  be  on  British  territory. 

Fort  Langlcv  might  next  be  considered.  The 
Frascr  was  the  next  largest  river  on  the  coast  after 
the  Columbia,  and  on  it  stood  Langley,  as  Vancouver 
stood  on  the  Columbia.  Tl  -^  Fraser  could  offer  as 
abundant  a  supply  of  salmon  a  the  Columbia,  and  the 
entrance  was  as  safe.  The  Fru  r  should  now  become 
the  natural  route  to  New  Caledu  'a,  and  Langley  was 
well  situated  to  supply  all  the  i.  erior  posts.  But 
might  not  some  point  more  access  ble  to  the  sea  be 
chosen  which  would  offer  all  the  ot uer  advantages  of 
Langley  as  well?  The  dividing  line  once  determined 
there  would  be  little  fear  of  present  inroads  of  set- 
tlers beyond  it;  and  if  in  time  a  British  colony  within 
strictly  British  territory  and  under  British  rule  should 


'>o   estal 
fur  Com] 
as  other 
ImisIik^ss 
f'linc;  an 
place  of 
torsliip  o: 
the  comp, 
Yet  an 
so  liappui 
upon  the 
fissunied 
hei'M   occa 
c'ltcjiinir  \ 


WHALERS'  RENDEZVOUS. 


83 


1)0  catablished  on  the  Pacific  coast,  might  not  the 
fur  company's  site  be  the  best  for  a  colonial  capital 
iiH  otherwise?  In  the  ordinary  course  of  things,  the 
business  of  wild-beast  raising  and  skinning  must  de- 
cline; and  when  it  does,  and  agriculturists  take  the 
place  of  savages,  it  would  be  as  well  for  the  proprie- 
torship of  the  metropolis  of  the  new  empire  to  vest  in 
the  company  as  in  another. 

Yet  another  consideration  might  be  regarded.  It 
so  happened  that  with  the  decline  of  the  fur-trade 
upon  the  Northwest  Coast,  the  whaling  interest  had 
assumed  larger  proportions.  Since  1790  there  had 
been  occasional  vessels  off  the  shore  of  California 
cateliing  whales.  Gradually  the  number  of  these  ves- 
sels increased,  a  large  proportion  of  thenj  now  hailing 
from  New  England  ports,  until  the  present  century 
uas  wellnigh  two  thirds  gone,  when  in  the  north 
I'aeific  this  fishery  was  at  its  lieight. 

Meanwhile  San  Francisco  Bay  had  its  Whalers' 
Harbor,  now  Sauzalito,  and  laige  fishing  fleets  con- 
^q-etrated  at  Honolulu.'^  And  but  for  the  narrow  [)olicy 
uf  the  Mexican  Government  and  the  apathy  of  the 
people  of  California,  the  harbor  of  San  Francisco 
would  have  been  the  rendezvous  of  Pacific  whalers 
during  the  most  important  half-century  of  their  exist- 
ence. For,  though  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  l3ing  as 
they  did  in  the  very  track  between  the  northern  and 
Southern  fisheries,  were  always  easy  of  access  by 
reason  of  the  trade  winds,  nature  ofl^ered  far  more 
houiitoous  supplies  for  the  refreshing  and  refitting 
of  vessels  upon  the  mainland  than  at  the  Islands. 
Besides  a  plentiful  supply  of  timber  and  resin  which 
California  offered  for  ship-building,  hemp  grew  spon- 
taneously, and  beef  might  be  had  for  a  trifle. 

For  several  years  prior  to  active  operations  in  that 
quarter,  the  southern  end  of  Vancouver  Island  had 

'In  1823,  three  years  after  the  arrival  at  the  Hawaiian  Islands  of  the  first 
niissiouaries,  fifty  or  sixty  whalers  might  be  seen  at  one  time  at  Honolulu, 
aiiil  for  twenty  years  thereafter  the  annual  arrival  at  this  port  averaged  not 
*8a  thim  sixty  sail.     See  Jarves'  Hawaiian  hlande,  361. 


, 


''1 


!■ 

f   i 

1 

[ 

>'  mm 

]■■ 

:;-^H 

jf 

\M 

iii-- 

'hK 

' !  '■ 

84 


CAMOSUN  AND  KSQUIMALT. 


been  thought  of  and  talked  of  as  a  locaHty  suitable 
for  an  estabhshnient.  ]twas  indeed  better  adapted 
for  the  site  of  a  magnificent  city,  than  that  of  a  fui- 
trading  fort.  It  was  near  the  ocean,  and  yet  protected 
from  it.  It  was  on  the  broad  highway  between  tlie 
islands  and  .shores  of  the  Pacific,  and  a  continent^] 
interior  eqnal  to  the  whole  of  Mexico.  It  was  at  the 
cross-roads  of  waters;  to  tlie  west  led  Fuca  Strait,  to 
the  south  Admiralty  Inlet,  and  to  the  north  the  (julf 
of  Georgia.  Huy;e  islands  were  back  of  it,  and  a  hiiL;e 
continent  beside  it.  And  the  fact  that  as  a  [>lace  aloiiu 
Avhereat  to  bu}'  furs  it  was  not  as  desirable  as  soi:ie 
others,  shows  that  in  the  minds  of  the  shrewd  trader,, 
and  factors  of  the  great  company  who  saw  and  seized 
this  opportunity,  it  was  something  more  than  a  mere 
trading-statuMi. 

The  steamer  Beaver  had  not  been  on  duty  in  tlu'so 
waters  more  than  a  year  before  she  was  prying  into 
the  mysteries  of  Royal  Harbor.  For  in  the  Fort 
Simpson  journal  under  date  10th  August  1837,  I 
find  written:  "On  his  way  to  the  southwiird  C'aptiiiii 
McXeill  explored  the  south  end  of  Vancouver  Islaiul, 
and  found  an  excellent  harbor  and  a  fine  open  country 
along  the  sea-shore  aj)parently  well  adapted  for  both 
tillage  and  pasturage,  but  saw  no  river  sufiicieiitly 
extensive  for  mills."^  This  clearly  shows  what  was 
wanted;  not  <mly  a  fort  site  but  a  mill  site;  tliat  is  to 
say,  something  more  than  a  ccmunon  trading-post. 

As  Governor  Simpson  passed  the  place  by  the 
same  conveyance  on  his  way  from  Fort  Vancouvir  tn 
the  northern  posts  in  Stiptember  1841,  he  remarked: 
"The  neighboring  country,  comprising  the  soutlieni 
end  of  Vancouver's  Island,  is  well  adapted  for  culti- 
vation, for,  in  addition  to  a  t(  ierable  soil  and  a  mod- 
erate climate,  it  possess' !S  excellent  harbours,  ;iiul 
abundance   of  timber.     It  will  doubtless  become,  in 

'The  fact  tlia  this  survey  of  E-quinialt  and  Victoria  harbors  liy  MiXiiH 
M'as  ruconiod  in  tiit  jouinal  of  so itislaiit  a  post  a«  tliat  ot  I'ort  Siinpsoii.  .^Imws 
that  it  was  then  re^artled  as  a  matter  of  no  small  'inportanco  to  the  coiiiiKiuy, 
an.l  (Uio  gjnerally  speculated  upon  hy  the  ofiioers. 


time,  th 

a hove  C 

.SinipH 

hefoie.   i 

j^issage  ( 

need  to  i 

couver  fi] 

out  speci; 

visit  of 

suhject,  I 

station    V 

helieved  i 

masters  ai 

f'l'ii  f(  )rests 

t'<|ually  sa 

\vui'(i,  ano: 

As  for  suf 

furnish    th 

tageous  to 

tliey  coulc 

rtoets  of  til 

V\'Jien  S 

''"  route  ov( 

"d"  a  new 

•'I'dinarily 

'  'I'niality  w 

^I'tl  iui  entii 


III 


OEORGE  8i:MrS0N. 


85 


time,  the  most  valuable  section  of  the  whole  coast 
above  California."* 

himipsou  had  seen  this  island  t\v<  iitv-ihree  years 
before,  immediately  after  his  overland  journey  and 
j.;issa<.5e  down  Fraser  River  in  1828;^  but  havinj]^  no 
need  to  think  nmeh  about  it  at  that  time,  Fort  Van- 
couver filling  every  requirement,  he  passed  it  by  with- 
out s[)ecial  connnent.  But  nov/>  and  later,  during  this 
visit  of  1841,  we  find  his  mind  dwelling  upon  the 
subject,  and  connecting  it  with  that  of  a  whaling 
station  within  British  Pacific  territory,  which  he 
believed  might  be  made  at  once  attractive  to  ship- 
masters and  profitable  to  his  company.  Surely  north- 
ern forests  were  superior  to  southern;  northern  harbors 
(([U'llly  safe,  and  as  whaling  operations  worked  north- 
want,  a  northern  rendezvous  might  be  more  convenient. 
As  for  supplies,  if  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  could 
furnish  the  Russians  in  America  on  terms  advau- 
taij^eous  to  both  parties,  as  they  were  now  satisfied 
tliey  could,  surely  tliey  might  supply  the  whaling 
fleets  of  those  waters.^ 

VVben  Simpson  reached  England,  being  while  here 
(II  riiufe  overland  round  the  world,  he  laid  the  matter 
ef  a  new  Pacific  post  before  the  London  directors. 
Ordinarily  in  planting  a  new  establishment  no  such 
formality  was  deemed  necessary.  But,  involving  as  it 
(lid  an  entire  change  of  base  in  operations  here,  a  vir- 

'  Siiiiyxoii's  Jouniei/,  i.  182. 

'(iidige  Siunisou  \v;.s  cliiiif  oUieer  in  America,  and  (.roveriior  of  the  Uml- 
siui's  IJuy  torntdries  for  iiii  nninterrupted  term  of  tlurty->ovin  yturs.  He 
liiiil  111)  lixed  resilience;  part  of  tlic  time  lie  spent  at  K''d  River,  part  iu 
C)icgiiii,  part  -n  Atliabasca,  and  part  in  Canada,  riirougliont  that  vast  com- 
iiiiTciid  empire  as  well  in  Kupert  Land  as  in  the  nortli-west  territories,  his 
iiiitlidTity  was  absolute,  his  will  umpiestioned  except  l>y  tlie  council  or  tlie 
omipiiiiy.  And  during  all  this  time,  if  we  may  believe  his  own  statement,  it 
w:is  iirvcr  questioned.  A  very  able  man  of  large  physitpie,  he  was  a  power 
tllr(.ll^hmlt  the  land. 

'Tlie  governor's  logic  was  souml  enough,  but  it  is  not  so  easy  to  draw 
tratlii'  trnin  its  accustomed  channels.  Vanccmver  Islanil  never  was  greatly 
u  111  'ly  wlialers.  In  A'/>a'  lieijistir,  Ixx.  .'Wl,  nu'iition  is  mado  of  four  Amcr- 
ii.:ui  wlialing  vessels  that  wintered  there  in  184r>-(),  one  of  which  was  the 
Mon-i.-im  of  Massachusetts,  and  one  tlie  Loirrif,  of  Connecticut.  Six  sailors 
('n'scrting  from  these  ships  with  a  stolen  boat  attempted  to  land,  but  were 
fil'lHisiil  by  the  natives;  and  so,  driven  to  sea  iu  a  storm,  three  of  them 
liorisliLil. 


11 


I   I 


J     '! 


I'M!'! 


il 


§w 


86  CAMOSUN  AND  ESQUIMALT. 

tual  abandonment  of  the  Columbia,  and  the  beginniiijT 
of  a  new  regime  under  new  conditions,  it  was  deemed 
desirable  to  have  the  advice  and  sanction  of  the  mag- 
nates of  the  corporation,  before  proceeding  with  what 
were  now,  in  the  minds  of  the  managers,  tolerably 
well  determined  plans. 

The  fact  is  there  could  not  be  in  this  association 
two  opinions  in  regard  to  this  measure.    A  move  was 


w 


VARQ^ 

Ktca'no  ft^ 


'<„"X.-^J 


.  ^p 


Cuf't  Flatter ff^ 


"'■, 


m'S 


fM. 


PORT  ANOI 


,Eyo8( 


Camosun  akd  Vicinity. 

inevitable.  The  life  of  a  fur-trader  or  factor  was  one 
perpetual  lesson  in  observation.  To  study  well  the 
country,  its  configuration  and  contents,  was  tlioir 
daily  occupation.  Hence  the  location  of  the  chief  city 
of  British  Columbia  was  not,  as  has  been  so  many 
times  the  case  in  city-building,  the  result  of  accident. 
The  very  best  place  that  the  very  best  men,  after  iluo 
deliberation  and  examination,  could  find,  was  chosen, 
and  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  results  of  this  sound 


n 


DOUGLAS'  SURVEY. 


87 


judgment  their  successors  and   descendants   forever 
may  call  them  blessed. 

Those  to  whom  more  immediate  thanks  are  due  are 
James  Douglas,  John  McLoughlin,  Koderick  Fin- 
layson,  John  Work,  Anderson,  Tolmie,  and  McNeill. 
(Governor  Simpson  and  the  London  management  were 
only  secondary  in  their  influence  as  to  location.  It 
was  the  chief  factors  and  chief  traders  of  the  day 
who  really  determined  matters. 

And  first  aniciig  these  we  may  place  James  Doug- 
las. McLoughii'i  was  now  in  his  decline.  His  retire 
nient  was  already  determined  upon.  He  had  been 
the  central  figure  in  Northwest  Coast  affairs  for  a 
period  of  eighteen  years.  A  new  sun  was  now  aris- 
ing, which  for  the  next  score  of  years  was  to  shine  iu 
the  north  as  had  the  other  in  the  south. 

In  early  summer  1842,  Douglas  made  a  careful 
preliminary  survey  of  tlie  soutliern  end  of  Vancouver 
Island,  more  particularly  of  the  region  round  what  is 
now  called  Royal  Bay,'  it  being  by  this  time  well  un- 
derstood that  there  was  to  be  found  the  most  suitabb 
available  spot  on  all  the  Northwest  Coast. 

At  a  place  called  by  the  natives  Caniosun,^  or  Ca- 

'  At  tlie  extreme  south-eastern  end  of  Vancouver  Island  '.a  a  large  open 
Iwy  called  Royal  Bay,  directly  back  of  which  is  Esquitiialt  Harl)or,  somo 
tlinc  miles  east  of  which  is  Victoria  Harhor.  That  part  of  Royal  Bay  lead- 
ing more  directly  into  Esquinialt  Harhor,  and  hcginuing  at  Alhort  Head,  i.s 
called  Royal  Roads.  Vessels  may  there  anchor  iu  tenor  twelve  fathoms,  safj 
fnimall  winds  save  those  from  the  east  or  south-east.  Escniinialt  Harhor  may 
lif  (iitcrcd  at  all  times,  and  there  vessels  of  any  size  lind  safe  anchorage. 
Victoria  Harhor,  entered  hetween  poiats  ^IcLoughlin  and  Ogden,  by  reason 
(if  the  sunken  rocks  which  cxtcml  a  mile  in  eitlier  direction,  from  the  harvt, 
tiat  ]irojection  situated  midway  hetween  tlic  two  harhors,  anil  known  as  Sailor 
•  11'  Ma<:aulay  point,  is  regarded  as  dangerous  of  entrance  iu  bad  weather. 
Tlie  channel  is  so  tortuous  that  long  vessels  often  run  agrouiul.  '  Ft  appeari 
nut  a  little  remarkable,'  says  Imray,  Wrd  Conxt  of  Xortli  Aiiiirini,  '2'M,  '  lint 
with  the  excellent  harhor  of  Esijuimalt  witiiiu  two  miles,  Victoiia  slioul  I 
have  been  continued  as  the  commercial  port  of  a  rising  colony.'  See  al  u) 
Kiiiir'.'<  W(iii(leriiiij.%  208,  mid  SctiiKiiins  Vcij.  llimil,  i.  101. 

■■  So  written  lly  Finlaysou,  and  by  Douglas,  I'ainosack.  I  give  the  preft  r- 
I'lici:  to  the  former,  because  though  Einliyson  may  not  on  all  occasions  have 
liicii  as  close  an  observer  as  Douglas,  the  visits  of  ohserv  itioa  of  the  latter 
^^ ire  transient,  and  in  some  degree  necessarily  superficial,  wliile  the  former 
Was  biiiuuht  immediately  into  close  and  continued  rchitionsiiip  with  the 
iiilivcs,  where  he  wasobligcd  to  know  soMiething  of  their  language,  ami  wlur; 
111  assiiieilly  had  tlie  opportunity  to  obtain  the  most  correct  pronnnciation  of 
siiiiiipoi'taiit  a  word.  Lieiiteuant  Vuvajour,  in  Marcli  IS^ii,  llotistvf  Voiuiiioii4 


V 

1    ' 

1 

,  ! 

!  J 


■•ill 'Hi 


Hi    i; 


Mil 

imiii 

,„:  ■'■!•;•: 

■'- 

if 


■           ■                                          ^i 

'1 

:i  i|-i  1- 

4 

AM 

\i 

'% 

iH'l 

fefll 

88 


CAMOSUN  AND  ESQUIMALT. 


iiiosack,  signifying  the  rush  of  waters,  such  as  occurred 
at  the  gorge,  Douglas  found  an  open  space  some  six 
miles  square  in  area,  consisting  of  a  range  of  plains 
with  timber  convenient,  and  possibly  water-power  for 
mills  on  Camosun  Canal,  notwithstanding  McNeill 
iiad  reported  unfavorably  in  regard  to  mill  sites. 

I  will  permit  Douglas  to  make  his  own  report. 
"  Camosack  is  a  pleasant  and  convenient  site  for  the 
establishment,  within  fifty  yards  of  the  anchorage,  on 
the  border  of  a  laroe  tract  of  clear  land  which  extends 
eastward  to  Point  Gonzalo  at  the  south-east  ex- 
tremity of  the  island,  and  about  six  miles  interiorly, 
being  the  most  picturesque  and  decidedly  the  most 
valuable  part  of  the  island  that  we  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  discover.  More  than  two  thirds  of  this  sec- 
tion consists  of  prairie  land,  and  may  be  converted 
cither  to  purposes  of  tillage  or  pasture,  for  which  I 
have  seen  no  part  of  the  Indian  country  better 
adapted;  the  rest  of  it,  with  the  exception  of  the 
ponds  of  water,  is  covered  with  valuable  oak  and  pine 
timber.  I  observed,  generally  speaking,  but  two 
marked  varieties  of  soil  on  the  prairies;  that  of  tlie 
best  land  is  of  a  dark  vegetable  mould,  varying  from 
nine  to  fourteen  inches  in  depth,  overlaying  a  sub- 
stratum of  grayish  clayey  loam,  which  produces  the 
rankest  growth  of  native  plants  that  I  have  seen  in 
America.  The  other  variety  is  of  inferior  value,  and 
to  judge  from  the  less  vigorous  appearance  of  the 
vegetation  upon  it,  naturally  more  unproductive. 
Both  kinds,  however,  produce  abundance  of  grass, 
and  several  varieties  of  red  clover  grow  on  the  ricli 
moist  bottoms.  In  two,  particularly,  we  saw  several 
acres  of  clover  growing  with  a  luxuriance  and  a  com- 
pactness more  resembling  the  close  sward  of  a  well- 
managed  lea  than  the  produce  of  an  uncultivated 
waste.  Being  pretty  well  assured  of  the  capabilities 
of  the  soil  as  respects  tlie  purposes  of  agriculture,  tlio 

I'i'tiirnsto  Thri'C  A'UrcKM'x,  10,  writes  the  word  Caniiiuisaii,  which  cortaiiily 
1  .ans  toward  Finlaysoii's  orthography.  IJohUic  saya  Skairits  calld  tlio  auutli- 
eru  ond  of  V^aucouvcr  Ishiud  Kaiiiocin.   Df  Sniet'n  Or.  M'tn.^.,  Gl. 


DOUiiLAS'  PvKPORT. 


89 


!!  1 1[; 

:;  !  lii 


m 


(Tiinate  being  also  mild  and  pleasant,  we  ought  to  be 
able  to  grow  every  kind  of  grain  raised  in  England. 
On  this  point,  however,  we  cannot  confidently  speak 
until  we  have  tried  the  experiment  and  tested  the  cli- 
mate, as  there  may  exist  local  influences  destructive  of 
the  husbandman's  hopes,  which  camiot  be  discovered 
liy  other  means.  As,  for  instance,  it  is  well  known  that 
the  damp  fogs  which  daily  spread  over  the  shores  of 
Upper  California  blight  the  crops  and  greatly  de- 
teriorate the  wheat  grown  near  the  sea-coast  in  that 
countrv.  I  am  not  aware  that  any  such  effect  is  ever 
i'elt  in  the  temperate  climate  of  Britain,  nearly  con- 
responding  in  its  insular  situation  and  geographical 
position  with  Vancouver  Island,  and  I  hope  that  the 
latter  will  also  enjoy  an  exemption  from  an  evil  at  once 
disastrous  and  irremediable.  We  are  certain  that 
potatoes  thrive,  and  grow  to  a  large  size,  as  the  Ind- 
ians have  many  small  fields  in  cultivation  which  ap- 
pear to  repay  the  labor  bestowed  upon  them,  and  I 
Lope  that  other  crops  will  do  as  well.  The  canal  of 
Cainosack  is  nearly  six  miles  long,  and  its  banks  are 
well  wooded  throughout." 

About  a  league  west  of  Camosun  was  a  spot  known 
to  the  natives  as  Esquimalt;"  that  is  to  say,  'a  place 
for  gatliering  camass,'  great  quantities  of  which  vege- 
tahlo  were  found  there,  where  it  was  now  well  known 
was  a  better  harbor;  indeed,  Camosun  could  scarcely 
l>e  regarded  as  a  suitable  rendezvous  for  whalers;  but 
that  did  not  prevent  its  being  a  better  place  for  a  fort. 

"  As  usual  in  such  cases,  we  find  both  of  those  names  niixe<l  and  mutilated  in 

ii  viiiicty  of  ways  by  ilitfiiroiit  writers.  Thus  (iraut,  F.oml.  Oemj.  Hoc.,  Jnur., 
xwii.  'J7l2,  and  otiiers  rciiwitiiig  his  error,  say  the  natives  called  Victoria  Har- 
liiir 'I'miiiius,  'from  the  name  of  the  tribe  which  livei  there,'  which  were  the 
^"iii;liio.s,  and  wliich  name  in  fact  he  was  endeavoring  to  pronounce.  There  is 
'a  liiiy  within  three  miles  of  Fort  Victoria,'  say  two  very  intelligent  gentlemen 
sjiucially  a])pointed  to  see  and  speak  correctly.  Wiirre  and  WuHumir,  livyt., 
IW.'i,  '  t'allud  Squirnal  by  the  Indians.'  Tiio  native  name  of  Cordoba,  the  Vic- 
tiiria  Harbor  of  the  Sutil  y  Mcj-kamt,  Vinje,  38,  is  given  by  a  Spanish  writer 
Cliacliiiinitiipusas.  Paul  Kane,  the  artist,  WatiihrimjK,  20!),  writes  most  of 
tliL'ii:iims  in  the  vicinity  correctly;  but  lie  iR'oples  the  Songhie  village  with 
'  lalhiiiis,  a  scarcely  pardonable  mistake  in  one  studying  savages.  Douglas 
writis  H.squinialt  lawhoymalth,  which  orthography,  liowever  correct  it  may 
111',  is  rather  redundant  for  pojudar  use.  The  French  Jesuit,  Boldue,  Jh 
!imH)s  Or.  JliM,,  57-8,  calls  the  Soughies  Isauiska, 


■i|  il 


'nu 


!  i. 


I'.  ?.t 


!   !    I 


.11 


Hi 


90 


CAMOSUX  AND  ESQUIMALT. 


When  once  the  shoals  and  covered  rocks  were  known, 
the  channel  would  be  found  sufficient  for  the  small 
vessels  of  the  company ;  and  as  for  whalers,  the  other 
harbor  was  quite  near  enough  for  their  not  always  too 
pleasing  presence.  Little  thought  was  then  taken  a.s 
to  which  should  be  the  great  conmiercial  port,  or  as 
to  where  should  be  placed  the  future  great  commercial 
city.  Even  should  the  station  ever  assume  such  pre- 
tensions, Esquimalt  would  still  assuredly  be  the  proper 
place,  and  Camosun  would  still  be  near  enough  to  it. 
For  the  present,  favorable  surroundings,  good  oiyvn 
lands,  clear  fresh  water,  and  a  beautiful  periscope 
were  far  weightier  considerations  than  the  accessi- 
bility to  shipping,  which  they  did  not  care  to  have 
too  near  them. 

In  referen<  3  to  Esquimalt,  Douglas  says :  "  Iswhoy- 
malth  is  one  of  the  best  harbors  on  tlie  coast,  boinj^ 
perfectly  safe  and  of  easy  access,  but  in  other  respects 
it  possesses  no  attraction.  Its  appearance  is  strikingly 
unprepossessing,  the  outline  of  the  country  exhibiting 
a  confused  assemblage  of  rock  and  w"ood.  More  dis- 
tant appear  isolated  ridges,  thinly  covered  with  scat- 
tered trees  and  masses  of  bare  rock ;  and  the  view  is 
closed  by  a  range  of  low  mountains,  which  traverse 
the  island  at  a  distance  of  about  twelve  miles.  The 
shores  of  the  harbor  are  rugged  and  precipitous,  and 
I  did  not  see  one  level  spot  clear  of  trees  of  sufiicieiit 
extent  to  build  a  large  fort  upon.  There  is  in  fact  but 
little  clear  land  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  tlie  harbor, 
and  that  lies  in  small  patches  here  and  there  on  the 
declivities  and  bottoms  of  the  rising  ground.  At  a 
greater  distance  are  two  elevated  plains  on  differeiit 
sides  of  the  harbor  containing  several  bottoms  of  ricli 
land,  the  largest  of  which  does  not  exceed  fifty  acres 
of  clear  space,  much  broken  by  masses  of  limestone 
and  granite.  Another  serious  objection  to  the  place 
i»i  tbe  scarcity  of  fresh  water."  ^" 

''Compare  further  Mnrfmn  Jfii'lxnn'.i  Bn;/,  .V)-7;  Wirilifi'iiiitoii'a  Frnxfr 
Miw'!,  13,  '  Victoria  in:iy  b J  tliu  f;irm,  but  K.iquiuiult  will  be  tlio  tnidiiig- 
port.'  Seemann's  Voy.  lIiTuUl,  i.  101. 


Jil 


THE  MATTER  DETERMINED. 


91 


Such  report  dated  the  12tli  of  July,  being  duly 
made  at  Fort  Vancouver  on  the  return  of  Douglas, 
after  due  consideration  by  the  factors  and  traders  there 
assembled,  it  was  determined  to  open  operations  at  that 
point  as  early  in  the  following  spring  as  practicable. 


, 


t-'i 


!  .!Si 


jHi 


.  1  iii 


CHAPTER  V. 

FOUNDING  OF  FORT  CAMOSUN. 
1843. 


ExrEDiTio:^  moM  Fort  Vancouver — Sofrck  of  AoniorLrrnAL  Suppukr — 
The  Cowlitz  Country — Emdark  on  the  'Beaver' — Visit  to  tiieClal- 
I.AMS — Anchor  IN  Camoscn  IIarbdis — Beauties  of  the  Scrroundinos 
— Aborioinal  Occupants— Selection  of  a  Site — Two  Points  Attract 
Attention — Location  Settled — The  Jesuit,  Boluuc — IIis  Confer- 
ence WITH  THE  Natives — The  Fort-builders  Beoin  Operations- 
Portentous  Signs — Bolduc  Celebrates  Mass— He  Visits  Whidbey 
Island — Douclas  Departs  for  Tako — Abandonment  of  that  Post, 
AND  also  of  Fort  McLouoiilin — Return  of  Douglas  to  Camoscn 
WITH  Reenfoucements— The  Stockade  Erected— Arrival  of  the 
'Cadboro' — Ross  Placed  in  Command— Departure  of  Douglas  wiiu 
the  'Beaver'  and  the  'Cadboro.' 

The  expedition  for  establishing  a  post  on  the  south- 
ern point  of  Vancouver  Island  left  Fort  Vancouver 
the  first  day  of  March  1843.^  It  consisted  of  sonic 
tiftccn  men,  and  was  under  the  command  of  James 
Douglas.^    It  had  been  determined  that  the  posts  of 


i: 


'  As  to  the  date  of  the  first  expedition  to  Royal  Bay  for  the  purpose  cf 
lanting  an  establishment  there,  and  of  the  beginning  of  tlic  Fort  Victoiiiv 
Liildings,  there  is  a  multiplicity  of  statements,  although  thei-e  is  not  tlio 
slightest  diluculty  in  reaching  the  trutli,  strange  as  it  may  appear,  if  one  gois 
to  the  right  place  for  it.  Thus  Cooper,  Mariliiite  MuUirs,  My.,  2,  who  oiiu 
would  think  shoukl  know,  says  '  the  fort  was  commenced  in  1842  and  (-iiu- 
ploted  in  1844,'  when  in  truth  the  site  was  no  more  than  selected  at  the  dato 
first  mentioned,  while  for  nearly  ten  years  after  tlie  time  last  named  they  wcro 
achling  to  the  buildings.  McKinlay,  Narratiui',  MS.,  7,  was  cpiite  near  it  lur 
liim  wiicn  he  dates  the  founding  1840.  Grant,  in  London  (IfOij.  .S'oc,  Jour., 
xxvii.  '272,  and  Hazlitt,  JJrit.  CuL,  \'SJ,  copying  him;  Tolmio,  Pwjel  Souml, 
!MS.,  10,  Finlayson,  Hist.  V.  I.,  MS.,  21,  wlio  was  there  and  one  of  tlio 
building  party,  give  the  date  1843. 

'^  Of  this  expedition,  which  will  be  forever  interesting  and  important  as  the 
beginning  of  active  permanent  operations  on  Vancouvei'  Island,  I  luive  two 
accounts,  of  the  highest  order  of  evidence,  both  narrators  being  of  tlie  party; 
one  is  tlio  journal  of  James  Douglas,  written  by  himself,  and  the  other  a  Ici- 
ttr  of  Bolduc,  a  Jesuit  priest,  to  Mr  Cayenne,  published  in  De  Srnrt's  Or.  Jlif^- 


I,  I 


THE  EXPEDITION. 


Tako  and  McLouglilin  should  be  abandoned,  and  the 
men  there  stationed  should  lend  their  assistance  to 
the  builders  of  the  new  establishment;  hence  the  small 
number  of  men  broujjfht  from  Foi-t  Vancouver."* 

First  of  all,  arrangements  nmst  be  made  for  pro- 
visions. Unlike  a  regular  fur-trading  fort,  the  pro- 
posed general  depot  on  Vancouver  Island  could  not, 
ill  any  considerable  degree,  sustain  itself  by  hunting 
and  fishing.  It  was  intended  at  once  to  j)ursue  agri- 
culture; but  there  could  be  but  little  raised  the  first 
year,  and  while  the  first  crops  were  growing  the  men 
must  eat.  Therefore,  Nisc^ually  ai^d  the  Cowlitz 
PLiins  being  of  all  the  Company's  fttrms  the  most 
productive  and  accessible,  it  was  determined  to  draw 
.supplies  thence.  A  week  was  thus  occupied  in  the 
Cowlitz  country,*  and  in  the  transportation  of  eft'ects, 
and  on  the  9th  the  party  reached  Nisqually  in  the 
midst  of  a  heavy  fall  of  snow.  There  the  little  black 
y>V'(n'cr  awaited  them ;  but  it  was  the  13th  before  all 
their  effects  were  on  board  ready  to  start.  Embark- 
ing at  ten  o'clock  on  that  day,  and  steaming  north- 
WMid  through  Puget  Sound  and  Admiralty  Inlet,  at 
dusk  they  came  to  anchor  a  few  miles  south  of  Port 
Townsend.^  The  water  was  still;  over  the  sides  of 
the  vessel  fishing  tackle  was  thrown,  and  soon  a  ])len- 
tiful  supply  of  cod  and  halibut  was  secured  for  the 
next  day's  dinner. 

Weighing  anchor  ihe  next  morning,  they  ran  into 
Xew  Dungeness,  and  landed  for  the  double  purj)ose 
of  notifying  the  Clallams  of  their  intended  occupation 
of  Vancouver  Island,  preparatory  to  opening  traffic 
with  them,  and  also  to  examine  the  neighborhood  as  to 


f  !■  4 


I    •      r  t 


^  'According  to  instructions  from  the  governor,  Sir  George  Simpson,  tlie 
tr;iiU^  at  Tako  and  the  neighboring  islands  was  to  be  carried  on  by  the  lUriii'r 
striiiiuT,  as  a  trading  vessel  along  tlie  coast  tliere.'  FinldynouK  V.  A,  MS.,  21. 

*Tlie  first  night,  camped  at  tlie  mouth  of  the  Cowlitz;  second  night,  slept 
liilow  the  forks;  third  night,  above  the  forks;  fourth  and  fifth  nights,  at 
C'lwlitz  Farms;  sixth  and  seventh  nights,  at  Mountain  Plain;  ei\,'hth  night, 
at  uiirth  end  of  Grand  Prairie.  We  may  judge  somewhat  of  their  occupation 
liy  their  movements.  Domilns' Joiiiitnl,  MS.,  120. 

■^ '  At  a  place  named  Points  Perdrix,  formed  by  a  projection  of  the  Isle 
Wliitby.'  BoLluc,  i;i  />«  Smet'a  Or.  Miss.,  55. 


:i' 


t    'i 


i  I 


f  ■* 


94 


FOUNDING  OF  FORT  CAMOSUX. 


its  resources.  There  was  a  plain  of  aome  two  hundred 
acres,  coiitaiiiiiio- cliit'Hv  {granite  bowMers,  a  stream  of 
water,  and  a  large  village  of  the  Clallams,  who  in 
autumn  capture  large  quantities  of  salmon.  In  small 
gardens  on  the  plain  the  natives  cultivated  potatoes. 
Their  observations  completed,  they  crossed  Fuca 
Strait  to  Camosun  Bay,  and  anchored  about  four 
o'clock  just  inside  the  entrance  round  Shoal  Point.' 

It  was  indeed  primeval  in  appearance.  Before 
them  lay  a  vast  ocean-bound  body  of  land  upon  which 
no  white  man  now  stood.  Not  a  human  habitation 
was  in  sight,  not  a  beast,  scarcely  a  bird.  Even  the 
distant  murmur  of  the  voiceless  wood  was  drowned 
by  the  gentle  beating  of  the  surf  upon  the  shore. 

There  was  something  specially  charming, bewitching, 
in  the  place.  Though  wholly  natural,  it  did  not  seem 
so.  It  was  not  at  all  like  pure  art;  but  it  was  as 
though  nature  and  art  had  combined  to  map  and 
make  one  of  the  most  pleasing  prospects  in  the  world. 
So  park-like  in  appearance  was  the  region  round  and 
back  of  the  harbor,  that  the  European  first  landing 
would  scarcely  have  manifested  surprise  had  he  en- 
countered workmen,  who,  while  subduing  that  which 
was  evil  or  ungainly,  were  yet  subordinating  art  to 
nature,  and  striving  with  their  artificial  changes  still 
to  preserve  nature's  beauties.  The  fertile  vales,  warm 
groves,  and  grassy  slopes  of  the  rolling  plateau  were 
intersected  by  serpentine  ribbons  of  glistening  water, 
and  bound  round  by  wind-chiselled  rocks  as  smooth 
and  symmetrical  as  if  placed  there  by  design.  These 
gave  the  ground  a  substantial  ai',  and  a  warning  to 
the  encroaching  sea,  as  if  progress  had  specially  pre- 
pared the  place,  and  the  foundations  of  civilization  were 
there  already  laid.  Never  danced  clearer,  purer  water 
in  the  sunlight  than  that  which  rippled  in  the  coves 
and  bays  around,  and  the  Olympian  Heights  from  this 

*  Some  say  that  this  expedition  first  entered  Esquitnalt  Harbor,  some 
C(irdoba  Bay ;  both  are  in  error.  These  shores  had  been  previously  visited 
often  enough  to  enable  them  to  proceed  at  once  to  their  objective  point. 


ptaYidpoi 
and  clou 
are,  see 
ni(»untaii 
tlie  old 
AvJiere  a 
fitly  hol( 
lifted  hil 
white  to 
The  al 
iiiosun,  b 
for  a  time 
Hiiibor, 
f^ituated  > 
al  lout  one 
however, 

(-'iiclosiniT 
square,  ai 
the  fierce 
Eiver,  bo 
wlu)  cre|)t 
entered  vi 
rii_'d  the  a\ 

On  the 
come  to  0 
tlu!  dischf 
hank,  conf 
unearthed 
iiiij:ht  pass 
the  steauK 

Cliicf  n 
witli  whic] 
oil.  For 
lath  of  M 
a  small  bo 
noilh  of  1 
short,  croo 


VIRGIN  WIU>ERNESS. 


M 


Rtalidpoint,  with  the  glistening  v/ator  for  a  foreground 
and  cloud-cut  midway  above  their  base,  a.s  they  often 
aie,  seemed  translated  heavenward.  Xever  were 
mountains  more  aptly  named  than  these,  thanks  to 
tlio  old  trinket-huckster,  Meares;  for  if  there  is  any- 
where a  spot  on  which  an  American  Jove  might 
fitly  hold  his  court,  it  is  hero  on  these  high  up- 
lifted hills,  their  base  resting  on  clouds  and  tlieir 
white  tops  bathed  in  celestial  glory 

The  aboriginal  occupants  of  the  domain  round  Ca- 
niosun,  by  which  native  api)ellation  we  are  permitted 
for  a  time  to  call  what  was  afterward  known  as  Victoria 
Harbor,  were  the  Songhies,^  whose  chief  village  was 
situated  on  the  western  side  of  the  channel,  on  a  point 
al)()ut  one  mile  from  the  entrance.  At  the  present  time, 
however,  they  had  fortified  themselves  within  stakes 
enclosing  an  area  some  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
S([uare,  at  the  head  of  the  harbor,^  through  fear  of 
the  fierce  Cowichins,  who  lived  a  little  north  of  Fraser 
River,  both  on  the  island  and  on  the  mainland,  and 
w]u>  cre[)t  stealthily  down  the  strait  in  their  canoes, 
entered  villages  at  night,  massacred  the  men,  and  car- 
ried the  women  and  children  into  slavery. 

On  the  present  occasion  the  Beaver  had  scarcely 
come  to  anchor  when  two  canoes  were  seen,  and  ac 
tlio  discharge  of  cannon  savages  appeared  upon  the 
hank,  confusedly  moving  hither  and  thither  like  the 
luuarthed  inhabitants  of  a  disturbed  ant-hill.  The 
niij^ht  passed  quietly,  and  the  following  mornhig  saw 
the  steamer  surrounded  by  a  swarm  of  boats. 

Chief  now  anions  other  considerations  W'as  wood 
witli  which  to  build  the  fort,  and  ground  to  place  it 
on.  For  the  former,  early  on  the  morning  of  tl.c 
15th  of  March,  Douglas  set  out  from  the  steamer  in 
a  small  boat  and  began  to  examine  the  shore  directly? 
noi-tli  of  the  anchorage,  where  he  found  the  trees 
short,  crooked,  and  not  at  all  suitable.     On  the  south 

'Sue  N'atiiv  Jidces,  i.  174-207,  297. 

''  lliilduc  says  'nix  iiiilod  from  the  port,  at  the  extremity  of  the  bay.'  De 
Sii,rt\f  Or.  Mis.t.,  50. 


I      '.'I 


■31 


it    >    .tsi 


i 


'ifcifctsJ- 


V. 


M  FOUNDINO  OF  FORT  CAMOSUN. 

side  tlic  wood  was  botter,  and  Douglas  antlcipattd 
no  dittit'ulty  iu  t)btainin};"  8uilicK'nt  of  somo  kind  for 
liis  purpose.  Small,  straiy,lit  cedar-trcea,  such  an  wore 
most  desirable!  tor  jiickcts,  being  li;!jliter,  and  of  greater 
rlurabilitv  underground  than  other  timber  of  this 
roijion,  he  f;)und  it  necessary  to  bring  from  a  distance. 

Meanwhile",  never  inditi'erent  to  food  supply,  he 
questioned  the  natives,  and  learned  that  p-ileliard,  or 
herring,  came  in  April,  and  that  salmon  ascended  Fuca 
Strait  in  August,  when  large  (juantitics  were  taken, 
the  supi)ly  of  the  latter  continuing  until  September. 

Where  to  place  the  proposed  fort  was  the  next 
question.  "There  are  two  positions,"  writes  Doug- 
las m  his  journal  under  date  of  15th  of  March,  "pos- 
sessing advantages  of  nearly  equal  importance,  though 
of  ditlerent  kinds.  Number  one  has  a  good  view  t»f 
the  harbor,  is  upem  clear  ground,  and  oidy  fifty  yar<is 
from  the  beach;  on  the  other  hand,  vessels  (h'awiug 
fourteen  feet  of  water  cannot  come  within  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  feet  of  the  shore.  We  will  tlieret'ore 
have  either  to  boat  cargo  ofl'  and  on,  and  at  a  great 
destruction  of  boats,  and  at  a  considerable  loss  of 
time,  or  be  put  to  the  expense  of  forming  a  jetty  at  a 
great  amount  of  labor.  Number  two,  on  the  other 
hand,  will  allow  of  vessels  lying  witli  their  sides 
grazing  the  rocks,  which  form  a  natural  wharf  where- 
on caro'o  mav  be  convenientlv  landed  from  the  ships 
yard,  and  in  that  respect  would  be  excoodli  gly  advan- 
tageous; but  on  the  other  liand,  i^n  inti  vvening  point 
intercepts  the  view,  so  that  the  tiiouth  of  tlie  })itrt 
cannot  be  seen  from  it,  an  objeciiou  of  n.uch  weight 
in  the  case  of  vessels  entering  and  leaving  port. 
Another  disadvantage  is,  that  the  shore  is  there  cov- 
ered by  thick  woods  to  the  breadth  of  two  hundred 
yards,  so  that  we  nmst  either  place  the  fort  at  that 
distance  from  the  landing-[)lace,  or  clear  away  tlie 
thickets,  which  would  detain  us  vei-y  nmch  in  our 
building  operations.  I  will  think  more  on  this  sub- 
ject before  deteimining  the  point." 


lain 


BOI.DUC,  THE  MISSIONARY. 


97 


III  all  which  it  is  clearly  evident  the  oommnnder's 
niintl  was  dwelling  more  on  proximate  facilities  than 
on  permanent  advantages;  t'<>''  had  ho  hcen  aware 
that  ho  was  choosing  the  site  of  a  city,  and  not  merely 
locating  a  fort,  such  considerations  as  a  view  of  the 
cfitranet^  or  a  hi'lt  of  bushes  on  the  shore  would  have 


weighed  but  little. 


With  the  expedition  was  a  Jesuit  missionary,  J.  B. 
Z.  l>t»ldue,  wlio  claims  to  have  Ix  en  tlie  first  ])riest  to 
put  fo(»t  on  Vancouver  Island;  of  the  truth  of  which 
su|»])osition  perhaps  neither  he  nor  any  of  those  with 
him  were  the  best  judges.  However  this  may  have 
been,  certain  it  is  that  Father  ]^olduc,  on  this  same 
15th  of  March,  landed  with  swelling  breast  and  head 
erect,  us  fully  bent  on  business  as  any  there  present. 
If  we  may  credit  the  truth  of  the  good  man's  state- 
nunt,  the  savages,  with  their  chief,  whose  name  was 
Tsilaltliach,  at  once  recognized  his  apostleship,  and 
howcd  submissive  to  that  spiritual  yoke  which  they 
liojH'd  would  in  its  own  mysterious  way  add  to  their 
creitture  comforts. 

Accompanied  by  the  commander  of  the  expedition 
and  tlie  captain  of  the  steamer,  the  priest  directed  his 
steps  to  where  the  savages  had  congregated  up  the 
cliiinne],  and  wasinnnediately  embraced  by  six  hundred 
souls,  which  number  swelled  to  twelve  hundred  before 
liis  departure.  Men,  women,  and  children,  all  must 
touch  the  hem  of  his  garment,  all  must  sliake  hands 
with  him,  and  absorb  in  their  being  some  of  that  divine 
atrlatus  that  tlows  from  the  Lord's  anointed. 

Rcj)airing  to  the  great  public  house  of  the  village, 
the  [)riest  harangued  the  people,  and  the  chief  ha- 
raiii^ued  the  priest:  whic!i  was  the  more  interesting 
and  instructive  discourse  I  shall  not  attempt  to  deter- 
mine. 

"0  man!"  cried  Bolduc,  'red  man,  blind  man, 
beastly  man;  know  you  not  of  a  creator,  a  heaven, 
and  a  hell?     I  know,  and  I  am  come  to  tell  you,  the 


UisT  Brit.  Col.    7 


'''^^B^ra  ''' 

1    F'^ul^En 

I  ' 


I 


2. 


1  1 

w 

'  w^^Mm 

^  ^HRi 

f^^MBtf^K 

1    ^^^F^^^a 

1   iPi'     :  .1. 

1       ji|..:   .           ■'',''.      -W 

1       W-'-    '  ■                        W 

'■'-  Phi  ■■■I'M 

ibjifl 

m 


!» >^ 


08 


FOUNDING  OP  FORT  CAMOSUN. 


creator  is  such  and  such  a  character  as  I  shall  describe ; 
and  he  loves  and  hates  such  things  as  I  shall  tell  you 
are  right  and  wrong." 

"All  that  I  know  as  well  as  you,"  returned  Tsilal- 
thach.  "Another  told  me  ten  yeais  ago.^  I  used  to 
be  bad;  now  I  am  good." 

Luekj''  Bolduc !  Lucky  Tsilalthach  1  How  wonderful 
is  knowledge,  hidden  as  it  is  from  the  wise  and  prudent, 
but  revealed  to  babes  1 

"You  nmst  be  baptized,"  continued  Bolduc. 

"Baptize  our  enemies,"  said  Tsilalthach;  "do  not 
baptise  us;  for  all  the  Kwantlums  and  Cowichins  so 
treated  died  immediately." 

"Then  you  can  never  see  the  master,"  replied 
Bolduc. 

"Well,  baptize,  then,"  cried  Tsilalthach;  "we  have 
soon  to  die  in  any  event." 

So  Bolduc  baptized  until  arrestea  by  sheer  exhaus- 
tion; and  the  sheep  now  gathered  into  the  fold  were 
ready  for  the  slaughter 

Next  day,  the  IGth,  having  determined  on  a  site, 
which  was  number  two  of  his  recorded  cogitations, 
Douglas  put  his  nien  at  work  squaring  timber,  and 
six  others  digging  a  well.  He  then  explained  to  the 
natives,^"  now  assembled  in  considerable  numbers,  that 
he  had  come  to  build  among  them,  and  to  bring  them 
arms  and  implements,  clothing  and  beautiful  adorn- 
ments, which  they  might  have  for  skins  Whereat 
they  were  greatly  pleased,  and  eagerly  pressed  their 
assistance  upon  the  fort-builders,  who  were  glad  to 
employ  them  at  the  rate  of  one  blanket  for  every  forty 
pickets  they  would  bring.'' 

The  17th  was  Friday;  was  it  their  lucky  or  uu- 

•  Was  it  another  first  priest,  a  swearing  sailor,  or  a  supernatural  apparition  f 
'*Tho  'Saniosc,'  ho  calls  them:  which  is  hardly  so  near  'Songhies'  an 

'  Gainosack '  is  to  '  Camosuii,' 

"  'The  pickets  were  twenty-two  feet  long  and  three  feet  in  circuiiiferctu'e. 

I  also  lent  tiiom  throe  largo  axes,  one  half  square  head,  and  ten  half-nnii'.il 

head  axes,  to  be  returned  hereafter,  when  they  had  finished  the  job. '  Duwjiit* 

Journal,  MS.,  12*-5. 


THE  NATIVES. 


99 


lucky  day  ?  Was  that  luminous  streak  ■which  lingered 
in  the  heavens  after  the  day  went  out,  shining  brightly 
tliore  until  the  moon  came  up  and  frightened  it  away 
— was  the  sign  portentous  of  good  or  ill  to  this  begin- 
ning 1  And  did  it  speak  to  the  savage  or  to  the  civil- 
ized ?  For  five  const  cutive  nights  it  did  not  fail  to 
make  its  appearance,  and  was  the  wonder  of  the  time.^^ 

Sunday  was  the  19th,  and  Bolduc  decided  on  that 
day  to  celebrate  mass,  Douglas  kindly  placed  at  his 
disposal  whatever  he  should  wish  from  the  steamer, 
besides  supplying  him  men  to  aid  him  in  his  holy  work. 
A  rustic  chapel  was  improvised ;  a  boat's  awning  serv- 
ing as  canopy,  and  branches  of  fir-trees  enclosing  the 
sides.  During  the  service  the  rude  sanctuary  was 
graced  with  the  presence  of  the  commander,  and  two 
Catholic  ladies,  by  which  term  the  polite  Frenchman 
designates  the  pious  half-breed  wives  of  the  Car.?dians. 
No  cathedral  bell  was  heard  that  sabbath  morning; 
no  soft  and  solemn  peal  flung  back  by  waving  forest 
on  Georgia  and  Fuca  straits ;  and  yet  the  Songhies, 
Clallams,  and  Cowichins  weni  there,  friends  and 
bloody  enemies,  in  thick  attendance,  all  anxious  for 
heaven  after  they  should  have  received  sufficient  of 
some  nearer  and  more  present  happy  sensation. 

The  Songhies  themselves  were  soon  enlisted  in  mis- 
sionary service.  Bolduc,  desirous  of  carrying  the  gos- 
])cl  to  Whidbey  Island,  after  purchasing  a  canoe  was 
devoutly  paddled  thence  by  Tsilalthacli  and  ten  of  his 
most  efficient  warriors,  on  the  24th.  The  cr»j)tain  had 
j^ivon  him  a  compass  and  had  told  him  which  way  to 
steer,  else  this  man  who  knew  tlie  road  to  heaven  so 
well  would  have  lost  his  way  on  a  little  stretch  of 
ejtiique  sea  of  twenty-seven  miles.  The  first  night  was 
f^peiit  on  Lopez  Island;  J  .  new  converts,  securing  an 
ahundance  of  sea  food  to  gorge  themselves  withal,  did 

'■'Douglas  every  day  made  a  note  of  it,  placing  it  '  due  south  from  the 
Ji'isition  we  occupied  at  tlie  time  of  itn  apjiearance,  and  extended  from  thence 
111  a  continuous  line  to  tlie  south-west  i)()int  of  the  liorizoi.,  forming  im  arc  of 
tiiiiity  decrees.  It  diniinishful  gradually  toward  tlie  soutiiwest  horizon.' 
■^uuijl,i.i'  Jounml,  MS.,  126. 


m 


100 


FOUNDING  OF  F<JRT  CAMOr.UN. 


not  find  it  necessary,  at  this  juncture,  to  eat  the  mis- 
sionary. The  next  day  lie  reached  Wliidbey  Island 
in  safety ;  and  pitching  his  tent  beside  the  cross  planted 
there  byBlanchet  in  1840,  before  the  sun  went  down  he 
had  shaken  hands  with  a  file  of  savages,  numbering,  with 
tliose  so  favored  the  following  day,  over  one  thousand, 
enough  to  put  to  blush  Ulysses  Grant,  the  greatest  of 
American  hand-shakers.  Signifying  his  desire  for 
something  better  than  a  cotton  house,  two  hundred 
Skagits  immediately  fell  to  cutting  trees,  and  in  two 
days  a  wooden  building  twenty -five  l>y  twenty-eigl.t 
feet,  covered  with  cedar  bark,  the  interior  lined  witJi 
rush  mats,  stood  at  his  service  upon  an  adjacent  hill; 
in  return  for  which  the  Skagits  were  taught  to  sing. 

The  3d  of  April  the  good  missionary  departed  from 
these  shores,  directing  his  boat  back  toward  Nisqually, 
naively  remarking  that  although  the  heathen  here- 
abouts gladly  received  the  word,  he  was  not  sure 
they  fully  comprehended  it;  for  when  he  attemi)tcil 
to  reform  their  morals  they  straightway  relapsed  into 
indifterence. 

The  beginning  of  these  important  operations  having 
thus  been  made,  iJouglas  committed  his  little  force  of 
fort-l)uilder8  to  the  honorable  mercies  of  the  yet  uii- 
maddened  savage,  and  steamed  northward,  transacting 
the  usual  business  on  the  way. 

Proceeding  to  Fort  Tako,  he  took  thence  all  the 
goods  and  other  articles  worth  the  transportation,  and 
])lacing  them  with  the  nicTi  on  board  the  vessel,  abaii- 
dtmed  the  place.  At  Fort  Simjison  lie  took  on  board 
Roderick  Finlayson,  leaving  there  another  otticer  in 
his  place.  Dropping  down  the  Milbank  Sound,  If 
gathe»-«'d.  in  the  stores  and  men  at  Fort  ]\rc]joughliii, 
and  abandoned  that  post  as  he  had  done  Fort  Tako." 
Then  ho  returned  to  Camosun. 


"'This  course  was  adopted  in  consequence  of  instructions  liaving  Ihmti 
Bent  from  Red  River  settlement  in  Hudson's  Bay,  then  tlio  licad-quartcrs  nf 
our  governor,  Hirdeorge  Simpson,  to  establisii  u  dejiot  for  wlial'.TS  om  tlm 
Boiitli  j)oi:it  of  Vancouver  Island,  as  there  were  many  whalers  then  visitiiij,' 
th-)  fo.tli  I'acilic'  Fi:ilai/son'd  I'.  /.,  MS.,  '21. 


THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  EMPIRE  LAID. 


101 


It  wa'',  on  the  first  day  of  June  that  the  new 
i'orec  landed  from  the  Beaver  at  Caniosun.  But  httle 
progress  had  been  made  in  building  since  the  de- 
j)arturf  of  the  steamer,  and  there  was  as  yet  no 
slielter  for  stores  upon  the  shore.  Carrying  forward 
to  rapid  comi)letion  the  few  log  huts  already  begun, 
the  goods  were  landed,  and  stored  in  them,  the  men 
jirotocting  themselves  at  night  as  best  they  were  al)h}, 
until  further  buildings  were  erected  for  their  accomnjo- 
(liition. 

Prom  KtC  "o,i4s  of  Vancouver,  the  neighboring 
islands,  and  tii  jontiguous  mainland  the  natives 
Hocked  in  tu  see  the  work  that  was  being  done,  and 
(.'ucamped  on  every  side.  They  were  all  well  armed, 
and  were  without  their  wives  and  children,  which 
seemed  somewhat  suspicious  to  the  fort-builders.  The 
fur-trading  force  at  Camosun  now  numbered  fifty  men, 
j)art  of  whom  were  from  the  abandoned  posts  of  Tako 
and  McLoughlin,  and  part  from  Fort  Vancouver. 
Tliis  was  almost  too  formidable  an  array,  armed  to 
the  teeth,  and  constantly  on  guard  as  they  were,  for 
the  natives  to  think  of  attacking;  so  they  contented 
tlicnisclves  with  the  pilff-r'i'.g  of  such  articles  as  provi- 
dence threw  in  their  way,  fur  rlicy  were  thieves  upon 
principle. 

Three  months  afte*  t!)  airival  of  the  parties  from 
tlic  north,  the  stocka  h;,  sviilt  bastions  at  the  angles 
and  store  and  dweHln:^  hoi  os  "'thin,  was  completed. 
While  this  work '.WIS  in  prognv-s,  the  schooner  Catlboro 
arrived  with  supplies  from  Fort  Vancouver.  Mr 
Charles  Ross,  who  had  been  in  charge  of  Fort  Mc- 
Louglilin  at  the  time  of  the  abandonment,  biding 
Hrnior  officer,  was  placed  in  command,  with  Mr  Fin- 
laysou  as  second.  Then  in  Octoi)er,  Douglas,  pro- 
nouiK'iiig  the  new  est.'  Ushment  capable  of  self-defence, 
•K'jiarted  with  the  IfC'  vrr  and  the  Cadhnro,  and  tlieir 
•  Tews,  midst  long  and  '  .,ty  fheers  fi'om  the  shore 
Tims  were  laid  the  foundations  of  a  new  empire. 


i  I 


1 

i 
tl 

it 

■   i 

ij 


t 


u 


; 


T1 

i: 


■  \\ 

i 

1 

: 

1 

' 

1                                       ^  ' 

•i> 

n.^\ 

1 

CHAPTER  VI. 

AFFAIRS    AT    CAMOSUN. 

Death  ov  Commander  Ross  —  Ronr.  ,  Finlayson  —  Sketch  or  nis 
Career — At  Forts  Tako  and  Simpson — Bii!Lio«raphical  Note  on  his 
Manuscript — His  Character — First  Cargo  of  Live-sto(jk — The  Sav- 
ages MAKE  Game  of  the  Cattle — Redress  Demanded  and  Refused — 
"War  Declared — Tsouohilam  and  Tsilalthach  with  their  Allies 
Attack  the  Fort — Strategy  of  Finlayson— Bloodless  Victory — Tub 
Pipe  of  Peace  is  Smijked — Descrutions  of  the  Fortress — ^Warkk 
AND  Vavasour  —  Berthold  Seemann  —  Finlayson's  Leiter — .Tamks 
Deans — His  Character  and  Manuscript — Interesting  and  Minute 
Descrxition  of  the  Fort — Under  Orders  of  Douglas,  Fort  Camosun 
WAS  Built  without  a  Nail. 

In  the  spring  of  1 844  Ross,  the  oflicer  in  charge,  died, 
and  Finlayson  reigned  in  his  stead.  Tlie  first  duty  of 
the  new  commander  M'as  to  despatch  to  Kisquallya 
canoe  with  a  messenger  for  Fort  Vancouver,  announc- 
ing the  death  of  Ross.  The  return  express  brouglit 
from  McLoughhn  authority  for  Finlayson  to  remain 
in  charge,  with  a  promise  of  another  officer  to  be  sent 
shortly  to  assist  him  in  carrying  on  operations. 

On  the  western  highlands  of  Scotland  was  born 
Rodc^ick  Finlayson,  thus  destined  for  a  time  to  rule 
this  island.  His  father  was  an  extensive  sheep-farmer, 
and  in  assisting  him,  no  less  than  in  attending  tho 
parochial  school,  the  youth  was  preparing  for  liis 
successful  future. 

At  tho  age  of  sixteen  years  he  left  home  and  begnii 
making  his  own  way  in  the  world.  Crossing  the  At- 
lantic on  an  emigrant  ship  hi  1837  to  New  York,  Jie 
there  met  an  uncle  who  secured  him  a  position  as  aj)- 
prcnticed  clerk  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and 


reporte 

muinin^ 

Rytowi 

1839  h 

where  ] 

shooting 

]irepara 

for  the 

shore  st 

witli   Ja 

wliicli  w 

Louglili 

hy  way  ( 

bank  8o 

wlicre  w 

Douglas, 

of  tlie  pa 

had  hrou 

III  Jui 

River,  A\ 

chai-go  o 

eigliteon 

After  a 

1841  Fin 

place  at 

Verba  Ri 

he  took  ]i 

Vpon  t 

I'.vJiis  mc 

1"  a  canoe 

lival  ]jc  i 


RODERICK  FINLAYSON.  108 

reported  himself  at  the  office  in  Montreal.  After  re- 
maining there  several  months  he  was  apj)ointed  to 
Bytown,  a  station  on  the  Ottawa  River.  Thence  in 
1839  he  crossed  the  mountains  to  Fort  Vancouver, 
where  he  wintered,  hunting  in  the  Willamette  Valle}', 
shooting  duck  where  Portland  now  stands,  and  making 
preparations  meanwhile  for  an  expedition  northward 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  the  ten-league 
shore  strip  lately  leased  from  the  Russians.  Thence 
wltli  James  Douglas  in  command  of  the  party,  of 
wl  lid  I  were  W.  G.  Rae,  John  Kennedy,  and  John  Mc- 
Jjoughlin,  junior,  in  the  spring  of  1840  he  proceeded 
hy  way  of  the  Cowlitz  River,  Nisqually,  Langley,  Mil- 
biink  Sound,  and  Fort  Simpson  to  the  Stikeen  River, 
where  were  left  Rae,  McLoughlin,  and  eighteen  men ; 
])ouglas,  Kennedy,  and  Finlayson,  with  the  remainder 
of  tlio  party,  proceeding  in  the  steamer  Beaver,  which 
liad  brought  them  from  Nisqually  to  Sitka. 

In  June  the  party  sailed  from  Sitka  for  the  Tako 
River,  where  they  built  a  fort,  which  was  left  in 
charge  (^f  Kennedy,  with  Finlayson  as  assistant,  and 
eigliteen  men,  Douglas  returning  to  Fort  Vancouver. 
After  a  dreary  winter  at  Tako,  in  the  summer  of 
1841  Finlayson  was  ordered  to  Stikeen  to  take  the 
place  at  that  station  of  Mr  Rae,  who  was  sent  to 
Yorba  Buena.  There  he  remained  six  months,  when 
he  took  his  place  at  Fort  Simpson  as  trader. 

l^pon  the  assassination  of  John  McLoughlin,  junior, 
by  Ills  men  at  Stikeen,  Finlayson  proceeded  thither 
ill  a  canoe  to  take  conmiand  of  that  post,  but  on  ar- 
rival he  found  that  Governor  Simpson  had  reached 
tlie  place  before  him,  and  had  provided  for  its  govern- 
iiunt.  Thereupon  he  returned  to  Fort  Simpson, 
where  he  remaiut'd  through  1842,  and  until  he  was 
taken  thence  by  Douglas  to  assist  in  establishing  the 
jHJst  at  Camosun  in  the  spring  of  1843.' 


i  '■ 


i 


i^  1 


I 


? 


'In  a  manuscript  of  104  folio  pages,  entitled  lI'Morij  nf  Vancouttr 
lnhiiil  anil  the  Xoitliwcat  ConM,  hji  Uodcrick  Ftnhiijsou,  are  given  the  primary 
I  uts  relative  to  tlio  lirst  estalilisliinent  on  VaiR'ouV(-r  Island  subsequent  to 
tile  doings  at  Nootka,  so.ne  half-century  pruvioua.     Tart  of  thia  manuscript 


i'  -"^w    ■ 

)  I 


■  l'' ) 


104 


AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN. 


There  can  be  no  evidence  more  satisfactory  to  the 
historian  in  regard  to  an  incident  or  episode  not  con- 
iiccted  with  contending  factions, than  the  testimony  de- 
rived from  frequent  and  close  converse,  pen  in  hand, 
with  the  chief  actor  in  the  event.  If  besides  bein*; 
upon  tlie  spot  and  ordering,  or  doing,  and  seeing  done 
all  that  was  done,  we  have  a  witness,  intelligent, 
high-minded,  of  the  strictest  integrity,  careful  in  his 
statements,  precise  in  the  use  of  words,  unbiassed,  un- 
bigoted,  neither  seeking  praise  nor  fearing  censure,  it 
were  strange,  indeed,  if  one  seeking  facts  only  could  not 
under  such  circumstances  find  them.  Such  a  witness, 
touching  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  important 
events  of  British  Columbia  history,  namely,  clearing 
the  ground  for  the  fui.ure  metropolis,  and  setting  there 
the  stakes  of  civilization,  we  happily  have,  in  this  in- 
stance, in  the  person  of  Mr  Roderick  Finlayson. 

ia  in  the  handwriting  of  the  author;  the  remainder  was  taken  by  reporters 
f:-om  Mr  Finlayson 's  dictation  in  my  presence,  and  whilu  subject  to  my  inter- 
rogatorips.  Ho  wlio  would  investigate  the  early  affairs  of  British  Columbia, 
more  particularly  matters  relating  to  the  founding  of  its  most  important 
c.itabli.slniient,  and  which  led  to  the  building  of  the  present  city  of  Victoria, 
i:i  surprised  r,t  the  absence  of  material  There  was  scarcely  a  post  upon  the 
whole  Korthwcst  Coast  of  which  I  had  not  more  information  than  conceruiug 
the  founding  of  Caniosun,  or  Victoria,  before  I  began  to  gather  it  from  un- 
recorded Sources.  Fortunately  in  Mr  Finlayson  I  found  the  man  before  all 
others  for  the  purpose.  Well  preserved  in  mind  as  in  body,  clear-headed, 
ciiurteous,  intelligent,  and  public-spirited,  he  patiently  sat  with  me  day  after 
day  ami  week  after  week,  until  I  expressed  myself  satisfied.  And  to  him 
his  felliAv-members  of  the  commonwealth,  and  all  who  care  for  a  knowledjie 
of  its  early  incidents,  may  tender  their  thanks;  for  without  what  he  has 
given  mo  there  would  be  little  to  tell.  It  is  wonderful,  indeed,  how  quickly 
unrecorded  facts  drop  out  of  existence;  and  what  blind  apathy  even  the  mo.st 
prominent  men  sometimes  display  concerning  most  important  matters  which 
Iiave  Iain  nearest  them  all  their  lives,  but  which  did  not  happen  to  come 
^^  itiiin  the  routine  of  their  duties.  When  asked  by  Mrs  Victor  for  incidents 
of  the  early  life  of  .lohn  McLoughlin,  Mr  Douglas  replied  that  he  knew  notli- 
iiig  of  McLout'hlin's  early  life.  Half  their  lives  had  been  spent  in  intimate 
InisinesH  and  friendly  intercourse;  both  were  wise  and  prominent  men,  and 
yet  the  younger  knew  absolutely  nothing  of  the  elder  except  what  he  saw  ef 
l;im.  Mr  Finlayson  has  a  most  happy  way  of  presenting  facts.  His  style  is 
l;!cid,  exact,  and  at  the  same  time  comprehensive.  The  chief  incidents  of  Ins 
long  and  prominent  career  seemed  already  arranged  in  his  mind  in  well  de- 
fined seijuence.  His  manuscript,  though  not  as  large  as  some,  contains  as 
nuieh  iniorination  as  many  three  times  its  size,  and  the  importance  (  f  his 
information  is  not  exceeded  by  any.  Mr  Finlayson  presented  as  line  an  :ip- 
pcarance  physically  as  one  not  very  often  meets.  Tall,  well  ju-oportioiu'l, 
irect,  and  crowned  with  gray,  with  line,  full  features,  expressixe  at  once  <if 
benevolence  and  intelligence,  bis  would  iiave  been  felt  as  an  imposing  pres- 
ence ill  uuy  community. 


CHARACTER  OP  FINLAYSOX. 


105 


Every  individual  is  composed  of  human  qualities, 
the  worst  having  much  that  is  good,  the  best  nmch 
that  is  bad.  And  the  honest  historian  deems  it  his 
duty  to  present,  in  every  instance,  without  tear  or 
favor,  without  prejudice  or  feeling,  both  phases  of 
character,  clearly  and  conscientiously.  In  rigidly  ad- 
hering to  this  course,  he  must  expect  little  else  but 
censure  from  any  quarter;  for  praise  a  man  never 
so  long  or  loudly,  once  a  fault  is  touched  he  or  his 
iVicnds  bristle  with  anger  in  a  moment.  In  tlio  lives 
of  tlie  best  of  us  are  some  things  which  we  prefer 
should  not  be  brought  under  too  strong  a  light;  the 
woist  of  us  do  not  relish  the  parading  of  our  wicked- 
ness, nor  do  we  believe  it  true,  or  the  statement  just. 
Before  embarking  in  his  too  often  thankless  task,  the 
writer  of  history,  if  liis  work  be  worthy  the  name, 
must  so  incase  himself  in  armor  as  to  be  wholly  iu- 
(litfereut  to  attack,  relying  only  on  truth,  and  the 
satisfaction  of  telling  it,  for  his  reward. 

Applying  this  sentiment  to  the  matter  in  hand,  I 
liiid  nnself  at  a  loss  in  the  consummation.  No  doubt 
Fiulayson  has  bad  qualities;  his  place  is  not  upon  this 
phinct  otherwise;  but  unfortunately  I  have  not  been 
ahlo  to  find  them.  Though  always  a  leading  man  in 
tln!  <-ompaiiy  and  in  the  colony,  he  has  not  been  so 
in'ouiinciut  as  to  liave  excited,  to  any  general  extent, 
j  "alousy  or  obloquy  by  reason  of  his  position.  Among 
If.'.siuess  men,  among  those  who  have  met  him  almost 
daily  for  a  period  of  forty  years,  Ox'  are  intimate  witli 
Lis  (tyurse  and  character,  he  is  pronounced  a  shrewd, 
IDuctical,  clear-headed  Scotchman,  who,  though  some- 
times seeking  office  and  assuming  public  duties,  mcd- 
cllcs  little  with  his  neio'hbors'  atiairs,  but  attends  to 
liis  own  business,  and  docs  it  so  well  and  thoroughly 
as  usually  to  command  success.  Kind,  benevolent, 
lidiiorable,  and  exceedingly  courteous,  showing  liim- 
s 'ir  by  instinct  a  gentlemen  in  the  highest  sense  of 
that  nmch  misapplied  word,  he  possesses  neither  the 
genius  nor  tiie  weakness  of  McLoughlin,  nor  the  chiv- 


If' 


10« 


AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN. 


Ml' 


ulrous  strength  or  the  cold  calculating  formality  of 
Douglas.  He  is  not  wholly  self-abandoned  in  his  well- 
doing like  the  one,  nor  snow-capped,  by  reason  of  his 
moral  or  political  elevation,  like  the  other.  Being  not 
so  great  a  man  as  either,  his  faults  do  not  stand  out 
so  conspicuously. 

We  will  now  continue  our  narrative  of  affairs  at 
Camosun. 

When  the  Cadboro  and  the  Beaver  sailed  away 
about  their  business  the  previous  October,  the  latter 
[)roceeded  to  Fort  Nisqually,  and  taking  on  board  a 
cargo  of  cattle  and  horses,  returned  with  them  to 
Camosun.  Thereafter  regular  trips  were  made,  and 
soon  Camosun  became  the  home  station  of  the  littlo 
steamer,  whence  she  departed  on  her  several  missions. 

The  cattle  brought  from  Nisqually  were  chiefly  of 
Mexican  origin,  and  were  wild  and  unmanageable. 
When  first  turned  loose  from  the  steamer,  with  head 
and  tail  erect  they  darted  hither  and  thither,  and  then 
plunged  into  the  thicket;  and  it  was  with  no  small 
difficulty  that  they  were  finally  corralled  and  controlled. 
In  due  time,  however,  a  sufficient  number  for  building 
and  farming  purposes  were  subdued  and  brought  under 
the  yoke,  and  when  not  at  work  were  turned  out  to 
graze,  as  were  likewise  the  horses  and  other  cattle. 

The  savages  regarded  with  wonder  not  unmixed 
with  contempt  this  new  species  of  game  trained  to 
do  women's  work,  and  thereby  rendered  wellnigh  un- 
fit for  the  accomplishment  of  their  high  destiny,  which 
was  to  be  killed  and  eaten.  Besides,  if  this  thing  was 
to  be,  what  would  women  do;  what  would  wives  be 
good  for?  Not  only  would  they  become  idle,  lazy, 
and  too  proud  to  work,  but  they  would  so  fall  in  value 
as  materially  to  affect  the  wealth  and  standing  of 
those  possessing  six  or  ton.  Tlieir  blood-thirsty  logic 
was  convincing  to  their  own  minds  at  least,  and  in- 
deed overpowering,  notwithstanding  tlie  white  men 
had  warned  them,  under  penalty  of  severe   displeas- 


ure, to  i 

( oiisider 

Amoi 

ami    wh 

as  any, 

Tsoughi] 

on  a  plui 

The   J 

niagnifie( 

Work -an  i 

easily  ap 

the  good 

small  a  C( 

fid.     So 

were  kill 

utmost  <x 

The   d 

builders,  ] 

one  mom 

s:stants  o; 

ef  the  cai 

<'.tiiij).      F 

ger  to  Ts( 

ei's,  or  pfi 

attempted 

thonqli  ht 

"\v'hat 

aboriginal 

them  ?     A 

thought  t' 

nature  sen 

tions,  and 

"l^heso 

soa,"  replic 

wlio  brouo' 

titution,  tl] 

you." 

'  Close  1 
ilani,   now"^ 


ir 


HOSTILITIES. 


m 


urc,  to  treat  these  civilized  beasts  with  distinguished 
(oiisideration. 

^Vnioiig"  those  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort, 
and  who  watched  operations  with  as  keen  a  zest 
as  any,  was  a  band  of  Cowlchins,  whose  chief  was 
Tsoughilani,  and  who  had  come  down  from  the  north 
on  a  plundering  expedition. 

The  horses  and  cattle  of  the  fort-builders  were 
magnificent  prey  for  these  brigands,  particularly  the 
work-animals,  which  were  finer,  fatter,  and  more 
easily  approached  than  the  others.  It  was  not  often 
the  good  gods  sent  them  such  abundant  benefit  at  so 
small  a  cost;  and  to  decline  them  might  seem  ungrate- 
ful. So  some  of  the  best  of  the  work  oxen  and  horses 
were  killed,  and  the  Cowichins  were  filled  to  their 
utmost  content. 

The  day  of  reckoning  quickly  came.  The  fort- 
builders,  having  need  of  their  cattle,  went  out  fur  them 
one  morning,  and  found  in  place  of  their  faithful  as- 
sistiints  only  blood  and  bones,  the  moie  valuable  parts 
cf  tlie  carcasses  being  easily  traced  to  the  Cowichin 
(•imp.  Finlayson  immediately  despatched  a  messen- 
}jj(n-  to  Tsoughilam,  demanding  delivery  of  the  offend- 
ers, or  papnent  for  the  slain  animals.  The  savage 
attempted  intimidation,  pretended  ingeimousness, 
thoufijh  he  knew  well  enough  he  was  criminal. 

"AV'hatI"  exclaimed  to  the  messenger  the  lordly 
ahoiiginal,  "these  animals  yours  1  l)id  you  make 
tlu>m  {  Are  these  your  fields  that  fatten  tliem  I  I 
thought  them  the  property  of  nature;  and  whatever 
nature  sends  me,  that  I  slay  and  eat,  asking  no  ques- 
tions, and  paying  no  damages." 

"  These  cattle  were  brought  from  beyond  the  great 
sea,"  replied  the  messenger;  "they  belonged  to  those 
wlio  brought  them;  and  unless  you  make  proper  res- 
titution, the  gates  of  the  fort  will  be  closed  against 
you." 

'  Close  your  gates,  if  you  like  I"  exclaimed  Tsough- 
ilam,  now  thoroughly  enraged,  "  and    I  will   batter 


i 


11 


1. 1 


i 


''■11 


i :  ii 


1? 

' 

i.l:* 


ill' 


,<!! 


i 


m 


108 


AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN. 


tliein  downl  Close  your  gates  forsooth  1  Think  you 
wo  did  not  llvo  before  the  whito  man  came?  and  think 
you  we  should  die  were  he  swept  from  these  shores <" 

It  was  no  idle  tlircat  that  Tsoughilam  thus  made. 
There  were  others  in  the  neighbt)rhood,  bold  chiet- 
talns  with  their  warriors,  not  least  among  whom  was 
Tsilalthach,  the  greatest  and  bravest  of  the  Songhics, 
who  had  watched  these  many  days,  with  itching  palms, 
the  good  things  carried  in  behmd  the  palisades,  and 
who  would  not  scruple  in  the  least  to  attempt  to 
secure  some  of  them.  Though  not  exactly  upon  liis 
own  domain,  TsouLthilau)  almost  felt  at  home  there  bv 
reason  of  his  oft-repeated  depredations.  He  might 
set  up  a  sort  of  claim  by  right  of  conquest.  At  all 
events,  his  right  was  as  reasonable  as  was  the  whito 
man's.  Summoninrf  to  a  council  all  the  chiefs  within 
his  call,  he  said  to  them : 

'*  Reptiles  have  crept  hither,  reptiles  with  strangu 
stings,  whom  it  were  well  to  crush  upon  the  spot  lest 
they  should  soon  overspread  the  whole  island  The 
reward  for  such  labor  may  be  found  behind  the  pal- 
isades." 

Then  arose  Tsilalthach,  chief  of  the  Songhies,  and 
said:  "We  and  our  forefathers  have  lived  in  happiness 
upon  this  island  for  many  ages  before  the  existence  ot 
these  strangers  was  known.  We  have  eaten  the  fruits 
of  the  earth,  have  bathed  in  the  waters  and  in  tlie 
sunshine,  have  hunted  our  forests  unquestioned  of  any, 
and  have  fought  away  our  enemies  manfully.  Is  all 
now  to  be  taken  from  us?" 

The  spirit  of  butchery  was  aroused.  "  We  will 
meet  this  new  infliction,"  cried  another,  "  as  we  have 
met  those  in  the  past.  We  can  do  without  bedizeii- 
ments;  or,  what  is  better,  we  can  take  them  without 
the  asking." 

Meanwhile  within  the  fort  watch  was  kept  (lay 
and  night  to  prevent  surprise.  After  a  lapse  of  two 
days,  during  which  a  large  force  had  assembled  round 
the  fortress,  the  threatened  attack  was  made.     Midst 


savage  y 
to  flight 
of  musk( 
riddling 
houses, 
not  a  sho 
utmost  d 
aijfi'S  coni 
seeing  no 
from   the 
iiiander 
heckoned 
"  What 
"  AViiat  e^ 
folly  with 
stroiighok 
my  finger 
will  do  it, 
stantly  up 
wit) I  astou 
itiLf  into  s] 
pointed. 

A  hund 
tliat  single 
island  luid 
And  so 
sniucwhat ; 
sti'icken  In 
l^ut  tlie  hi 
late  tlie  isl 
I'iy'itial  hea( 
'julk'ts  wen 
a  plan  for 
doino'  them 
<«  slij)  fron 
•'Scaping  fn 
lodges  desig 
as  the  fort 
"0  damage 


iii 


THE  FORT  ATTACKED. 


109 


1 

s 

1 

' 

li 

1 

' 

all 

:ill 
avo 
;c'n- 

)nt 

ay 
;\vo 
iiid 
dst 


saA'ago  yells  and  terrifying  antics,  such  as  should  put 
to  tiitijht  a  host  of  liobgoblins,  men,  or  devils,  a  shower 
of  musket-balls  came  pattering  down  upon  tlie  fort, 
riddling  the  stockade  and  rattling  on  the  roofs  of  the 
houses.  Instantly  Finlayson  shouted  his  order  that 
not  a  shot  was  to  be  returned,  though  it  was  with  the 
utmost  difficulty  he  could  restrain  his  men.  The  suv- 
aues  continued  their  fire  for  full  half  an  hour,  when 
seeing  no  prospect  of  annihilation  near,  they  rested 
from  their  waste  of  ammunition.  Then  the  com- 
mander of  the  fort  a])peared  upon  the  parapet  and 
beckoned  Tsougliilam  within  speaking  distance. 

"What  would  you  do?"  exclaimed  Finlayson. 
"What  evil  would  you  bring  upon  yourselves?  What 
folly  with  your  pei)pery  guns  to  think  to  demolish  our 
stronghold !  Know  you  not  that  with  one  motion  of 
my  finger  I  could  blow  you  all  into  the  bay  ?  And  I 
will  do  it,  too.  See  your  houses  yonder !  And  in- 
stantly upon  the  word  a  nine-pounder  belched  forth 
with  astounding  noise,  a  large  load  of  grape-shot  tear- 
iii<f  into  splinters  the  cedar  lodge  at  which  it  was 
pointed. 

A  hundred  howls  of  agony  rent  the  air,  as  if  by 
that  single  shot  all  the  women  and  children  of  the 
island  had  been  blown  to  atoms. 

And  so  they  would  have  been  doubtless  injured 
somewhat  had  they  been  there,  as  many  of  their  woe- 
stricken  husbands  and  fathers  sui)posed  they  were. 
But  the  humane  Finlayson  had  no  desire  to  depopu- 
late the  isle,  or  even  to  injure  a  hair  of  a  single  abo- 
I'iyinal  head.  Before  seeking;  a  parlev,  and  while  the 
nillets  were  falling  thick  around  him,  he  liad  formed 
a  plan  for  teachingf  them  a  salutary  le-son  without 
oniu;  them  mjury.  He  had  ordered  his  interpreter 
to  slip  from  the  back  gate  and  run  for  his  life,  as  if 
escaping  from  a  deadly  foe,  and  on  arriving  at  the 
lodgt'S  designated  to  warn  the  inmates  to  instant  flight, 
as  the  fort  was  preparing  to  fire  upon  them.  Hence 
110  damage  was  done  save  the  shivering  to  splinters 


1  >"»; 

no 


AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN. 


of  some  piiio  slabs.     And    much   good  was   acconi- 
plished,  as  tlie  result  will  show. 

Some  little  time  was  allowed  to  elapse  after  the 
firing  of  the  shot,  that  the  savages  might  have  ojjpor- 
tunity  to  gather  somewhat  their  dusky  senses,  i'rcs- 
ently  a  deputation  of  their  principal  men  api)ear((l 
before  the  fort  and  requested  a  parley  with  the  white 
chief.  Finlayson  told  them  they  might  come  within 
the  stockade;  and  as  a  guaranty  of  his  good  faith,  lie 
would  send  out  two  of  his  men  as  hostages.  I'lie 
offer  was  accepted,  and  tiie  de[)Utation  entered  tlie 
fort. 

Then  Finlayson  fully  exjilained  to  them  how  easily 
he  could  destroy  them  if  he  would.  He  showed  tlieiu 
his  men,  his  big  guns  and  his  little  guns,  and  powder 
and  balls,  and  knives  and  swords.  He  assured  them 
that  he  wished  them  only  good;  but  he  insisted  tliut 
those  who  killed  the  oxen  should  be  given  up  for  pun- 
ishment, or  the  (;attle  paid  for.  They  preferred  the 
latter  alternative,  and  before  night  fur  to  the  lull 
amount  of  the  damage  was  delivered  at  the  fort  gate. 
The  ])ipe  of  peace  was  then  smoked,  and  promises  of 
friendship  exchanged.  Next  day  the  natives  asked 
to  see  the  great  gun  tried  again;  whereupon  Finlay- 
son told  them  to  station  an  old  canoe  out  in  the  water, 
and  pointing  the  cannon  at  it  he  fired.  Away  went 
the  ball,  and  after  cutting  a  great  hole  in  the  boat, 
bounded  along  the  surface  of  the  water  to  the  oppo- 
site shore.  The  savages'  respect  for  civilized  institu- 
tions was  duly  increased. 

But  the  white  man's  laws  as  gradually  revealed  to 
them  were  seldom  palatable.  For  exann)le,  not  long 
after  the  cattle-killing  affair  certain  Skagits  from 
Whidbey  Island  came  to  Camosun  to  trade.  Tlieir 
business  done,  they  started  for  their  boats;  but  before 
reaching  them  the  Songhies  fell  upon  the  visitors  and 
stripped  them  of  their  goods;  for  between  the  Ska- 
gits and  the  Songhies,  just  as  between  France  and 
Uermany,  feuds  had  long  existed.     Now,  in  the  big 


DESCIIIPTIOT^  OF  THE  FORT. 


Ill 


l»()ok  of  the  fur-liuntors  is  it  not  written  that  tradiiiir 
skills  is  a  sacred  callinj^,  and  that  consequently  the 
persons  of  skin-sellers  are  sacred?  Therefore  when 
the  Skajrits  returned  with  long  faces  to  the  fort  and 
told  their  tale,  the  commander  ordered  the  immediate 
restoration  of  the  stolen  goods,  under  penalty  of  his 
displeasure  and  ahsolute  cessation  of  trade,  which 
was  done.  Steal  and  butcher  among  yourselves,  or 
on  any  other  occasion,  as  much  as  you  will ;  but  at 
your  peril  touch  the  pilgrim  who  brings  hither  the 
jifains  we  love. 

The  fort  was  situated,  as  we  have  seen,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  inlet,  directly  opposite  the  chief  village 
of  the  Songhies,  which  was  distant  some  four  hundred 
yards,  and  between  which  places  was  constant  com- 
iiiunic  'on  by  boats.  As  usual,  the  chiefs  were  kept 
frier  by   presents   and   a  judicious    balancing    of 

powv..  ,j  Mr  Finlayson,  for  whom  they  entertained 
the  highest  respect.'^ 

The  square  enclosed  by  the  cedar  pickets,  which 
were  eighteen  feet  above  ground,  was  one  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  on  every  side,  with  two  block-houses  or 
bastions  at  the  angles,  and  dwellings  and  stoi'ehousea 
witliin  the  enclosure.^ 

Although  building  was  not  entirely  over  for  several 
years,  the  fort  proper  and  the  usual  building  within 
the  palisades  were  well  advanced  during  this  year  of 
1844.  As  there  is  no  period  in  the  history  of  a  com- 
monwealth possessing  a  more  keen  and  lasting  interest 
than  that  of  the  rude  incipiency  of  its  metropolis,  I 


t  til 


:?; 


"On  the  opposite  side  of  the  harbor  is  a  large  native  village;  the  a.  > 
tancc  across  is  only  400  yards,  and  canoes  keep  up  constant  coniunmication 
Lotwcc'ii  it  and  the  fort.  Certain  supplies  to  the  chiefs  keep  tiiein  in  good 
huiiior  with  their  intruding  visitors.  The  houses  of  the  natives  'are  built 
^('itli  solidity,  the  climate  rendering  it  necessary  to  guard  against  the  cold, 
ami  arrange  with  some  degree  of  order  in  ntrects  or  lanea  with  passages  run- 
ning up  between  them.  Several  families  occupy  the  same  house — one  large 
slicil,  bttle  better  than  an  open  cow-house  or  stable  in  an  indifferent  inn, 
till!  ('(iiiipartments  or  walls  hardly  exduiling  the  sight  of  one  family  from 
aiiiitliiT.    Sefiinnin'.'i  Voij.  Hemll,  i.  I05-().   See  also  Xnt'nr  Races,  i.  174-'i08. 

■'Tliisis  Mr  Finlayson 's  statement,  llist.   V.  /.,  MS.,  ol-li.     Others  who 
kuow  luss  about  it  give  other  figures. 


iS'J'! 


112 


AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN, 


shall  give  the  impressions  of  a  few  early  visitors  in 
their  own  words. 

Lieutenants  Warre  and  Vavasour,  who  were  there 
in  1845,  report  the  2Gth  of  October:  "We  visited  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company's  post, .  .  .where  they  have 
established  a  fort  similar  to  those  already  describt^d, 
a  farm  of  several  hundred  acres,  on  which  they  raise 
wheat  and  potatoes,  and  c  depot  of  i)rovisions,  supplies, 
etc.,  for  the  ditferent  tradinL,^-posts  farther  to  the 
north."  And  again  the  latter  of  the  above-named 
gentlemen  says  in  a  report  to  Colonel  Holloway  dated 
the  1st  of  March  184():  "Fort  Mctoria  is  situated  at 
the  soutliern  end  of  Vancouver's  Island,  in  the  small 
harbor  of  (^.unmusan,  the  entrance  to  which  is  rather 
intricate.  The  fort  is  a  square  enclosure  of  one  hun- 
di'ed  yards,  surrounded  by  cedar  pickets  twenty  feet 
in  heiyfht,  haviuLT  two  octau'onal  bastions  containiiio' 
each  six  six-pounder  iron  guns  at  the  north-east  and 
south-west  angles.  The  buildings  are  made  of  squared 
timber,  eight  in  immber,  forming  three  sides  of  an 
oblong.  This  fort  has  lately  been  established;  it  is 
badly  situated  with  regard  to  water  and  position,  whicli 
latter  has  been  chosen  for  its  agricultural  advantages 
onlv. .  .  .  This  is  the  best  built  of  the  conii)anv's  forts; 
it  requires  loop-holing  and  a  platform  or  gallery  to  en- 
able men  to  tire  over  the  pickets.  A  ditch  might  be 
cut  round  it,  but  the  rock  appears  on  the  surface  in 
many  places."* 

Bertliold  Seemann,  naturalist  on  board  H.  M.  S. 
Iff  raid,  w]  A)  visited  the  place  in  July  ]84(),  says: 
"The  fort  is  a  S({uare  enclosure,  stockaded  with  poK'S 
about  twenty  feet  high,  and  eight  or  ten  inches  in 
diameter,  jilaced  close  together,  and  seamed  witli  ii 
cross-|)ie('e  of  nearly  equal  size.  At  the  transveiso 
corners  of  the  scpiare  tliere  are  strong  octagonal 
towers,  mounted  with  four  nine-pounder  guns  Hank- 
ing each  side,  so  that  an  attack  by  sf  vages  would  he 
out  of  the  question;  and  if  defended  with  spirit,  a  dis- 


qut 


*  Home  Comvtnm  netnrnx  to  Ttiixe  Addressee,  7,  11   li 


'    1 


LAYING  OUT  A  TOWN. 


IIS 


■^ 


"  Fiulm/son'a  Letters,  MS.,  Oct.  18,  1879. 

'^Sill.lciiK'iit  qf  y'ancQuvcr  Mand,  MS.,  by  James  Deans,  Victoria,  1878. 
Mr  Diaii.s  was  l)orn  at  Arniisficld,  Haddiugtnnshirc,  Scotland,  on  the  17tli  of 
Juiiu  1.S'.'7.  Leaving  Londou  the  17th  of  August  1852,  on  the  H.  B.  I'o. 'a 
bark  Xnrman  MorruoH,  lie  arrived  at  Victoria  the  IGtli  of  January  following. 
British  Columbia  has  been  his  place  of  residence  ever  since.  Thus,  under  hi.i 
soutiimous  observation,  society  aad  the  commonwealth  have  arisen  and  de- 
viilopcd,  and  being  a  close  and  intelligent  olmerver,  an  original  thinker,  and 
'.  'liirlcsa  speaker,  his  manuscript  constitutes  no  unimportant  part  of  my 
inatirial  r<,r  this  portion  of  my  hiatory.  I  slia'.I  have  ouuosiou  to  rufec  ta  it^ 
liiuiiy  times  during  the  progress  of  thia  work. 
UiHT,  Uhit.  Col.    8 


' 


ciplined  force  without  artillery  would  find  considerable 
ditficulty  in  forcing  the  defences.  The  square  is  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty  yards,  but  an  increase,  which 
will  nearly  double  its  length  from  north  to  south,  is 
contemplated.  The  building  is  even  now,  though 
plain  to  a  fault,  imposing  from  its  mass  and  extent, 
wliile  the  bastions  or  towers  diminisli  tlie  tameness 
which  its  regular  outline  would  otherwise  produce.  The 
interior  is  occupied  by  the  officers'  houses,  or  apart- 
ments they  should  rather  be  called,  stores,  and  a  trad- 
ing house,  in  which  smaller  bargains  are  concluded, 
and  tools,  agricultural  implements,  blankets,  shawls, 
beads,  and  all  the  multifarious  products  of  Sheffield, 
Birmingham,  Manchester,  and  Leeds,  are  offered  at 
exorbitant  prices." 

"In  1852,"  says  Finlayson,  "the  town  of  Victoria 
was  laid  out  in  streets,  then  bounded  on  the  west  by 
tlio  har-bor,  on  the  east  by  the  present  Government 
street,  on  the  south  by  the  old  fort,  and  on  the  north 
by  the  present  Johnson  street.  Outside  of  these 
boundaries  were  th'  fields  which  were  under  cultiva- 
tion."'' This  will  enable  the  reader  to  locate  to-day 
tbe  exact  spot  on  which  the  fort  stood. 

But  by  far  the  best  account  extant  of  the  place  as 
it  existed  at  an  early  day  is  that  given  me  by  my 
friend  James  Deans,®  of  Vancouver  Island,  who  de- 
scribes it  as  he  first  saw  it  in  Januarv  1853:  "The 
l)astions  were  of  hewn  logs  some  thirty  fee"!;  in  height, 
and  were  connected  by  palisades  about  twenty  feet 
liiyli.  Within  the  palisades  were  the  stores,  num- 
beied  from  one  to  five,  and  a  blacksmith  shop,  besides 


i  ,    '  i, 


t'l 


t 


i:  ! 


114 


AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN. 


dining-hall,  cook-house,  and  chapel.  . .  .The  site  of  the 
fort  was  an  oak  opening.     The  gro  Tid,  to  the  extent 
of  an  acre,  was  cleared  and  enclosed  by  a  palisade 
forming  a  square.     On  the  north  and  south  corners 
was  a  tower  containing  six  or  eight  pieces  of  ord- 
nance each.     The  north  one  served  as  a  prison,  the 
south  one   for  firing  salutes  whenever  the  governor 
visited  any  place  officially.     In  the  centre  of  the  east 
and  west  sides  were  main  gate-ways,  each  having  a 
little  door  to  let  people  out  or  in  after  hours.     On  the 
right,  entering  by  the  front  or  south  gate,  was  a  cot- 
tage in  which  was  the  post-office.     It  was  kept  by  an 
officer  of  the  company,  a  Captain  Sangster.     Next  in 
order  was  the  smithy.     Next  and  first  on  the  south 
side  was  a  large  storehouse,  in  which  fish-oil,  etc., 
were  stowed  away.     Next  came  the  carpenter's  shop. 
Close  to  this  was  a  large  room  provided  with  bunks 
for  the  company's  men  to  sleep  in.     Next,  and  last  on 
that  side,  was  a  large  buildiny.  a  sort  of  barrack  for 
new  arrivals.     Between  this  corner  and  the  east  gate 
were  the  chapel  and  chaplain's  house.      On  the  other 
side  of  this  gate  was  a  large  building  which  served  as 
a  dining-room  for  the  officers;  adjoining  this  were  the 
cook-house  and  pantry.     On  tlie   fovirth  side  was  a 
double  row  of  buildings  for  storing  fur  previous  to 
shipment  to  England,  and  goods  before  taking  thoir 
place  in  the  trading  store.     Behind  these  stores  wa.s 
a  fire-proof  building  used  as  a  magazine  for  storin;' 
gunpowder.     On  the  lower  corner  was  another  cottage 
in  which  lived  Finlayson  and  family,  who  was  then 
chief  fa<itor.     On  tlie  other  side  of  the  front  or  we^t 
gate  was  the  flag-stafl'  and  belfry.     The  central  part 
of  the  enclo.sure  was  open,  and  was  always  kept  clean. 
Thro\igh  this  enclosure   ran  the   main  road   leading 
from  the  two  gates.     On  one  side  of  this  road  was  a 
well  in  which  a  lamentable  accident  happened  early 
in  the  rush  of  1858.     This  well  was  about  thirty  fet't 
in  depth,  down  to  the   bed-rock,  which  dipped  sud- 
denly toward  the  harbor,  leaving,  when  the  water  got 


low,  th 
there  -^ 
with  st 
wood, 
of  wat€ 
While 
broke  a 
to  save 
down  a 
stood  or 
little  wl: 
to  help 
down  b^ 
feet  stru 
wall  fell 
in.stantly 
of  people 
well  was 
Only  one 
is  the  sto 
usf!d  as  a 

Charac 

plish  the 

"leans,  a 

During  hi 

to  this  ec( 

compelled 

Douglas  V 

pl",y<''d,  th 

failing  Cai 

if  indeed 

few  augeri 

tlic  [>upil  ( 

of  McLouj 

lender  t 

similar  ide 

^'ainosun  ^ 

fis  it  may  a 


DOUGLAS  AND  FINLAYSON. 


115 


low,  the  upper  part  of  it  dry,  wliile  at  the  lower  part 
there  were  three  or  four  feet  of  water.  It  was  lined 
with  stone-work  up  to  the  surface,  then  covered  with 
wood.  To  this  well  the  miners  came  for  their  supply 
of  water,  whicli  was  hauled  up  with  a  rope  and  bucket. 
While  one  of  them  was  hauling  up  water  the  rope 
broke  and  let  his  kettle  fall  to  the  bottom.  In  order 
to  save  his  kettle,  he  gave  an  Indian  a  dollar  to  go 
down  and  fish  it  up.  The  Indian  went  down  and 
stood  on  the  dry  part  of  the  rock.  After  trying  a 
little  while,  and  unable  to  grapple  the  kettle,  in  order 
to  help  him  to  recover  it  the  miner  swung  himself 
down  by  the  rope.  When  about  ten  feet  down  his 
feet  struck  the  stone-work.  In  an  instant  the  whole 
wall  fell  down  on  the  Indian,  who,  poor  fellow,  died 
instantly,  crushed  to  death  at  the  bottom.  A  number 
of  [)cople  came  and  quickly  recovered  his  body.  The 
well  was  ordered  to  be  filled  up,  which  was  done. 
Only  one  of  all  the  old  buildings  now  remains,  which 
is  the  store  known  as  number  three.  It  is  at  present 
us(;d  as  a  theatre" — tliat  is  to  say,  in  1878. 

(vharacteristic  of  Douolas  was  the  desire  to  accom- 
plish  the  greatest  possible  results  with  the  smallest 
means,  a  praiseworthy  quality  if  not  carried  too  fan 
During  his  wide  experience  he  had  often  been  forced 
to  this  economy  of  capital,  and  what  he  had  done  he 
oonipolled  others  to  do.  If  a  fort  was  to  be  built, 
Douglas  would  specify  the  number  of  men  to  be  em- 
ployed, the  tools  to  be  used,  among  wliich  the  never- 
faihng  Canadian  chopping-adze  was  always  prominent, 
if  indeed  it  was  not  the  only  one,  if  I  may  except  a 
few  augers,  chisels,  and  saws.  Finlayson  had  been 
th<>  pupil  of  Douglas,  as  Douglas  had  been  the  pupil 
of  McLoughlin. 

Under  the  influence  of  Douglas,  Finlayson  imbibed 
similar  ideas;  so  that  when  ordered  to  build  Fort 
Caniosun  without  a  single  nail,  he  did  it.  Strange 
as  it  may  appear,  houses,  palisades,  and  bastions  were 


m 


'm 


IN 


■-!:■!     >l 


;;H  I 


=  1:1 


,M 


~ — rr 


116 


AFFAIRS  AT  CAMOSUN. 


erected  without  the  use  of  one  iron  nail   or  spike, 
wooden  pegs  alone  being  employed/ 


'  Besides  Finlayson'g  Hut.  V.  I.,  MS.,  passim;  Deans'  Settlement  V.  I.,  MS., 
pafisim;  Douglas'  Voyage  to  the  Northtoest  Coast,  in  Journal,  MS.,  120-7; 
Bolduo,  in  De  Smet's  Or.  Miss.,  55-65;  and  Waddmgton'a  Fraser  Mines,  on 
whose  evidence  this  and  the  preceding  chapter  rest--!  may  infer  to  Emm' 
Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  279;  Simpson's  Or.  Ter.,  47;  Niks'  Ren.,  Ixix.  134;  Seemanii'^ 
Voy.  Herald,  i.  101-3;  Maine's  B.  C,  26-57;  Kam'a  Wamlenwjs,  215;  Ouiile 
to  B.  C,  281-4;  Martina  H.  B.,  34-5;  Orant,  in  London  Geog.  Soc.,  Jonr.,  xxvi. 
272;  McKinlay'a  Nar.,  MS.,  7;  Overland  Monthly,  xv.  497;  James  Douglas,  H. 
B.  Co.  Ev.  H.  B.  Co.  Claims,  49-61;  Cooper,  Mar.  Matters,  MS.,  passim;  Haz- 
litt'a  B.  C,  157,  copied  verbatim  from  Grant;  Tolmie's  Puget  Sound,  MS.,  I'J; 
Howison's  Rept.,  36;  Macfie's  B.  C,  58;  Blanchard,  in  House  Commons  Rep/., 
1857,  290,  294;  Cooper,  in  House  Commons  Rept.,  1857,  208;  Good's  Brilixk 
Columbia,  MS.,  2;  Tod'a  New  Caledonia,  MS.,  19. 


EXTERMINAl 

Albert, 

E.VD.S  FI! 

More  I 
Ships  fh 
—The  A: 

Ho.SPITAi 

Ves.sel.s 
Tkhritoj 
Adventu 


Back  ir 

skin.sl     G 

tliat  is,  alj 

t'liiefly  tal 

youi'  nam 

pmates,  ta 

Blot  your 

bered>     V 

t'xccpt  to  ( 

and  virgin 

liiiiid  .shou 

^'I'litle  sav£ 

under  our 

t<'stainent; 

^'"'•.Lrottcn! 

IjlViltJlO  of 

For  the  ■ 
st't'M,  the  p 
was  called  1 


CHAPTER  VII. 

CAMOSUN,  ALBERT,  VICTORIA 

1845. 

Extermination  op  Savage  Nomenclatcre  —  Camosun  Becohts  First 
Albert,  and  then  Victoria — F(X)D  Supply — Douolas'  Motto,  Great 
Ends  from  Small  Means  — Wooden  Ploughs  and  Rope  Harness  A 
More  Liberal  Economy  Sometimes  Profitable  —  Outward-bound 
Ships  from  England  now  Come  Directly  HrrHER — Wilalino  Fleets 
—The  Mission  of  the  'America  '—Captain  Gordon  as  a  Sportsman — 
Hospitality  at  Fout  Victoria — '  Fipi'y-foiir  Forty  or  Fioht  '— Morr 
Vf.ssf,i,s  of  War  at  Victoria — Also  Surveyors  and  Appraisers  of 
Territories — The  Northwest  Coast  not  Worth  Fiohtinq  foR'  - 
Adventures  of  Paul  Kanei^Fort  Victoria  in  Eably  Hays. 

Back  into  the  woods,  you  greased  and  painted  red- 
skins! Gro!  And  take  ycur  belongings — all  of  them, 
that  is,  all  except  what  civilization  would  have.  But 
cliietly  take  yourselves,  your  past,  your  future;  take 
VDUi-  names  of  things  and  places;  take  your  lares  et 
pnnitcs,  take  your  legends  and  traditions.  Begone  1 
Blot  yourselves  out!  Why  should  j^ou  be  remem- 
l»er(xl  i  What  have  you  done  as  tenants  of  this  domain 
ox('tj)t  to  occupy,  and  eat  and  sleep,  and  keep  it  fresh 
and  virgin  as  God  gave  it  you,  until  some  s^^ronger 
liand  should  come  and  wrest  it  from  you?  Thanks, 
liiii tie  savage ;  but  go!  And  please  do  not  die  here 
under  our  cultivated  noses.  You  need  execute  no 
testament;  we  will  administer  your  estate.  Go!  Be 
toi'n^ottcn!  Be  not!  And  let  not  your  late  home 
breathe  of  your  former  being. 

For  the  first  two  years  of  its  existence,  as  we  have 
seen,  the  post  at  the  south  end  of  Vancouver  Island 
Was  called  by  the  native  name  of  the  place,  Camosun. 


'.  1 

i' 

.  fil 


ill 


Hi' 


Till  HI 


IIS 


CAMOSUN,  ALBERT,  VICTORIA. 


It  was  now  deemed  advisable,  not  to  say  necessar}', 
to  eradicate  all  traces  of  nature  and  the  natural  man ; 
it  was  thought  in  better  taste,  with  the  levelling  of 
forests  and  the  tearing  up  of  rocks,  to  blast  from 
memory  the  sylvan  race  tliat  once  were  masters  there. 
It  happened  there  lived  somewhere  a  man  whose 
name  was  Albert,  whom  it  were  well  for  the  adven- 
turers of  England  to  conciliate ;  therefore,  in  the  year 
of  grace  1845,  orders  came  from  the  London  magnates 
to  damn  the  name  Camosun,  and  call  the  place  Fort 
Albert.  But  even  then  they  were  not  satisfied;  for 
behold,  upon  this  planet  there  was  one  mightier  than 
Albert,  even  his  wife,  the  queen;  ^iid  so  before  the 
year  had  expired  Camosun  was  called  Victoria,  eacli 
new  baptism  being  celebrated  by  the  usual  salutes  and 
ceremonies.^ 


from 


No  sooner  were  the  stockade,  storehouses,  and 
dwellings  prepared  than  the  people  at  Camosun 
turned  their  attention  to  the  production  of  food. 
"For,"  said  Finlayson,  "after  the  first  year  many  ajt- 
plications  for  agricultural  produce  from  head-quarters 
would  be  ascribed  to  want  of  energy  on  the  part  of 
the  officers  in  charge,"  and  holding  last  to  the  motto 
of  Douglas,  "great  ends  from  small  means,"  the 
omnipotent  adze  was  sharpened,  and  wooden  plouglis 
and  harrows  were  made,  the  mould-board  and  teeth 
being  of  oak;  old  ropes  obtained  from  the  coastinj,^ 
vessels  were  used  as  traces  for  the  horses  to  pull  by. 
Afterward,  seeing  how  industrious  and  thrifty  tliey 
were,  as  a  mark  of  his  special  favor  Douglas  indulged 
them  in  the  extravagance  of  a  few  iron  ploughshares 

Finlayson  says,  Hist.  V.  I.,  MS.,  26:  'In  the  year  1845  the  naiiu;  of 
Camosun  previously  given  to  tlie  fort  Wiis  changed  to  Fort  Albert  by  onlfr 
from  England,  and  the  succeeding  year  to  that  of  Victoria.'  This  I  .shmilil 
regard  as  the  highest  authority  did  I  not  find  a  higher  in  the  report  of  liiu- 
tentants  Warre  and  Vavasour,  House  of  Commons  Rtturns  to  Three  Addiri^'i, 
7,  dated  the  26th  of  October  1845,  in  which  the  post  is  plainly  desigiiattJ 
Fort  Victoria.  This  may  have  been  done  without  proper  authority,  or  it 
may  not  have  l>een  commonly  called  by  that  name,  or  baptized  into  it  bitnre 
1846.  At  most,  the  discrepancy  in  the  time  of  the  change  of  name  iuv>)!ve9 
but  a  few  mouths. 


GREAT  ENDS  FROM  SMALL  MEANS. 


119 


from  Fort  Vancouver;  and  whetting  their  Scotch 
iiif^onuity  still  further,  they  took  the  iron  hoops  from 
old  provision  casks  and  with  them  lined  the  inould- 
l)oards  of  the  plough  and  bound  the  wooden  agricul- 
tural machinery.  Agricultural  outhouses  were  built; 
and  grain  was  thravshed  by  driving  horses  round  a 
rlnir  in  the  barn.  Flour  was  made  with  a  steel  hand- 
mill  sent  from  Fort  Vancouver. 

l*erhaps  a  more  liberal  economy  would  have  better 
served  the  purpose,  though  it  might  not  so  well  have 
served  James  Douglas.  McLoughlin  was  making 
ready  to  retire  from  the  service,  and  remove  from 
Fort  Vancouver  to  Oregon  City  the  coming  winter, 
leaving  Chief  Factor  Douglas  first  in  command  on 
the  Pacific.  This  new  post  on  Vancouver  Island  was 
undoubtedly  destined  to  great  things.  Mr  Grant 
says:  "As  in  settling  there,  no  idea  was  entertained 
by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  beyond  starting  a 
fresh  trading-post  with  the  Indians,  the  establishment 
remained  in  statu  quo  until  the  year  1849,  when  the 
granting  of  the  whole  island  to  the  company  opened 
out  a  fresh  field  for  their  exertions;"  but  in  this  he  is 
mistaken.  We  know  that  the  company  harbored  far 
more  ambitious  views  for  Camosun,  or  by  the  grace 
of  (lod,  Albert,  and  Victoria,  tlian  the  establishing 
of  an  ordinary  trading-post  there,  though  Mr  Grant 
did  not.  The  great  men  of  the  great  monopoly  were 
w] lolly  able  to  keep  their  own  counsel,  and  those 
nearest  them,  in  point  of  time  as  well  as  of  distance, 
t)l"ten  knew  least  as  to  the  project  or  policy  revolving 
in  their  mighty  minds. 

Had  a  trading-post  alone  been  the  measure  of  their 
oxpec'tations,  Langley  would  have  answered.  At  Lang- 
\vy  were  both  furs  and  fisheries ;  there  was  little  local 
trade  on  this  south  end  of  Vancouver  Island.  No, 
the  day  was  coining  when  progress  should  demand 
somewhere  in  this  western  north  a  British  city. 
A  heady  the  Americans  were  upon  them,  and  had 
spoiled  their  southern  grounds.     Possibly  they  might 


i 

H? 

1 

'  [      '"'-^8 

It' 

i'i 

''  '       ■■.-■j.j.'  f 

i.' 

n 

1 

'■n          'V'i 

j:t 

:!' 

'  ■      1    -  f  M 

■  fet'  •' 

I      i  ■  i4\ 

, 

' 

1                     i;W^.    ,;1 

■    !    ■■!  H  'i 

'      I     i:|lh 

,  1 

i    '      W- 

■; 

1                   .   1    Wti   (1 

'.  i- 

'     1- 

) '. ' 

i 


i^r 


;;    J 


120 


CAM03UN,  ALBERT,  VICTOUIA. 


nurse  their  western  hyperborean  game  yet  a  century 
or  two  as  they  had  done  in  Rupert  Land;  or,  if  hard 
pressed,  tliey  might  spare  the  island  to  civilization  and 
yet  hold  the  mainland  savage. 

Howbeit,  with  metropolitan  glories  far  or  near,  with 
or  without  the  assistance  of  the  whale-catchers,  this 
new  post  would  prove  more  than  the  usual  trafficking 
Ktockade.  Therefore  Douglas  would  begin  his  reign 
with  reform,  and  carry  yet  more  than  ever  into  rigid 
])ractice  his  principle  of  the  greatest  results  from  the 
least  means. 

Almost  immediately  Fort  Victoria  became  the  sec- 
ond depot  of  Hudson's  Bay  Company  goods  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  and  shortly  afterward  the  first.  Out- 
ward-bound ships  from  England  now  had  orders  to 
sail  direct  for  this  port,  and  after  landing  here  all  the 
goods  destined  for  the  coast  trade,  to  proceed  to  the 
Columbia  River  with  the  remainder.  Hence  the  sta- 
tion rose  rapidly  in  importance. 

There  were  now  three  vessels  in  the  company's  ser- 
vice between  London  and  the  Northwest  Coast,  tlie 
Vancouver,  the  Cowlitz,  and  the  Columbia.  These  ships 
made  yearly  voyages,  bringing  outfits  always  twelve 
months  in  advance,  which  enabled  the  fort  to  have  on 
hand  one  or  two  years'  supply.  The  first  to  enter 
Victoria  Harbor  direct  from  England  was  the  Van- 
couver in  1845.^ 


A  fleet  of  five  American  whalers  dropped  in  at 
Royal  Ray  in  1845  for  supplies.  And  yearly  after 
that  they  called  at  Fort  Victoria,  until  finally  it  was 
found  that  the  Hawaiian  Islands  ofi^'ered  a  more  con- 
venient port  of  call.  Indeed,  the  hope  of  Governor 
Simpson  to  establish  here  a  general  rendezvous  for 
whalers  was  never  fully  realized. 

During  this  same  year  Juan  de  Fuca  Strait  was 
honored  by  a  visit  from  her  majesty's  ship  America, 

'The  Vnvcom'cr  ia  reported  at  Victoria  again  in  November  ]84(),  an  1  in 
1847  tiie  bark  Columbia  at  Honolulu  twenty-six  days  from  Vancouver  Islarul. 


til 


VISIT  OF  GORDON. 


191 


wlK)se  captain  was  Gordon,  brother  of  the  earl  of 
Aberdeen,  then  prime-minister  of  England.  Knowing 
little  or  nothing  of  Esquimalt  and  Victoria  harbors, 
Gordon  put  in  to  Port  Discovery,  sending  a  despatch, 
as  he  was  passing  through  the  strait,  to  the  officer  in 
charge  at  Fort  Victoria  to  come  on  board  his  vessel. 

Placing  his  first  officer  in  charge  of  the  fort,  Finlay- 
son  returned  with  the  messenger  to  the  America,  and 
soon  stood  in  the  presence  of  the  august  commander. 
A  series  of  catechisings  then  set  in,  which  lasted  three 
clays,  at  the  expiration  of  which,  Fiidayson,  squeezed 
of  all  information  in  his  power  to  impart,  was  sent 
back  to  his  post.  Captain  Gordon  and  certain  of  his 
officers  accompanying  him. 

The  object  of  the  America's  visit  was  to  obtain  in- 
formation concerning  the  coast,  such  as  should  assist 
tlic  English  government  in  settling  the  boundary 
question  then  pending.  To  this  end,  while  Finlayson 
was  yet  on  board.  Captain  Parke  of  the  marines, 
and  Lieutenant  Peel,  son  of  Sir  Robert  Peel,  were 
despatched  by  way  of  the  Cowlitz  to  the  Columbia, 
to  ascertain  the  value  of  that  region  to  the  subjects 
of  (Jreat  Britain. 

As  the  time  drew  near  when  the  rigiits  of  owner- 
ship and  occupation  must  be  finally  determined,  Brit- 
ish statesmen  asked  themselves,  Is  the  country  worth 
having?  Further  than  this,  is  it  worth  fighting  for? 
These  queries  they  put  to  the  London  management 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  the  answers  were 
nut  satisfactory.  The  company  cared  nothing  for  the 
value  of  the  country,  cared  little  whether  England 
should  fight  for  it.  Their  interest  lay  in  preserving 
it  as  a  hunting-ground.  So  long  as  that  was  done,  and 
they  enjoyed  a  monopoly  of  the  fur-trade,  all  was  well. 
If  their  plans  were  to  be  spoiled,  it  mattered  little  to 
them  whetlier  it  was  done  by  the  English  government. 
Ml-  bv  American  settlers.  When  McLoui^hlin  was 
asked  this  question,  he  answered  plainly  that  he  did 
not  think  the  country  worth  fighting  for. 


,       i: 


!  '     J 


if'''' 


'  '  11 


'lii 
■•i 


K'Jf 


I  i 

,'  i:"- 

'      i  i 

1 

! 

h 

?H 

't 

^ 

> 

.LJ 

ud 

1 

182 


CAMOSUN,  ALBERT,  VICTORIA. 


,»i 


■•l^f 


It  was  not  every  day  that  brothers  and  sons  of  earls 
and  baronets  dropped  in  upon  the  quiet  traders,  and 
all  were  well  aware  that  England  now  expected  Fin- 
layson  to  do  his  duty.  First  of  all,  the  Americas 
officers  were  duly  feasted,  this  being  a  custom  which 
English  gentlemen  as  well  as  American  savages  de- 
lighted in.  Fatted  calves  were  killed,  also  swine  and 
poultry;  and  hunters  were  sent  out  for  game.  To 
native  delicacies  were  added  home  productions,  whicli 
well  cooked  and  served  with  the  choicest  wines  and 
liquors  satisfied  the  stomach  and  warmed  the  heart 
into  solemn  good-fellowship. 

It  was  really  necessary  the  dinner  should  pass  off 
well  if  the  service  was  to  escape  disgrace,  for  when 
bedtime  came  there  were  no  sumptuous  apartments 
into  which  to  show  the  guests.  Eating  and  sleeping 
were  two  quite  distinct  affairs  at  Fort  Victoria. 
There  were  no  wives,  civilized  or  savage,  in  the  offi- 
cers' quarters  of  the  fort ;  indeed,  Finlayson's  was  the 
only  bed,  and  that  was  a  single  cot  slung  against  the 
bare  walls.  This  was  given  to  the  captain,  while 
the  others  slept  on  the  floor. 

At  the  breakfast  table  next  morning  a  large,  fine 
salmon  was  placed  before  the  guests,  smoking  hot. 

"What  is  that?"  demanded  the  captain. 

"  Salmon,"  said  Finlayson;  "we  have  plenty  of  them 
here." 

"  Have  you  flies  and  rods  ? " 

*'We  use  lines  and  bait;  the  Indians  catch  them  in 
nets ;  we  have  no  flies  and  rods  ? " 

"  No  flies!  no  rods  !"  responded  the  puzzled  captain, 
who,  like  many  others,  prided  himself  most  on  what 
he  knew  least  about,  and  could  scarcely  imagine  a 
greater  disgrace  to  English  sportsmen  than  the  adop- 
tion of  aboriginal  customs  in  fishing  or  hunting.  "  Xo 
flies !  no  rods !  Well,  you  have  indeed  turned  sav- 
ages." 

Fishing  in  Fuca  Strait  being  out  of  the  question, 
without  the  customary  adjuncts  attending  angling  in 


Ill-; 


OPINIONS. 


123 


'  ij' 


British  trout-streams,  horses  were  ordered,  the  finest 
juiJ  fleetest  the  island  aftbrded.  The  British  sailors 
were  now  to  show  their  benighted  countrymen  how 
deer  were  stalked. 

Even  nature,  flattered  by  the  presence  of  the  illus- 
trious  visitors,  had  put  on  her  gayest  apparel.  Riding 
forth  upon  the  wild  sward  carpeted  with  flowers,  be- 
tween forests  and  fern-fringed  thickets,  the  rich  green 
of  the  hill-top  foliage  pluming  the  illimitable  blue,  the 
(lancing  waters  below,  and  the  frozen  sunshine  above, 
the  breast  of  the  honest  fur-trader  heaved  somewhat 
exultant  over  the  island's  loveliness.  After  waiting 
in  vain  for  some  expression  of  appreciation  on  the 
part  of  his  companions,  he  modestly  asked,  "Is  not 
this  beautiful f 

"Finlayson,"  replied  Gordon,  "I  would  not  give 
one  of  the  bleakest  knolls  of  all  the  bleak  hills  of 
Scotland  for  twenty  islands  arrayed  like  this  in  bar- 
baric glories." 

Finlayson  could  not  help  asking  himself  what  the 
government  meant  in  sending  such  an  ass  to  set  a 
valuation  on  the  Northwest  Coast. 

l^resently  a  band  of  deer  started  up,  the  party  pur- 
sued, and  just  as  Gordon  was  ready  to  shoot,  the  game 
(li.sa[)peared  in  a  thicket  which  the  mounted  hunters 
could  not  penetrate.  The  captain  thereupon  broke 
out  into  new  cursings,  ard  demanded  how  deer  could 
he  sliot  in  a  country  like  this. 

"We  have  men  who  can  average  six  a  day,"  said 
Finlayson,  "  and  that  without  fatigue ;  but  as  the  game 
of  tlie  island  is  not  yet  enclosed  in  park  fences,  and 
we  cannot  run  it  down  through  these  thickets,  we  are 
obliged  to  steal  upon  it  unawares,  which  is  easily  done 
l)y  those  who  understand  it." 

In  a  very  bad  humor  the  sailors  returned  to  the 
fort,  and  after  a  week  of  eating  and  drinking,  which 
tluy  most  of  all  enjoyed,  they  went  on  board  their 
ship.  Meanwhile,  accompanied  by  Douglas,  who  was 
doing  the  honors  in  that  quarter,  Parke  and  Peel  re- 


■1.1     .i  >'' 


I 

".,1     s 

1 
.  1 

■'■V   "  -  I 

!  :  II' 

11 

;i     ;■ 


:  m 

'   i     .-  ■ 

124 


CAMOaUN,  ALBERT,  VICTORIA. 


turned  from  the  Columbia  River,  apparently  as  dis- 
gusted with  the  ccuntry  in  that  direction  as  (rordoii 
had  been  with  Vancouver  Island.  When  the  expe- 
dition returned  to  England,  and  made  its  intelligent 
and  valuable  report,  British  statesmen  were  amply 
able  to  give  the  subject  the  clearest  consideration. 

And  now  while  the  cry  of  "fifty-four  forty  or  Hght"^ 
was  ringing  throughout  the  United  States,  and  while 
in  England  there  was  likewise  no  small  excitement 
relative  to  the  interests  of  Great  Britain  on  tlie 
Pacific,  there  appeared  before  Fort  Victoria  several 
British  vessels,  which  had  been  ordered  from  the 
south  Pacific  to  guard  British  interests  on  the  North- 
west Coast. 

These  were  the  Cormorant,  Captain  Gordon — not 
the  Gordon  of  the  former  visit,  but  another  of  that 
name;  the  Fhgard,  Captain  Duntze;  the  Covstance, 
Captain  Courtney;  the  Inconstant,  Captain  Shepherd; 
and  th(^  surveying  vessels  Herald,  Captain  Kellett, 
and  Pandora,  Ca^^tain  Wood.  Thus  again  in  184(! 
Finlayson  was  called  upon  to  dance  attendance  ou 
maritime  magnificos.  Beef  cattle  were  driven  up  for 
the  oflficers  to  shoot,  and  wild  horses  for  them  to 
break.  Douglas  and  Finlayson  were  often  on  the 
vessels  to  dinner,  and  the  officers  used  to  ask  thciii, 
"Why  do  you  leave  the  Columbia?  If  we  could  only 
be  sent  there,  we  would  take  the  whole  coun+ry  in 
twenty  four  hours."  After  these  came  the  frigate 
Thetis  and  other  vessels.  All  these  ships  found  the 
fortress  of  Victoria  revelling  in  fat  things;  nor  were 
the  officers  slow  to  provision  their  vessels  from  the 
stock  of  cattle  and  produce  there  abounding. 

Several  of  these  ships  were  given  some  little  com- 
mission other  than  the  primary  one  of  guarding  British 
rights  and  frowning  on  the  obstreperous  encroacli- 
ments  of  the  Americans.     Thus  Captain  Duntze  of 

'That  is  to  say,  if  Great  Britain  did  not  yield  to  the  United  States  peace- 
able jtosaession  of  all  territory  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  between  the 
tiossessions  of  Mexico  on  the  south  and  Russia  on  the  north,  which  latter 
•ound  waa  latitude  54°  40',  the  Americans  would  fight  for  it. 


tlie  Fisi 
niour,  c( 

-vHlth  P 

(lat(^d  oi 
niiiry  1  > 
plied  in 
Quadra 
sent  tll( 
so  far  as 
will  be  \i 

Henr^ 
Pandora, 
1S4(;,  be 
dorm  oral 
ficial  sui 
ward.  {■ 
three  cri 
Jo] in  Fn 

Beside 
whose  ofi 
(lition  of 
incut's  in< 
was  sent 
yet  more 
M'orth,  an 
licutenani 
tint  govei 
at   i^'ort 
from   Yo] 
Fn-t.     O 

In  iidd: 
these  gen 
fur  the 
w'  icji  wa 
^■11,  especi 
mgs  with 


iifiii^ 


lil 

ni-  Ml 


11 


SEYMCiLR  AND  KELLETT. 


HB 


tlio  Flsr/ard  was  directod  by  Rear-admiral  G.  F.  Sey- 
mour, counnander-iii-chief  of  lier  maje.sty'8  fleet  in  the 
s.)utli  J*acific,  and  whose  report  to  tlio  admiralty  w.is 
(hitc^d  on  board  the  Collingivond,  Valparaiso,  8tli  Feb- 
ruiiry  IH47,  to  "ascertain  whether  coals  could  bo  sup- 
plied ill  Hufticient  quantities  for  the  use  of  steamers  on 
Quadra  or  Vancouver  Island,"  and  Duntze  accordingly 
sent  the  steam-vessel  Cormorant  thither.  The  result, 
so  far  as  its  bearing  upon  the  coal  interest  is  concerned, 
will  be  giver  hereafter.* 

Henry  Kellett,  connnanding  the  Herald  and  the 
Pandora,  which  appeared  before  Jb  ort  Victoria  in  July 
1H4(),  being  tugged  from  deep  surroundings  by  the 
(Utrmoraiit,  which  was  there  before  them,  made  a  super- 
ficial survey  of  Fuca  Strait,  and  then  sailed  scath- 
ward.  Subsequently  Kellett  became  conspicuous  by 
three  cruises  to  the  Arctic  regions,  in  search  of  Sir 
Jojui  Frankli)\ 

Besides  *he  vvar-vessels  of  the  Pacific  squadron, 
whose  officers  were  to  report  on  the  resources  and  <!on- 
(lition  of  the  country,  as  well  as  guard  their  govtjrn- 
iiu'ut's  interests  therein,  a  special  commission  of  inquiry 
was  simt  from  England  by  way  of  Canada  to  ascertain 
yet  more  definitely  what  the  Northw^est  Coast  was 
Worth,  and  how  matters  stood  there.  Two  engineers, 
lit'utenants  Warre  and  Vavasour,  were  selected  by 
tlui  government  for  this  purpose,  and  they  arrived 
at  Fort  Vancouver  in  1845  by  the  annual  express 
from  York  Factory,  that  year  in  charge  of  Cltiof 
Foi  t'     Ogden. 

Ill  iiaaitiou  to  this  commission  by  the  government, 
tliose  gentlemen  were  to  perform  a  little  secret  service 
tor  the  udson's  Bay  Company  council  in  Lcmdon 
V  ich  was  no  less  than  to  act  as  spies  on  McLough- 
'  li,  especially  in  reference  to  his  intercourse  and  deal- 
ings with  settlers  from  the  United  States. 


:i  ;l?' 


'■U 


'f, 


.,;Hj' 


.  M 


'  'Aa  I  withdrew  the  Cormorant  from  the  Northwest  Coast,  on  hearing  of 
the  iirraugement  of  tlie  Oregon  (juestion,  I  presume  none  will  he  required 
umlir  prusout  cireumstiinces  for  her  majesty's  service.'  Se^imour's  Jicpt.  to 
Adiiifii   '"-  ".,>,.  ^  House  Commona  Returm  to  'f'iiree  Addresses    1848-9,  3. 


•r-h 


m 


'11: 


f  i : 


1 


1£3  CAMOSUN,  ALBERT,  VICTORIA. 

I  do  not  doul>t  that  these  gentlemen  performed  their 
duties  conscientiously.  They  examined  the  Columbia 
River  and  the  country  sor.th  of  it;  they  visited  Puget 
Sound  and  Vancouver  Island,  and  made  a  lengthy 
report  on  its  resources;  they  spoke  of  the  coal,  the 
fisheries,  and  the  timber;  but  they  did  not  think  the 
country  wort!  fighting  for.  Their  report  concerning 
McLoughlin  was  likewise  unfavorable,  so  much  so 
that  they  sent  it  off  secretly,  without  showing  it  to 
i.im,  which  was  contrary  to  custom,  and  suspicious 
if  not  insulting.  On  the  strength  of  this  report,  tlio 
London  management  wrote  McLoughlin  a  letter  of 
reproof,  which,  though  subsequently  apologized  for, 
led  to  the  immediate  resignation  of  that  most  valu- 
able officer. 

Travelling  was  now  becoming  somewhat  dangerous 
along  the  middle  Columbia,  even  for  the  Hudson's 
Bay  people,  owing  to  animosities  arising  from  eon- 
ilicting  interests.  As  a  rule,  however  enraged  the 
savages  might  be  against  Americans,  their  faith  in  tlio 
British  fur-traders  remained  unshaken.  But  in  1844, 
when  J.  W.  McKay  first  came  to  Fort  Vancouver, 
he  found  that  the  natives  along  some  parts  of  the 
route  were  not  to  be  trusted. 

After  spending  some  time  with  Paul  Fraser,  who 
had  established  a  post  for  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Umpqua,  and  after  being  pres- 
ent at  several  political  meetings  in  Oregon,  where,  to 
his  no  small  anmsement,  he  saw  nominated  for  office 
old  servants  of  the  company,  ignorant  voyageurs,  whose 
ideas  of  government  were  but  little  above  those  of  ii 
grizzly  bear,  he  was  detailed  to  attend  on  the  officers 
of  the  British  government  in  their  examination  of  tlie 
country,  to  take  charge  of  the  baggage,  and  provide 
animals,  guides,  and  equipage.  McKay  testifies  tluit 
with  regard  to  the  Cowlitz  country  and  the  region 
between  the  Columbia  and  Fuca  Strait,  they  declaicd 
that  it  should  be  held  at  all  hazard.     If  by  this  ho 


means  tl 
expresse( 
here  inv 
which  h( 
evidence 
America! 
Northwcj 
doubtless 
sible,  wit 
for  the  g] 
i)unch-gn 
not  think 

Early  i 
certain  w 
ing  certai 
farming  a 
litz  shoulc 

There  v 
long  settle 
ish  Colun^ 
suggesting 
Yaiu'ouvei 
own  use  th 

Meanwl 

spared  fro 
natives  de 
at  work  cl 
savages  wt 
pliatically 
in  and  hel 
tl)  work,  I 
ploi'.glunen 
:ieverthele! 
all  which  t 
vari(  gated 
iiati\t's  wei 
Well  as  ot 
Their  wage 


CUNARD'S  VIEWS 


127 


means  that  such  was  the  general  and  final  impressicn 
expressed  by  the  officers  of  the  Aberdeen  ministry 
here  investigating  in  1845,  that  being  the  time  of 
which  he  speaks,  I  can  only  say  that  the  weight  of 
evidence  is  against  him.  Doubtless  botli  Britisli  and 
Americans  deemed  it  shameful  that  any  part  of  the 
Northwest  Coast  should  be  given  up  to  the  other, 
doubtless  both  would  take  and  hold  all  territory  pos- 
sible, without  actual  war ;  but  when  it  came  to  fighting 
for  the  gravelly  plains  of  the  Cowlitz  and  the  rolling 
bunch-grass  prairies  of  eastern  Washington,  they  did 
not  think  it  worth  the  while. 

Early  in  1846  McKay  was  sent  to  California  to  as- 
certain what  arrangements  might  be  made  for  obtain- 
ing certain  supplies  nearer  than  England,  in  case  the 
fanning  establishments  on  the  Columbia  and  the  Cow- 
litz should  be  given  up  to  the  United  States. 

There  were  thoughts  in  England  that  perhaps  I  -^^ore 
long  settlement  by  British  subjects  would  begin  in  Brit- 
ish Columbia;  for  about  this  time  we  find  S.  Cunard 
suggesting  to  the  admiralty,  that  in  granting  lands  on 
Vancouver  Island  the  crown  might  as  well  reserve  to  its 
own  use  the  coal-mines  already  pregnant  with  promise. 

Meanwhile  such  of  the  company's  men  as  could  be 
spared  from  the  business  of  the  fort,  as  well  as  all 
natives  desirous  of  taking  on  civilization,  were  kept 
at  W(n'k  clearing  lands  and  establishing  farms.  The 
savages  were  soon  convinced  that  in  this  instance  em- 
phatically wisdom's  ways  were  peace;  so  thoy  turned 
in  and  helped  the  white  men  r.nd  the  men  half  white 
to  work,  becoming  good  bullock-drivers,  and  bettor 
ploughmen  than  the  Canadians  cr  Kanakas,  to  whom, 
iievcitheless,  they  gave  freely  of  their  women  to  wife, 
all  wjiieh  tended  to  promote  good  behavior  among  the 
varic  gated  retainers  of  the  commercial  despots.  The 
natives  were  treated  with  strict  fairness,  being  paid  as 
well  as  other  laborers  when  they  worked  as  well. 
Their  wages  were  from  £17  to  £25  per  annum. 


'ill 


;l 


I 


■  i     I    (> 

i     1^1 

V  1'^:  I 


'■    '.!!      i 


I  mn 


128 


CAMOSUN,  ALBERT,  VICTORIA. 


fl? 


Within  three  years  after  the  beginning  of  the  fort 
there  were  under  cultivation  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  on  which  were  grown  wheat,  oats,  potatoes, 
carrots,  turnips,  and  other  vegetables,  with  a  con- 
stantly increasing  conversion  of  wild  lands.  Tlin;' 
was  a  dairy  furnishing  an  abundant  sui)ply  of  milk, 
which  took  the  place,  in  a  great  measure,  of  beer,  wine, 
and  spirits  as  a  beverage. 

By  the  end  of  1847  there  were  at  this  place  two 
dairies,  each  hiiving  seventy  cows,  which  were  milked 
twice  a  day,  the  milk  yielding  seventy  pounds  of  butter 
to  tlie  cow  each  season.  Thus  the  wild  hunters,  fish- 
ermen, and  fighters  were  fast  becoming  farmers  and 
dairymen 

In  this  year  of  1847,  on  the  fiat  where  now  nm 
the   most   prominent   business    streets,   where    stand 
the  banks,  the  post-office,  and  the  principal  business 
houses,  three  hundred  acres  were  cleared  and  under 
cultivation.     The  land  was  rich,  producing  fine  pease 
and    potatoes,    and    of  wheat   forty    bushels    to   the 
acre,  the  most  of  which  produce  was  sent  to  Sitka. 
Two  Russian  vessels  came  this  year,  and  carried  away 
from  Victoria  Harbor  over  five   thousand  bushels  of 
wheat,    beside    beef    and   mutton,    payment    for   the 
same  being  made  with  bills  of  exchange  on  St  Peters- 
burg.    Fort  Langley  likewise  contributed  to  the  lutl- 
ing  of  these  two  ships,  the   produce   being    brought 
thence   to  Victoria  Harbor  in  small   boats.     U})  to 
the  time  of  the  bargain  with  the  Russian  Amerit'un 
Fur  Company,  nothing  like  a  foreign  commerce  in 
any  articles,  other  than  those  obtained  in  the  regular 
fur   traffic,   was  ever  attempted    on    the   Northwest 
Coast.     Although  as  a  whaling  depot  tho  establish- 
ment at  Victoria  Harbt)r  was  attended  with  insignifi- 
cant success,  yet,  as  the  Venice  of  the  northern  wilds, 
the  home  anchorage  of  the   oidy  steamer  that  had 
ever  puffed  upon  those  waters,  and  the  chief  commer- 
cial  port  in  British  Pacific  America  of  the   Russian 
American  fur-traders,  it   fa;;t  budded    into    promise. 


VISIT  OF  THE  'HERALD.' 


129 


Two  or  throe  years  later  saw  clianj^es  yet  greater — 
the  seeds  of  a  city,  with  new  goods  and  new  jargons, 
with  a  cash  trade  for  goods,  as  well  as  a  fur- trade, 
wliere  merchandise  was  sold  for  monev  bv  those 
who  had  hitherto  scarcely  known  a  dollar  from  a 
ducat. 

While  the  fur-tradei'S  were  delighted  over  any^ 
thing  which  broke  the  dead  monotony  of  their  live?- 
and  were  specially  pleased  by  the  opportunity  to  en 
tcrtain  their  countrymen,  they  were  not  always  grati- 
li((l  with  the  result.  Leading,  as  they  did,  isolated  and 
sliii[)le  lives,  and  accustomed  to  indulge  only  in  plain 
words  and  honest  purposes,  they  were  often  treated 
sonicwliat  cavalierly  by  their  visitors,  while  using  the 
best  means  at  connnand  for  their  comfort  and  anmse^ 
nient.  And  when  once  the  guests  had  turned  theii 
back  upon  the  place,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  speak 
their  minds.  Thus  Seemann,  writing  for  the  officers 
of  the  Herald,  savs: 

"  There  being  no  competition,  the  company  has  it 
all  its  own  way;  it  does  not  profess  to  supi)ly  the 
public;  indeed,  although  it  does  not  object  to  sell  to 
pi'(tpl(;  situated  as  Ave  were,  yet  the  stores  are  for  the 
tiiuli'  in  furs,  to  supply  the  native  hunters  with  the 
<><)i)(ls  which  they  most  value,  as  also  for  the  use  of  its 
own  dep(3ndents,  who,  receiving  little  pay,  are  usually 
in  debt  to  the  company,  and  are  therefore  nmch  in  its 
pnwcr.  In  fact,  the  people  employed  are  rarely  those 
til  wlu  ni  returning  home  is  an  object;  they  have 
mostly  been  taken  from  poverty,  and  have  at  all 
events  food  and  ch)thing.  The  work  is  hard,  but 
witli  health  and  strength  this  is  a  blessino-  ratlier  than 
(itbeiwise.  Want  of  white  women  ap]>ears  U)  b(^  tlie 
(liawi)ack  to  this  prospect  of  success,  and  generally 
leads  to  connections  with  the  natives,  from  which 
Hl'iing  lialf-castes,  who  from  the  sp>  rimens  W'j  saw 
appear  to  inlierit  the  vices  of  both  races;  they  are 
active  and  shrewd,  but  violent  and  coarse,  while 
neither  their  education  nor  conduct  admits  thom  ir.to 


!;«  i? 


t  ' 


m 

m 

111 

'■■!■' 

' 

; 

'I 

-'  "I'll 


^^t 


Ilisr.  ItiiiT.  Coi,.    y 


130 


CAMOSUN,  ALBERT,  VICTORIA 


the  society  of  the  European  settlers.  This  must  en- 
gender a  bad  state  of  feehng,  and  might  be  remedied 
by  taking  more  pains  with  the  education  and  training 
of  these  hardy  and  enterprising,  yet  more  than  half- 
brutaUzed,  people.  We  felt  quite  disgusted  in  seeing 
one  of  these  half-castes,  bearing  as  good  a  name  as 
any  in  Scotland,  beating  and  kicking  a  score  of  Indians 
out  of  the  fort  with  as  little  compunction  as  if  they 
had  been  dogs,  scorning  them  as  natives,  though  his 
mother  had  been  taken  from  one  of  their  tribe,  and 
had  been  no  more  educated  than  they  were." 

Thus  slowly  toward  a  more  illustrious  destiny  pro- 
ceeded affairs  at  Fort  Victoria.  Though  no  danger 
was  apprehended  from  the  natives,  watch  was  usually 
kept  at  night  inside  the  pickets,  where  the  hourly 
cry  of  "All  is  well!"  told  the  conscious  sleepers  that 
the  sentinel  was  on  duty,^  for,  failing  to  hear  the 
cry,  the  sleepers  would  awake.  Thus  silently  aroused 
one  night  while  on  a  professional  visit  to  this  post, 
Douglas  caught  a  Kanaka  watchman  endeavoring  to 
unlock  the  door  of  the  storehouse,  probably  for  rum, 
but  surely  for  no  good  purpose.  Next  morning  he 
was  tied  to  a  tree  and  given  three  dozen  lashes,  and 
sent  to  work,  nevermore  to  be  trusted. 

The  natural  advantages  of  this  locality  were  ndt 
slow  to  be  recognized,  even  by  the  aboriginals.  Al- 
though each  fort  had  its  district,"  and  the  inhabitants 
of  each  district  were  expected  to  trade  at  their  own 
post,  yet  so  much  more  convenient  was  Victoria  to 
many  points,  and  so  much  better  was  the  stock  of 
goods  kept  there,  that  tne  trade  of  this  station  rapidly 
increased  beyond  its  legitimate  dependencies. 

''  This  upon  the  authority  of  William  John  Macdonald,  senator,  who  was 
with  tlie  company  eight  years.  B.  C.  Sketches,  MS.,  30. 

*For  example,  Niaqually  extended  from  the  Chehalis  River  to  WhiMhey 
Island;  Langloy  from  Whidbey  Islaml  to  Milbank  Sound;  McLoughliu  fiDin 
Milbank  Souncl  to  tlio  Sheena  River;  and  Simpson  from  Skecna  River  to  the 
Alaskan  boundary.  After  McLouahlin  was  aI<andoned,  the  territory  formerly 
occupied  by  that  post  was  covered  by  the  neighboring  establishments.  /'<«• 
i-.y.mis  nist.  V.  /.,  MS.,  87. 


PAUL  KANE. 


in 


Artists  and  ethnologists  are  common  enough  now 
on  the  Northwest  Coast,  but  it  was  not  so  when  in 
1846  Paul  Kane  appeared  in  these  parts,  having  come 
over  from  Canada  with  portfolio,  paint-box,  and  gun 
as  his  sole  companions.  The  party  to  which  he  had 
attached  himself  in  crossing  the  mountains,  consisted 
of  Mr  Lane  and  wife,  Mr  Charles,  then  a  clerk  in  the 
service  appointed  to  a  western  post,  Mr  McGillivray, 
and  sixteen  men. 

Douglas  and  Ogden  then  reigned  at  Fort  Van- 
couver with  ten  clerks  and  two  hundred  men.  A 
policeman  in  the  form  of  her  majesty's  ship  Modeste 
was  stationed  in  the  river  before  the  fort.  At  Oregon 
( 'ity  Kane  met  McKinlay,  who  told  him  his  Walla 
Walla  gunpowder  story,  and  also  another  describing 
how  he  recovered  some  stolen  tobacco  when  stationed 
in  New  Caledonia.  He  had  but  three  pounds,  and 
its  loss  was  serious.  Summoning  all  the  Indians  about 
the  fort,  he  ordered  each  there  present  to  place  to  his 
mouth  the  muzzle  of  his  gun,  and  then  to  blow  in  it. 
None  who  were  innocent  would  be  harmed,  but  the 
head  of  him  who  was  guilty  of  the  theft  would  be 
blown  to  atoms.  Setting  the  example  himself,  the 
one  nearest  him  blew  into  his  gun,  and  the  next,  and 
so  on  until  all  had  done  so  except  one  man,  who  when 
it  came  his  turn,  hung  his  head,  confessed  his  crime, 
and  restored  the  stolen  property. 

After  sufficiently  studying  the  missionaries  and 
Chinooks,  Kane  proceeded  by  way  of  Nisqually  to 
Fort  Victoria,  where  he  was  kindly  welcomed  by  Mr 
Finlayson.  After  about  a  year  upon  the  coast  Kar.e 
returned  and  wrote  a  very  readable  book,'' 

The  farms  and  gardens  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Victoria  were  radiant.  Besides  grain  and  vegetables, 
there  were  fruits  and  flowers  in  abundance,  all  healthy 
hut  not  heavy,  for  it  could  scarcely  be  said  that  the 
soil  had   ever   yet   been   fairly  ploughed,  but  only 

'  Wanderings  of  an  Artist  among  the  Indiana  qf  North  America,  frovi 
Canada  to  Vancouver's  Island  and  Oregon,  through  tlie  Hudson's  Hay  Com- 
pany's Territory  and  back  again.     With  a  map  and  colored  illustrations. 


11  n 

P 

fTi 

']' 

!^ 

fr 

;  .4     '^  ! 

:    "i 

!  i :      -at 


m\ 


w 


I  ■  ■[  I. 


'■    \ 


"i^ 


i'*  ^\{\l 


132 


CAMOSUN,  ALBERl",  VICTORIA. 


scratched.  While  trading  in  furs,  attention  was  like- 
wise directed  to  fisheries,  Eraser  River  now  exporting 
annually  from  one  to  two  thousand  barrels  of  salted 
salmon. 

When  Paul  Kane  was  there  making  his  sketching 
excursions  in  the  neighborhood,  finding  clover  abun- 
dant ho  supposed  it  "to  have  sprung  from  accidental 
seeds  which  had  fallen  from  packages  of  goods  brought 
from  England,  many  of  which  are  made  up  in  hay." 
Not  a  very  brilliant  supposition;  for  so  correct  an 
artist,  not  to  say  naturalist,  should  know  wild  from 
tame  clover  without  supposing. 

"  The  interior  of  the  island,"  Kane  continues,  "  has 
not  been  explored  to  any  extent  except  by  the  Indians, 
who  represent  it  as  badly  supplied  with  water  in  the 
summer,  and  the  water  obtained  from  a  well  dug  at 
the  fort  was  found  to  be  too  brackish  for  use.  The  ap- 
pearance of  the  interior,  when  seen  from  the  coast,  is 
rocky  and  mountainous,  evidently  volcanic ;  the  trees 
are  large,  principally  oak  and  pine.  The  timbers  of 
a  vessel  of  some  magnitude  were  being  got  out.  TJie 
establishment  is  very  large,  and  must  eventually  be- 
come the  great  depot  for  the  business  of  the  company. 
They  had  ten  white  men  and  forty  Indians  engaged 
in  building  new  stores  and  warehouses." 

One  day,  while  sketching  not  far  distant  from  tlic 
fort,  Kane  discovered,  stretched  naked  on  tlie  rocks, 
the  body  of  a  young  female  slave  slain  and  thrown 
to  the  vultures  by  her  mistress.  The  artist  recognized 
the  victim  as  a  comely  maiden  whom  he  had  seen  a 
few  days  before  in  perfect  health.  Notifying  Finlay- 
8on,  the  two  visited  the  lodge  of  the  mistress,  who 
was  accused  of  the  murder. 

"Of  course  I  killed  her.  Why  should  I  not?  She 
was  my  slave,"  replied  the  woman. 

"  She  was  far  better  than  you,"  replied  Finlayson. 

'Whatl"  exclaimed  the  female,  now  furious  witli 

rage,  "I,  the  daughter  of  a  chief,  no  better  than  a 

slave!"  and  wrapping  herself  in   her  filthy  dignity. 


slie  st 
tliereai 
human 
matron 
as  indi 
liumani 

Long 

was  lait 

chief  fo 

Victorif 

head  of 

outside 

But  sho 

liiiuselfj 

Work,  a 

a  little  I 

iiridnfe. 

buildings 

slowly  t 

wluirf  on 

At  th( 

serves:  ' 

togetlier 

Avitli  a  st 


'  Araterial 
is,  tlioro  was 
cliaptcr  is  cli: 
Jly  aiitlioritit 
Kiirthurnt  Co 
J"iirmil,  MS. 
Prirntc  Pape, 
-Vc/r  Catednni 
'■''/S  209;  M,i 

JI'izlift'.H  B.  C 
If-  li.  Co.  Am 
■11"  I'.l;   WmU 


»;'i^ 


JAMES  BAY. 


133 


ii 


she  stalked  from  their  presence,  and  a  few  days 
tliereafter  moved  from  that  locality.  Almost  as  in- 
human in  the  treatment  of  her  slave  as  are  civilized 
matrons  in  their  treatment  of  outcasts,  she  was  almost 
as  indignant  as  they  when  reproved  by  the  voice  of 
humanity. 


Long  after  settlement  set  in,  long  after  the  town 
was  laid  out  and  city-building  begun,  the  fort  was  the 
cliief  feature  of  the  place.  "  Upon  my  first  visit  to 
Victoria  in  1849,"  says  Mayne,  "a  small  dairy  at  the 
head  of  James  Bay  was  the  only  building  standing 
outside  the  fort  pickets,  which  are  now  demolished. 
]3ut  shortly  after,  upon  Mr  Douglas'  arrival,  he  built 
liimself  a  house  on  the  south  side  of  James  Bay;  and  Mr 
Work,  another  chief  factor  of  the  company,  arriving 
a  little  later,  erected  another  in  Rock  Bay,  above  the 
hridge.  These  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  little  group  of 
buiMings,  which  rose  about  and  between  them  so 
slowly  that  even  in  1857  there  was  but  one  small 
Avharf  on  the  harbour's  edge." 

At  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  April  18G1,  Good  ob- 
serves: "The  old  fort  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
togotlier  with  several  old  buildings,  all  surrounded 
Avitli  a  strong  picket  palisade,  still  remained."^ 

"  Material  for  thia  part  of  British  Columbia  history  is  meagre.  Tho  tnith 
is,  there  was  little  going  on  at  the  time  at  Fort  Victoria,  to  which  thia 
tliaptiT  is  chietly  devoteiT,  except  the  usual  routine  at  sucli  establishments. 
My  authorities  are,  Finldi/Koii'fi  Hid.  V.  I.,  MS.,  2.5,  .S'2-41;  Andersons  Iliit. 
Xwtliwe^t  ('exist,  MS.,  110-12;  McKay's  Rec,  MS.,  2-5;  Jhuijlas'  Private 
Jiiunml,  MS.,  passim;  Cooper's  Mnrntime  Mntters,  ilS.,  1-2;  MfLowjhliHs 
Prirntc  Pupers,  AIS.,  ser.  ii.,  1,3;  Jirit.  Col.  Sketches,  MS.,  21-2,  .S2-3;  To<l'a 
Xcir  Cfita/oniit,  MS.,  21-3;  McKinlai/s  Nar.,  MS.,  8;  Paul  Kane's  Wandev' 
ittjx,  209;  Mai/ne's  B.  C,  30;  Mari/sville  Cat.  Apjwil,  Sept.  17,  1875;  Ore,jnn 
Si><Tt,ifnr,  Nov.  2G,  184G;  Sandwich  Island  News,  ii.  23;  llmmson's  Jfcpt.,  36; 
IhtzUil's  B.  C,  215-1();  London  Times,  Aug.  27,  1858;  House  Commons  Rept., 
II.  Ii.  Co.  Affairs,  1857,  208,  290;  Good's  B.  C,  MS.,  2;  Findlay's  Direct.,  L 
417  l'.>;   Wwldinijton's  Fraser  Riv.  Mines,  31;  Macjie's  V.  I.  andB.  €.,  58. 


I     I 


,U, 


f: 


*'i 


1 1 


\\\ 


:i 


;1> 


-Mi 


Ii'' 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE   SHUSHWAP   CONSPIRACY. 

1846. 

Eamloop — The  Old  Foet  and  the  New — The  Romance  of  Fue-teadino — 
The  Lobdly  Aboriginal  and  his  Home — John  Tod,  Kino  op  K^m- 
LOOP— His  Physique  and  Ciiaeactee — Lolo,  a  Rdlee  among  tub 
Shushwaps — Who  and  What  He  was — His  Kingdom  foe  a  Horse- 
Annual  Salmon  Expedition  to  the  Frasee— Information  of  thk 
Conspiracy — Lolo  Retires  from  befoee  his  Friends — Tod  to  the 
Rescue — One  Man  against  Tueeb  Hundeed  —  Shall-pox  as  a 
Weapon — A  Signal  Victoey- -Chief  Nicola  Measuees  Wits  with 
Me  Tod — And  is  Found  Wanting. 

John  Tod  reigned  at  Kamloop.  John  Tod  was  a 
chief  trader  in  the  service  of  the  Honorable  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  and  Fort  Kamloop  was  the  capital  of 
the  Thompson  River  district  bordering  on  New  Cale- 
donia. The  establishment  was  one  of  the  oldest  in 
all  the  Oregon  or  Northwest  Coast  region,  dating 
back  to  the  days  of  the  dashing  Northwest  Company, 
when  with  posts  planted  side  by  side,  the  two  great 
rival  associations  fought  for  the  favor  of  the  savage, 
and  for  the  skins  of  his  wild  beasts. 

Thero  were  two  forts  which  bore  this  name,  the 
old  and  the  new,  both  situated  at  the  junction  of  the 
two  great  branches  of  Thompson  River  with  the 
eastern  end  of  Kamloop  Lake,  one  on  the  north  side 
and  the  other  on  the  south.  Old  Fort  Kamloop  was 
first  called  Fort  Thompson,  having  been  begun  by 
David  Thompson,  astronomer  of  the  Northwest  Com- 
pany, on  his  overland  journey  from  Montreal  to  As- 
toria, by  way  of  Yellowhead  Pass  in  1810. 

Next  upon  the  ground,  after  Thompson,  was  AleX' 

(134) 


ander 

on  beh 

coaliti( 

compai 

McLec 

from  1 

1828,  \ 

of  the 

the  for 

.scechin, 

their  fr 

in    j)ilc6 

and  nia; 

turers  ( 

been  at 

so  far;  j 

governo 

Kiver. 

A   th 
liang  ro 
officer   i 
brother 
ing  bota 
one  niuh 
stigniati; 
ing  a  so 
astic  pu| 
and  so  t 
but  only 
into  a  pi 
bound, 
was  but 
fi'Jelity  t 
winter  of 
he    was 
friendly 
liaving  ch 
It  was 
on  the  oj 


BLACK  AND  DOUGLAS. 


135 


111 


aiider  Ross,  who  in  1812  conducted  operations  there 
on  behalf  of  Astor's  Pacific  Fur  Company.  After  the 
coalition  of  the  Northwest  and  the  Hudson's  Bay 
companies  in  1821,  we  find  the  fur  veteran  John 
McLeod  in  charge  of  the  Thompson  Kiver  district, 
from  1822  to  182G.  Ermatinger  presided  tliere  hi 
I  828,  when  Sir  George  Simpson,  the  illustrious  front 
of  the  fur  traffic  in  British  America,  dropped  in  upon 
the  fort  and  harangued  the  assembled  redskins,  be- 
seeching them  to  be  honest,  temperate,  frugal,  to  love 
their  friends  the  fur-traders,  and  above  all  to  bring 
in  piles  of  peltries,  and  receive  therefor  the  useful 
iuul  magnificent  trinkets  which  the  honorable  adven- 
turers of  England  trading  into  Hudson  Bay  had 
l)een  at  so  much  cost  and  pains  to  bring  them  from 
so  far;  after  which  pretty  piece  of  artless  subtlety  the 
ii,()vernor  continued  his  perilous  descent  of  Eraser 
River. 

A  thousand  thrilling  and  romantic  associations 
liang  round  the  place.  It  was  there  the  company's 
orticer  in  command,  Samuel  Black,  challenged  his 
brother  Scot  and  guest,  David  Douglas,  the  wander- 
ing botanist,  to  fight  a  duel,  because  the  blunt  visitor 
one  night,  while  over  his  rum  and  dried  salmon,  had 
stigmatized  the  honorable  fur-traders  as  not  possess- 
ing a  soul  above  a  beaver-skin.  But  the  enthusi- 
astic pupil  of  Hooker  preferred  to  fight  another  day, 
and  so  took  his  departure  next  morning  unharmed, 
but  only  to  meet  his  death  shortly  after  by  falling 
into  a  pit  at  the  Hawaiian  Islands  while  homeward 
bound.  Likewise  may  we  say,  poor  Black  I  For  it 
WHS  but  a  short  time  after  this  chivalrous  display  of 
fidelity  to  his  company,  that  is  to  say,  during  the 
winter  of  1841-2,  while  residing  at  the  old  fort,  that 
lie  was  cruelly  assassinated  by  the  ne[)hew"  of  a 
fiiciiidly  neigliboring  chief,  named  Wanquille,  for 
lui\  ing  charmed  his  uncle's  life  away. 

It  was  Black's  successor  who  built  the  new  fort 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.     The   new  estab- 


;;ii!!^ 


.1 


f.  *"!;■ 


186 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


lishmcnt  difFcrod  little  from  the  later  built  fortresses 
of  the  fur  company;  some  seven  houses,  consistin<r 
of  stores,  dwellings,  and  shops,  were  enclosed  in  pali- 
sades fifteen  feet  in  height,  with  gates  on  two  sides, 
and  bastions  at  two  opposite  angles.  To  the  older 
establishment,  beside  the  compact  and  palisaded  block- 
house, were  attached  stockades  for  animals;  for  hero 
hundreds  of  fine  horses  were  yearly  bred  for  the 
transport  service,  which  formerly  was  by  boats  from 
Fort  Vancouver  to  Okanagan,  and  thence  by  horses, 
in  bands  of  two  or  three  hundred,  to  Kamloop  and 
Fort  Alexandria,  on  Fraser  River,  whence  to  Fort 
St  James  canoes  were  again  employed.  It  was 
a  sight  never  hereafter  to  be  repeated,  two  hun- 
dred horses  laden  with  rich  peltries,  winding  down 
the  mountains,  through  rugged  passes  and  over  the 
waving  plain,  on  toward  the  smoother  highways  of 
commerce,  along  which  are  interchanged  the  varied 
comforts  of  the  world.  Later,  the  route  of  the  semi- 
annual brigade  from  the  districts  of  New  Caledonia, 
Thompson  River,  Okanagan,  and  the  Columbia,  was 
from  Kamloop  to  Fort  Hope  on  the  Fraser,  and 
thence  by  boat  to  Langley  and  Fort  Victoria  on 
Vancouver  Island,  now  rapidly  becomuig  the  metro- 
politan post  of  British  Columbia.  Seven  tribes 
traded  at  this  post  when  it  was  first  built,  namely 
the  gentle  Atnah,  the  lively  Kootenai,  the  chivalrous 
Okanagan,  the  surly  Similkameen,  the  fierce,  vin- 
dictive Tee t,  the  treacherous  Nicoutamuch,  besides  the 
always  hospitable  and  friendly  Kamloop.  All  these 
nations  were  members  of  the  family  Shush wap.  These, 
however,  were  not  all  regular  visitors,  nor  permanent 
in  their  patronage.  The  simple-minded  and  ingen- 
uous savage  knew  every  trick  of  the  trade,  and  where 
opposition  was,  there  were  gathered  his  peltries. 

The  rough  rolling  surface  of  the  Kamloop-Shushwap 
plateau  with  its  frequent  depressions,  is  for  the  most 
part  open  and  grassy,  with  occasional  patches  of  scat- 
tering trees  thickening  at  still  wider  intervals  into 


forests, 
an   oper 
river-bc( 
silently 
hot,  the 
plain  an 
s])reads 
supply  o 


..^--if-riV 


<*'■•■•  I',-       cl,i 


elbowing  i 
it  presents 
of  alder  a 


the  P 
Ri 


apay 
ver,  arc 


goi'ge  or  v; 
cliti;  bound 


THE  FRASER  HEREABOUT. 


187 


forests,  and  all  made  bright  and  eye-compelling  by 
an  open  sky  and  silvery  waters,  here  dancing  in 
river-beds,  and  there  in  mirroring  Likes  softly  and 
silently  bringing  down  heaven.  The  summers  are 
hot,  the  winters  cold;  the  early  spring  enrobes  both 
plain  and  mountain  in  grass  and  flowers,  and  autumn 
spreads  before  the  phlegmatic  aboriginal  a  bounteous 
supply  of  food.     Thompson  River  is  sometimes  seen 


The  Shusuwap  Countbt. 

elbowing  its  way  among  the  rocks,  but  more  frequently 
it  pi'cscnts  itself  glittering  between  rich  green  borders 
of  alder  and  willow.  Between  Fort  Kamloop  and 
the  Papayou,  or  the  Fountain  we  will  say,  on  Fraser 
River,  are  light  sandy  plains,  with  here  and  there  a 
gorge  or  valley  running  parallel  with  the  river,  a  rocky 
cliff,  bounding  s,  valley  covered  with  long  grass,  clumps 


'1(1 


I 

til! 


'■IH 


■  I 


i: 


;     ,1 

!  ■  ■  ;■• 


'I 


^ 


li    I 


"t    i 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 

of  bushes  and  trees,  all  ^rowin*^  wilder  and  more  pro- 
nounced as  the  rugged  chasm  of  the  Fraser  is  ap 
j)roached.  Trap  and  basalt  blufl's  occasionally  reach 
over  the  border  of  the  lake  into  which  the  rivci 
broadens  on  leaving  the  fort,  the  plateau  rising  behind 
in  terraces.  Everywhere  the  scenery  is  bold  and 
varied,  and  the  heart  of  man  struggles  ever  outwaid 
to  meet  it.  And  as  many  others  before  and  since 
have  there  ruled,  John  Tod  reigned  at  Kamloop. 
His  kingdom  was  not  extensive  exce})t  in  so  far  as 
space  was  concerned.  All  above  and  below  was  his; 
and  on  either  side,  surely  as  far  into  the  wilderness 
as  he  should  choose  to  go.  His  subjects  were  not 
numerous,  if  we  deduct  the  savages,  the  bears,  and 
the  beavers;  there  were  with  him  at  the  fort  during' 
this  spring  of  184(5,  besides  the  dusky  mother  of  his 
three  dusky  little  ones,  only  half  a  dozen  men  and  a 
half-breed  boy. 

Jolni  Tod  was  not  a  handsome  man;  neither  was 
he  learned,  nor  polished,  nor  to  any  considerable  extent 
durably  refined  or  remodelled  by  civilii.ation.  He  was 
one  of  some  two  thousand  Scotchmen,  who,  coming  into 
America  and  turning  themselves  out  into  primitive 
pastures,  fell  back  somewhat  upon  the  early  ways  of 
mankind,  and  became  what  in  the  wilds  of  the  North- 
west might  be  called  European  savages.  Tall,  bony, 
and  wiry,  he  did  not,  like  McLoughlin  and  Douglas, 
present  a  physique  at  once  powerful  and  commandinj;'; 
yet  when  in  the  administration  of  fur-trading  justice 
his  right  arm  was  driven  down  from  the  shoulder  hv 
righteous  wrath  and  with  spasmodic  force,  the  red 
nobles  of  his  suzerainty  fell  before  it  like  tenpins. 
There  was  a  superstition  abroad  among  the  savages 
that  they  could  not  kill  him.  Had  he  not  been  hunted, 
starved,  cut  at,  and  shot  at  by  warriors  whose  aim 
and  cunning  had  never  hitherto  failed  them  ?  ITpoii 
a  small  neck  rising  from  sloping  shoulders  was  set 
a  head  narrow  and  high,  which  a  half-century  of  con- 
stant exposure  to  the  rigors  of  a  New  Caledonian 


JOHN  TOD. 


'ii 

1  m]  Hj^ 

■•hi 

climate  had  warped  a  little,  and  made  otherwise  awry. 
The  light  brown  hair  was  not  long,  falling  ovur  the 
shoulders  in  carefully  greased  waves  or  curls,  so  com- 
iiiDuly  seen  among  the  free  trappers  oi.  frontiers;  nor 
was  it  short  like  a  prize-fighter's;  it  was  of  medium 
length,  somewhat  stiff,  in  places  matted,  and  on  the 
whole  tolerably  well  kept  in  dishevelled  Hudson's 
hay  respe(!tability.  Above  a  broad,  straight  Scotch 
nose,  and  high  cheek-bones,  were  glittering  gray  eyes, 
which  Hashed  perpetual  fun  and  intelligence.  And 
the  mouth  I  Support  me,  O  my  nmse!  What  an 
opening  for  gin  and  eloquence!  Had  the  mouth  been 
small,  the  mighty  brain  above  it  would  have  burst;  as 
it  was,  the  stream  of  communication  once  set  flow- 
ing, and  every  limb  and  fibre  of  the  body  talked,  the 
bliizing  eyes,  the  electrified  hail,  tuiu  the  well-poised 
tongue  all  dancing  attendance.  It  was  a  trick  the 
fur-traders  early  fell  into,  that  of  copying  from  sav- 
agisiu  its  aids  to  declamation.  Tod  could  no  more  tell 
his  story  seated  in  a  chair  than  he  could  fly  to  Jupiter 
while  chained  to  the  rock  of  Gibraltar;  arms,  legs, 
and  vertebra3  were  all  brought  into  requisition,  while 
high-hued  information,  bonmed  with  broad  oaths,  burst 
from  his  breast  like  lava  from  Etna. 

But  although  among  earth's  pretty  ones,  among 
the  starched  and  veneered  of  broadways  and  boule- 
vards, his  angular  contour  and  disjointed  gait  presented 
anything  but  an  imposing  appearance,  yet  John  Tod 
was  built  a  man  from  the  ground  upward,  and  those 
wit) I  eyes  might  see  in  him  a  king,  ay,  one  every  inch 
a  kintf. 

Xotable  now  and  for  many  years  afterward  through- 
out these  parts  was  a  whitewashed  savage,  a  Shush wap, 
likewise  a  king  in  his  way,  christened  l>y  the  company 
St  l^aul,  and  by  the  Catholic  priests  Jean  Baptiste 
Lolo.  The  Shush waps  frequented  Kamloop  almost 
as  much  as  they  did  the  lake  that  bears  their  name. 
Their  passion  was  finery ;  they  loved  it  more  than  liquor. 
Indeed,  before  the  advent  of  the  miners,  beside  whose 


P- 


)■■    I 


4M 


i  i  i;  , 


!    V 


i 


140 


THE  SHUStlWAP  CO>,\SriRACY. 


inud-colorerl  clothes  tlie  briolit  vestures  of  the  native;, 
shoiie  hke  the  lainbovv  on  '".  thuntlcr-laden  sky,  tlio 
interior  tribes  did  not  wallow  in  drunkenness  like  thiir 
relatives  along  the  coast,  but  rather  affected  hors(.\s, 
and  a  wardrobe  in  Vvdiich.  were  conspicuous  caps  with 
gay  ribl)()ns,  scarlet  leggings,  and  rod  sashes,  and  for 
the  women  bright-colored  skirts,  and  gaudy  '  andker- 
chiefs  for  the  head. 

Although  Lolo  had  been  thus  doubly  baptized,  he 
was  not  yet  wholly  clean.  There  was  much  of  the 
aboriginal  Adam  still  in  him;  yet  he  was  always  ready 
to  serve  the  god  of  the  fur  company,  or  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, whenever  he  could  make  it  pay;  everything 
being  equal,  however,  he  preferred  his  own.  In  phy- 
sique he  was  large,  with  fine  bold  features,  a  Roman 
nose  with  dilated  nostrils  being  prominent.  His 
black  eyes  displayed  a  melancholy  cunning  rather 
than  ferocity,  though  at  times  they  were  restless 
and  piercing. 

His  permanent  dwelling  was  a  substantial  liut 
situated  near  the  old  fort,  and  in  which  he  lived  and 
reared  his  family  and  ruled  his  nation  long  after  eivil- 
izat*ion  liad  filled  the  Kamloop  Plains  with  farmers. 
His  authority  among  his  peojih' was  absolute;  even 
after  ohl  age  and  si<kness  had  sent  liim  [)ermanently 
to  his  bed,  the  naked  sword  and  loaded  gun  beneath 
his  pillow,  or  ever  within  his  reach,  were  a  terror  to 
the  most  distant  member  of  his  tribe.  He  was  a  man 
of  intellect  and  nerve  as  well  as  of  personal  })roW('ss. 
The  Cv<mpany's  trade  jargon  did  not  satisfy  him  in  liis 
intercourse  with  white  men,  and  so  he  learned  Cana- 
dian French,  which  he  spoke  fluently  in  later  life. 
Some  time  after  the  events  recorded  in  this  chapter, 
believing  something  at  fault  about  his  knee-joint, 
thinking  perhaps  it  needed  scraping,  and  having  little 
faith  in  medicine-men,  red  or  white,  little  by  littk'  as 
he  could  bear  it,  with  his  own  hand  he  cut  the  Hcsh 
away,  bored  through  the  bone,  and  kept  open  for  a 
time  the  wound  by  forcing  water  through  it.     He  was 


a  great  lo 
two  for  hlf 

Lt)lo's 
renown;  fi 
lived  there 
and  for  a 
still  enjoye 
of  the  Hu 
Kamloop, 
Lolo  not 
dutiful  son 
more  consic 
the  whims 
as  for  fame 
sea,  did  nol 
Now,  in 
and  the  rec 
iiig  and  rec 
Lolo  was    1 
afterward. 

One    hors 

thive  hund] 

coveted.      I 

duiT  any  ha 

ohstinate  ir 

should  not 

the  ruh'i'  of 

It  was  tl 

a  party  froi 

Miilos  distal 

known  as  t 

sulisistonce 

iiativos.     If 

should   lead 

two  soverei] 

"Ale  von 

"Theyar 

"Have  tl 

"Yes." 


LOLO. 


141 


^^^^ 

P 

i 

i 

':'f 

'■/■B  ■ 

;•  iS 

•:>p' 

i         ': 

i'i^ 

!  11'! 


ail 

■>s. 
lis 
la- 

vr, 
It, 


tl 


as 

■sli 

f  a 

as 


ii  great  lover  of  horses,  and  usually  kept  a  score  or 
two  for  his  own  use. 

Lolo's  days  were  not  few,  nor  did  his  name  lack 
ivnown;  for  twenty  years  before  Tod's  time  he  had 
lived  there  on  friendly  terms  with  the  fur-traders, 
and  for  a  dozen  years  thereafter  his  rusty  old  body 
still  enjoyed  the  blessings  of  sunlight.  To  the  honor 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  officers  statiojied  a*t 
Kauiloop,  be  it  said  that  in  his  old  age  they  treated 
Loll)  not  alone  with  kindness,  but  with  respect.  A. 
dutiful  son  to  an  aged  parent  could  not  liave  been 
more  considerate  than  was  McLean  in  ministering  to 
the  whims  and  desires  of  this  ancient  savage.  And 
as  for  fame — who,  from  the  llocky  Mountains  t(j  the 
sea,  did  not  know  of  Lolo  ? 

Now,  in  this  year  184G  the  two  kings,  the  white 
and  the  red,  were  in  their  prime;  Tod  was  domineer- 
ing and  reckless,  not  knowing  tlie  name  of  fear,  and 
L(»l()  was  not  so  wealthy  in  women  and  horses  as 
afterward. 

One  liorse  in  particular,  the  best  of  a  baud  of 
tliice  hundred  belonging  to  the  fort,  Lolo  had  long 
coveted.  He  would  give  anything  for  that  horse,  en- 
(\mv  any  hardship,  kill  any  })erson.  Tod  was  equally 
iilistinate  in  his  refusal  to  part  with  it;  the  savage 
.slidiild  not  have  the  horse;  second  best  u.ust  suffice 
till'  luli'r  of  redskins. 

It  was  the  custom  every  spring  ov  suunner  to  send 
a  luirty  from  Kandoop  to  the  .Popayou,  seventy-six 
!iiilrs  distant  on  Fraser  liiver,  near  what  was  later 
known  as  the  Fountain,  to    procure    for    the    vear's 
siilisistf,  nee    salmon  there  caught    and  cured    by  the 
iiativos.     It    had    been  agreed   this  year    that   IjoIo 
slioidd  lead  the  party  for  the  nmtual  benefit  of  the 
two  sovereignties. 
"Are  your  men  ready?"  asked  Tod  one  day. 
"Tlicy  are  ready,"  replied  Lolo. 
"  Have  the  horses  been  driven  in  and  hobbled?" 
"Ves." 


Mini 


142 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


"The  men  will   leave  day  after  to-morrow,  befoiv 
dayliujlit." 

"Very  good." 

The  second  night  after  the  departure  of  the  ex])(> 
dition,  just  as  the  chief  trader  was  about  retiring,  a 
knock  was  hoard  at  the  door.  Besides  himself  and 
family  and  the  half-breed  boy,  there  was  not  a  soul 
about  the  place;  every  man  was  with  the  expedition, 
and  as  the  country  was  at  peace,  even  the  fort  gatts 
were  not  fastened  at  night. 

"Come  in,"  exclaimed  Tod. 

Slowly  tlie  door  opens  a  few  inches  until  the  black 
eyes  of  Lolo  were  seen  glistening  at  the  aperture. 
Though  amazed  bevond  measure,  and  fearful  lest  some 
misfortune  had  happened  to  the  party,  Tod  was  Indian 
enough  never  to  be  thrown  so  far  out  «>f  balance  as 
to  manifest  surprise  at  anything.  He  continued  to 
busy  himself  as  if  the  unwelcome  appswntlon  at  the 
door  was  but  part  of  his  prcparatif»ns  for  bed.  Never- 
theless, waves  of  unquietness  began  to  roll  over  liis 
breast,  ready  to  break  out  in  w-ath  or  subside  in 
resignation,  as  the  case  might  require,  for  Tod  ^^as 
not  a  patient  man,  nor  slow  of  speech,  nor  soft  ef 
words;  and  for  all  tlii^  rascally  redskins  thi«  side 
of  i^erdition  he  would  not  \onrr  remain  the  savage  stoic. 
But  U])on  occasion,  the  Gaelic  lion  could  play  the  lanili, 
provided  the  period  of  enduranct   were  reasonable. 

Left  to  JiiniKelf,  the  Shushwstp  chief  pushed  o[>*n 
the  door  and  slowly  entered.  For  several  minutes  he 
stood  bolt  U|)right  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  until  at 
length  Tod  motioned  him  to  a  seat  beside  the  taMe, 
and  shoved  toward  him  pipe  aiid  tobacco. 

"Your  family  will  be  glad  to  see  you,"  Tod  fiiiallv 
remarked,  wondering  more  than  ever  what  had  luip- 
pened  t<^  the  party,  and  why  he  had  returned,  and 
cursing  in  his  heart  the  savage  conventionalism  whieh 
dei)as<-?d  a  man  frmn  any  manifestion  of  curiositv. 

■'Tlie  sorrel  horse  I  spoke  to  you  about,"  reidied 


THAT  SORREL  HORSE. 


143 


tlic  chief.     "I  should   like    to  have  that  horse,  Mr 
Tod." 

"  The  river  has  risen  a  little  since  yesterday,"  ob- 
s(!rved  Tod. 

"For  twenty  years  I  have  followed  the  fortunes  of 
t!io  Hudson's  Bay  Company,"  continued  Lolo.  "I 
lijive  shared  my  store  of  food  with  them,  warned  them 
of  dangers,  attended  them  in  perils,  and  never  before 
have  I  been  denied  a  request." 

"Fill  your  pipe,"  said  Tod. 

"Alas I  my  wives  and  little  ones,"  still  sighed  the 
savage.  "Though  I  am  old  and  not  afraid  to  die, 
thoy  are  young  and  helpless ;  what  would  become  of 
tlicin  should  thi^-  evil  befall;  where  will  they  go?" 

"What  the  devil  is  the  matter?"  now  blurted  Tod, 
thrown  sudde  '  back  by  Lolo's  gibberish  from  high 
forest  reticem  i  >  the  conventional  speech  of  chris- 
tcMidom.  "  Who  talks  of  dying ?  Where  are  the  men  ? 
Why  have  you  returned?     Speak!" 

"Matter  enough,"  answered  the  chief,  who  now 
cliangod  his  tone  from  that  of  whining  lament  to  one 
of  surly  concern.  "  When  near  our  destination  we  mot 
a  \i)uiig  chief  of  the  Atnahs,  who,  drawing  mo  aside, 
informed  me  that  his  father,  who  is  a  friend  of  mine, 
had  .'iitered  into  a  conspiracy  with  the  chiefs  of  sev- 
eral other  Shushwap  tribes  for  the  extermination  of 
the  fur-traders.  They  had  agreed  to  open  hostilities 
by  tho  capture  of  the  annual  Kau)loop  party  just  as 
it  readied  the  Fraser;  a>nd  this  warning  was  given 
mo  that  I  might  save  myself  and  mine." 

"  Where  are  the  men  and  horses  T' 

"  I  hid  them  as  well  as  I  could  behind  some  bushes 
''  little  otf  the  trail,  tellinof  them  that  J  was  yroino-  to 
hunt  a  better  camping-ground,  and  to  let  the  animals 
jjrazf  there  until  1  returned.  I  said  nothing  about 
the  (-((nspiracy,  knowing  that  the  attaek  would  not  be 
'tia<h'  until  the  party  n  acju'd  the  rivt-r,  and  that  my 
I'l'ti  Would  not  romain  should  tliey  know  of  it.  Time 
Wis  Y/hen   I  would  not  have  turned   my  ]>ack  upon 


m\%, 


144 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


such  a  threat,  but  my  friendship  and  faithful  services 
are  no  h)nj^er  valued." 

"Well,  go  to  your  family  now,  and  let  me  think 
about  it ; ''  and  so  the  chief  departed. 

Was  it  true,  or  was  it  a  trick  on  the  part  of  Lolo 
to  get  the  horse?  Tod  was  greatly  puzzled.  There 
had  never  been  trouble  with  the  natives  in  this  vicinity ; 
there  was  now  no  provocation  that  he  knew  of  And 
yet  it  was  a  long  ride  for  so  useless  a  question.  Of 
course  if  there  was  danger  of  an  attack  the  chief 
should  not  have  left  the  party.  As  he  thouglit  it 
over,  the  trader's  suspicions  increased. 

While  deep  in  these  considerations  as  to  what  was 
best  for  him  to  do,  Mr  Tod  saw  the  door  again  move 
on  its  hinges,  and  Lolo's  head  thrust  in  at  the  open- 
ing. "Will  you  not  let  me  have  the  horse,  Mr 
Tod?" 

"No,  danm  you  I  go  home;  and  if  you  say  horse  to 
me  again  I'll  break  every  bone  in  your  body."  For 
the  trader's  patience  had  finally  forsaken  him.  He 
was  now  almost  sure  that  Lolo's  only  object  was  to 
get  the  horse,  and  that  the  conspiracy  story  was 
false;  nevertheless,  the  party  niust  be  looked  after 
immediately.  How  should  he  manage  itl  His  peo- 
ple were  all  absent;  there  was  not  a  white  man  at 
that  moment  within  seventy  miles  of  him.  For  h.ini- 
self,  his  family,  or  anything  about  the  fort,  the  chief 
trader  did  not  fear  the  Shush wap  chief.  As  Lolo 
himself  had  said,  he  had  been  true  to  the  com[)aiiy 
for  twenty  years.  The  sorrel  horse  he  longed  lor 
with  all  a  child's  intensity;  but  often  it  happened  to 
be  necessary  to  deny  the  childish  covetings  of  the 
aboriginal,  else  his  desires  wt)uld  run  away  with  him, 
and  there  would  bo  no  livinij  with  him.  Had  not 
Tod  known  and  trusted  Loh)  implicitly  he  would  nut 
at  tliis  juncture  have  spoken  sharply  to  him  as  he  told 
him  to  go  home.  It  was  not  a  breach  of  etlqui'ttc, 
liowever,  for  a  white  chief  to  speak  rudely  or  even  t<> 
cuff  or  kick  a  red  chief;  but  woe  to  the  white  man  of 


pp 


'#! 


MM 


A  DESPERATE  RESOLVE. 


145 


low  degree,  the  laborer,  the  voyageur,  who  insulted 
a  native  nobleman.  A  king  might  bear  a  king's  atfront; 
not  so  a  slave's. 

At  the  seat  of  war,  if  war  was  to  bo,  the  position 
of  Lolo  would  be  entirely  different.  It  must  be  re- 
membered that  the  conspirators  were,  likewise  with 
Lolo,  members  of  the  Shush wap  family.  The  chiefs 
proposing  to  unite  for  the  taking  of  Kamloop  were 
the  lieads  of  the  several  divisions  of  one  familv.  Lolo 
would  be  importuiH'd,  and  perhaps  in  some  degree 
influenced  against  his  old  friends.  Even  here,  so 
strong  was  his  faith  in  him,  Tod  did  not  fear  absolute 
trciu'liery.  But  after  mature  reflection  he  concluded 
that  he  wculd  rather  undertake  the  management  of 
afiairs  without  the  presence  of  Lolo  than  with  it.  The 
chief  trader  had  his  own  way  for  the  treatment  of 
such  cases — a  way  always  original  and  generally  ef- 
fectual. 

Lolo  was  thunderstruck  at  the  bold  tone  in  whiclx 
Tod  had  denied  his  last  request  for  the  horse.  Tlie 
Lidiau  well  knew  of  the  truth  of  the  conspiracy.  He 
knew,  or  at  least  he  supposed,  his  fidelity  and  services 
woukl  be  of  the  first  importance  to  the  trader,  isolated 
as  ho  was,  and  alone  in  the  midst  of  numerous  organ- 
i/A'd  and  blood-thirsty  enemies.  Surely  the  horse  would 
not  1)0  a  feather's  weight  to  him  now,  reasoned  Lolo, 
when  all  the  horses,  the  fort,  and  the  property  in  it, 
wife  and  children,  and  life  itself — for  the  chief  well 
knew  the  trader  would  not  run  away  from  danger, 
and  that  if  he  did  not  he  would  certainly  be  killed — 
Were  in  such  jeopardy.  Therefore  was  he  confounded 
at  Tod's  rude  and  violent  denial. 

Before  the  door  had  closed  on  the  retreating  form 
of  the  savage,  almost  before  the  profane  words  of 
refusal  were  out  of  his  mouth,  the  trader  had  made 
U[)  liis  mind  what  to  do.  Calling  the  half-breed  boy, 
he  ordered  him  to  saddle  two  of  the  fleetest  horses  in 
tlie  corral.     In  as  few  wori*v  as  p*>ssible  he  explained 

Theft  ht  wrote  a  ovneral 


the  situation  to  his  wife, 

IllST.  BBIT.  COI,.     lU 


m 

I*  I 

r 


l::i 


146 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


statement  of  the  case  for  head-quarters  at  Victoria  in 
case  he  should  never  return.  And  shortly  after  mid- 
night, while  Lolo  was  asleep  at  home,  the  chief  trader 
and  his  boy  were  on  the  trail  for  Fraser  River,  gallop- 
ing over  the  ground  as  fast  as  their  horses  could  carry 
them. 

Meanwhile  the  mind  of  the  chief  trader  was  no  less 
active  than  his  body.  Here  was  a  field  for  the  dis- 
play of  his  brightest  genius.  By  slow  degrees  and 
cool  consideration  he  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion 
that  Lolo  had  not  deceived  him  in  regard  to  the  con- 
spiracy. He  knew  the  Indian  character  thoroughly; 
nor  was  the  chief's  fresh  plea  for  the  horse  so  wholly 
out  of  place  in  such  an  emergency  as  he  had  at  first 
regarded  it.  At  all  events,  the  safer  wav,  the  onlv 
safe  way,  was  to  act  as  though  the  report  was  true. 

He  found  no  diflSculty  in  reaching  his  men  by  noon. 
They  were  surprised  to  see  him,  had  heard  nothing  of 
the  threatened  attack,  nor  did  he  see  fit  at  once  to 
enlighten  them.  He  merely  gave  orders  to  prepare; 
to  move  forward  early  the  next  morning.  The  men 
were  accustomed  to  implicit  obedience.  They  could 
not  understand  why  their  leader  should  be  suddenly 
so  solicitous  as  to  the  condition  of  their  arms  and  the 
supj)ly  of  ammunition,  seeing  no  danger  portending. 
But  it  was  not  their  province  to  question. 

By  sunrise  the  party  was  on  the  trail,  moving  at 
the  usual  pace  toward  the  Fraser.  Some  distance  In 
advance  was  Tod,  alone;  he  had  told  his  men  to  keep 
three  hundred  yards  behind  him,  to  march  when  lu; 
marched,  and  .stop  when  he  stopped.  By  nine  o'clock 
they  approached  a  small  open  plain  enclosed  in  thick 
brushwood  and  bordering  on  the  river.  Tod  mo- 
tioned his  men  to  halt  while  \\<.'  rode  slowly  forwatd 
into  the  open  space,  apparently  careless  and  uncon- 
cerned as  usual,  but  with  a  glance  which  scrutinized 
w'xih  intense  interest  every  rock  and  shrub  around  tlie 
arena,  l^rescntly  his  eye  caught  unmistakable  siun.'S 
of  opposition. 


c 


Behinc 

opening, 
of  armed 
were  amc 
venture, 
covered  h 
were  kilt 
tlieir  kniA 
and  the 
dav  the  c 

But  wl 
told,  Can 
liundred  j 
to  he  desf 
every  one 
any  white 
Brute  for 
courage  h< 
1k!  king,  h( 

Then  ar 
its  might. 

The  mei 
time  apprc 
and  liad  wi 
knew  now 
[•eariid  am 
occn[)ied  tl 
the  enemy, 
motioned  ci 
to  attend  1: 

"Cxeorgt 
hack  (juietl 
witli  me,  n 
ho. 

The  bra 
leader  alon 

"  Danm 
T'an'j  throu 
Land-  the  ^ 


''  It 


INTO  THE  JAWS  OF  DEATH. 


147 


Behind  the  bushes  on  the  northern  side  of  the 
opening,  and  close  to  the  river,  he  saw  a  large  band 
of  armed  and  painted  savages.  No  women  or  children 
were  among  them,  which  circumstance,  beyond  perad- 
vcnture,  signified  mischief.  Already  they  had  dis- 
covered him,  and  were  moving  about  excitedly.  They 
were  kilted  up  for  fight;  and  now  they  brandished 
tlieir  knives  and  guns  threateningly.  Lolo  was  right; 
and  tlie  chief  trader  vowed  that  if  he  survived  that 
(lay  the  chief  should  have  the  horse. 

But  what  was  he  to  do?  He  had  not  ten  men,  all 
told,  Canadians  and  Indians,  and  here  were  three 
liimdred  arrayed  against  him.  Nor  were  they  a  foe 
to  1)0  despised,  these  powerful  and  active  Shushwaps, 
every  one  of  whom  could  handle  the  rifie  as  well  as 
any  white  man.  How  was  he  to  cope  with  them  ? 
Brute  force  was  certainly  out  of  the  question;  brute 
courage  here  was  powerless.  And  if  iriiollect  was  to 
lie  king,  how  was  white  cunning  to  circumvent  the  red  ? 

Tlien  arose  the  mind  of  John  Tod  in  the  power  of 
its  .night. 

The  men,  with  the  h«»rses  in  the  rear,  had  by  this 
time  approached  the  opeiaing,  had  seen  the  savages, 
and  had  witnessed  their  warlike  demonstrations.  They 
knew  ru)W  why  their  leader  had  so  unexpectedly  ap- 
{)eared  among  them,  and  had  been  so  singularly  pre- 
occupied the  night  before.  Still  with  his  face  toward 
tlie  enemy,  though  he  liad  now  stopped  his  horse,  Tod 
motioned  one  of  his  party,  George  Simpson  by  name, 
to  attend  him. 

" George, "  said  he,  as  the  Canadian  came  up,  "fall 
hack  (|uietly  with  the  horses,  and  if  things  go  wrong 
with  nie,  make  the  best  of  your  way  back  to  the  fort. 
ho. 

The  brave  fellow  hesitated  a  moment  to  leave  his 
Jea(hT  alone  in  such  peril. 

"Damn  you.  go!"  shouted  Tod,  in  a  voice  which 
ran'j  through  the  woods,  and  made  to  rattW  in  their 
ham  I-  the  weapons  of  the  startled  savasres. 


^■'.ifl 


n 

•  1 : 

-■  ■  i' 

::  in 


148 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


And  now  to  business. 

It  is  a  mai^nificent  aiiinuil  that  Tod  bestrides,  a 
white  mare,  clean  of  hnib,  with  flowing  mane  and 
tail,  a  proud  stepper,  and  strong  and  swift  withal. 
The  enemy,  emerging  from  the  forest,  gather  on  and 
round  a  low  knoll  at  the  edge  of  the  opening,  and 
there  stand  watching  intently  the  fur-trader's  every 
movement.  The  battle  begins;  it  is  one  man  against 
three  imndred.  There  is  little  use  for  the  usual 
death-dealing  machinery  in  such  a  contest  as  this. 
Turning  full  front  upon  the  glowering  savages.  Tod 
put  spurs  to  his  horse;  and  as  he  rushes  on  toward 
th<Mn,  they  raise  their  guns.  The  horseman  does  not 
flinch  nor  slacken  speed;  but  (juickly  drawing  swonl 
and  [)istol,  he  holds  them  aloft  in  on(i  hand,  and  with 
the  other  lifts  high  his  gun  above  his  head.  For  an 
instant  only  the  ujurdorous  trinkets  flash  the  sun's 
light  into  the  eyes  of  the  astonished  multitude;  then 
the  rider  hurls  them  all  aheap  upon  the  plain.  Seiz- 
ing the  rein  which  iiitherto  had  lain  neglected,  the 
rider  n(>xt  turns  his  attention  to  feats  of  horsemaii- 
shij).  With  head  erect,  eyes  flashing,  and  mane  flcjw- 
ing,  the  white  mare  prances  to  the  right,  then  to  tlie 
left,  and  after  describing  a  half-circle,  charges  into 
their  very  midst. 

Very  strange,  no  doubt,  and  very  silly,  a  cavalry 
ca[)tain  would  say.  Why  did  they  not  kill  him?  So, 
indeed,  the  cavalry  ca[>tain  would  have  been  kilKd, 
and  all  his  men.  Why  did  not  those  fire  who  raised 
their  guns?  Curiosity.  Thus  the  interested  antelopi; 
will  stand  and  be  shot.  They  wished  to  see  what  the 
white  man  would  do  next.  Hundreds  they  had  killed 
bt'fore,  and  could  achieve  a  butchery  any  day.  l>ut 
they  could  not  have  every  day  an  honorable  cliiet 
trader  upon  his  best  mettle  before  them  for  their 
anmsement.  Well  was  it  that  Tod  understood  his 
role,  and  had  the  coolness  and  courage  to  play  it,  lor 
the  least  mistake  was  death. 

There  sat  the  smiling  Scotchman  upon  his  pan  ling 


OH,  WORSHIPFUL  TOD. 


149 


\vhito  steed,  amidst  the  tliickest  of  them.  Tod  always 
Hiniled  in  joy  and  in  sorrow,  and  his  smile  was  enor- 
mous. His  angry  smile  was  more  fearful  than  his 
oaths;  the  savages  felt  this,  though  they  could  not 
analyze  the  sentiment.  And  now  they  saw  his  smile 
was  angry,  though  he  spoke  them  fair;  they  boyjan  to 
1)(:  afraid,  though  they  knew  not  why;  but  they  would 
kill  him  presently. 

"What  is  all  this?"  demanded  the  chief  trader. 
"What  is  it  that  you  wish  to  do?" 

"We  want  to  see  Lolo,"  they  replied.  "Where  is 
Lolo?     Why  came  you  here  ?" 

"Ah !  then  you  nave  not  heard  the  news.  Lolo  is 
at  liome.     Poor  fellow!" 

"News!  What  news?  No,  we  have  heard  no 
news,"  they  cried,  again  forgetting  their  bloody  pur- 
]K)so,  ingulfed  in  curiosity. 

"T  am  sorry  for  you,  my  friends."  And  now  his 
smile  on  the  outside  was,  oh!  so  sad,  though  inwardly 
lined  by  the  softest,  merriest  chuckle.  "The  small- 
pox is  upon  us;  the  terrible,  terrible  small-pox.  It 
was  brought  from  Walla  Walla  by  an  Okanagan." 

They  well  knew  what  the  small-pox  was,  and  that 
it  raged  at  Walla  Walla  and  on  the  lower  Columbia. 
Worse  than  death  they  feared  the  scourge;  the  bare 
idea  of  it  was  horrible  to  them.  They  knew,  likewise, 
of  Whitman's  massacre,  and  the  divine  punishment 
that  liad  so  quickly  followed  the  offenders. 

"Ay,  the  dreaded  disease  is  here,"  continued  Tod, 
in  deep,  sepulchral  tones.  '*That  is  why  I  am  come. 
I  eame  to  tell  3'ou.  I  came  to  save  yt)U.  You  are  my 
fVieiids,  my  brothers.  You  bring  me  furs.  I  give  you 
lilaiikets  and  guns  wherewith  to  got  food  for  your 
families,  and  I  love  you.  But  you  nmst  not  come  to 
Kainloop  until  I  give  you  notice;  else  you  will  die. 
^10,  1  have  brought  you  medicine,  for  I  would  not 
see  you  lying  scattered  on  the  bank  like  yonder  salmon, 
lotting,  rotting;  ah!  indeed,  I  would  not." 
Where  now  is  the  battle;  who  the  victor?     Won 


.1-' 


il 


150 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


if 


i 

1 

■  ! 

1  , 

■ffit 

> 

by  a  trick;  you  may  say,  a  lie.  Partly  so.  The  uni- 
verse is  but  a  trick,  however,  and  half  this  world  a  lie 
Flown  to  remotest  regions  were  all  thoughts  of  mur- 
der, fire,  pillage.  KUl  him!  their  best,  their  truest 
friend?  They  had  never  intended  such  a  thing.  It 
was  other  adventure  they  were  dreaming  of,  they 
could  hardly  tell  what.  "O,  Mr  Tod!  Mr  Tod!  save 
us!  save  us!" 

Not  more  than  ten  minutes  were  occupied  in  achie\- 
ing  this  wonderful  revolution  of  feeling.  It  was  a 
conversion  which  would  honor  any  apostle  or  jiriest, 
aided  to  the  full  measure  of  the  miraculous  by  atten- 
dant spirits.  And  now  black  was  white,  and  whitt' 
was  black.  It  was  true,  however,  that  the  chief  trader 
would  help  them  as  he  was  able.  Though  they  would 
cheerfully  have  killed  him  half  an  hour  ago,  Joliii 
Tod  would  no  more  have  revenged  himself  on  them 
by  doing  them  injury  than  he  would  injure  his  child. 
They  were  but  children ;  and  if  his  boasted  superiority 
was  real,  he  could  afford  to  overlook  so  slight  a  fault 
as  intent  to  murder  him.  It  was  true,  the  small-jxfx 
was  abroad.  It  was  true  that  in  his  pocket  the  cliiof 
trader  carried  some  vaccine  matter.  The  Hudson's 
Bay  people  were  seldom  without  medicine.  Business 
still.  Between  his  thumb  and  finger  the  fur-trader 
held  the  will  of  that  multitude  as  the  will  of  one 
man;  but  lest  their  erratic  mind  should  change,  it 
must  be  kept  occupied.  It  was  not  enough  that 
the  white  men  should  simply  escape  with  their  livis; 
the  yearly  supply  of  salmon  must  be  secured,  and  tlie 
natives  must  be  induced  to  sell  to  them,  and  that 
speedily.  Not  a  word  about  conspiracy  and  murder; 
not  a  word  about  wrongs  and  infelicities.  Fear  must 
be  kept  alive,  the  threatening  wrath  of  a  mysteii()ii8 
unseen  power  must  be  before  their..  Revenge  is  for 
fools,  for  beastly  idiots. 

"You  see  yonder  tree,"  pointing  to  an  enormous 
pine. 

"Yes." 


"Cut 
Away 
and  as 

stantlv  a 
canje  for 
these  the 
"Do  V 
"Yes".' 
"Ther 
to  my  nu 
Never 
complete( 
down  cai 
yet  more 
way  towa 
from  the 
up  to  it." 
The  he 
Tod  gave 
cliase  bad 
ai^es  was 
for  delay, 
liimself  w 
resting  on 
"Letfii 
his  right 
fluded  in 
wash  that 
returned,  j 
knife  and  i 
knife  was 
pally  in  c 
therefore 
his  rouo'h 
derived  nc 
into  arms 
human.     ] 
tiallv,  that 
whom  he 


THE  GREAT  PHYSICIAN. 


161 


"Cut  it  down." 

Away  flow  their  weapons,  off  went  their  clothes, 
and  as  many  as  could  stand  round  the  tree  were  in 
stantly  at  work  hewinj^  it  down.     The  women  now 
came  forward  from  their  place  of  concealment,  and  to 
tliese  the  trader  next  directed  his  attention. 

"])<)  you  see  the  smoke  beyond  the  bushes?" 

"Yes!" 

"There  is  my  camp.  Carry  salmon  thither,  and  sell 
to  my  men." 

Never  was  the  annual  requirement  more  quickly 
completed,  nor  the  price  less  questioned.  Presently 
down  came  the  tree,  and  the  trader  wishing  to  gain 
yet  more  time,  that  his  men  might  get  well  on  their 
Avuy  toward  home,  said,  "Cut  it  again,  four  fathoms 
from  the  but;  then  level  the  stump,  and  roll  the  log 
up  to  it." 

The  horses  were  now  all  loaded  with  salmon,  and 
Tod  gave  orders  to  his  men  to  hasten  with  their  pur- 
cliase  back  to  the  fort.  The  last  task  given  to  the  sav- 
aiifes  was  completed,  and  there  being  no  further  cause 
for  delay,  the  chief  trader  dismounted,  and  seated 
himself  with  royal  dignity  upon  the  stump,  his  feet 
resting  on  the  log. 

"Let  fifty  of  the  bravest  and  best  of  you  strip  each 
his  right  arm."  Only  the  foremost  chiefs  were  in- 
cluded in  this  category.  "Go  down  to  the  river  and 
wash  that  arm,"  was  the  next  command.  Soon  they 
returned,  and  the  trader,  drawing  from  his  pocket  a 
knife  and  the  vaccine  matter,  began  to  vaccinate.  The 
knife  was  old  and  dull;  the  trader  used  it  princi- 
pally in  cutting  his  tobacco  and  cleaning  his  pipe; 
therefore  strength  as  well  as  skill  was  requisite  in 
his  rough  surgery.  I  will  not  say  that  the  trader 
derived  no  pleasure  in  thus  driving  the  blunt  blade 
into  arms  so  lately  raised  against  him,  for  he  was 
human.  Indeed,  Mr  Tod  admitted  to  me,  confiden- 
tially, that  when  the  turn  of  certain  noted  rascals, 
whom  he  was   satisfied  were  the  head  and    front  of 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


ri 


irin  I 


s*  f 


the  conspiracy,  came,  he  did  cut  away  more  than  was 
absolutely  necessary,  and  did  not  perhaps  feel  that 
solicitude  for  the  comfort  of  his  patients  which  he 
ought  to  have  done;  and  if  so  be  the  arm — mark!  the 
right  arm — might  not  wield  a  weapon  for  ten  days  or 
a  fortnight,  so  much  the  better. 

The  trader  was  thoroughly  fatigued  before  the 
round  was  made ;  and  even  then,  as  there  was  a  little 
of  the  virus  left,  he  vaccinated  another  score.  Then 
he  instructed  them  how  they  were  to  carry  aloft  their 
arm,  and  when  the  sore  had  healed,  how  with  the 
scab  they  might  vaccinate  the  others.  "  It  was  a 
strange  sight,"  says  Tod,  "to  witness  the  Indians 
going  about  with  their  arm  upheld  and  uncovered." 
As  a  matter  of  course,  it  would  be  fatal  to  handle  a 
weapon  before  the  arm  had  healed. 

And  so  the  conspiracy  of  the  Shushwaps  ended. 
Lolo  obtained  the  sorrel  horse,  and  Tod  was  worshipped 
throughout  that  region  ever  after;  for  not  a  man  of 
the  three  hundred  would  ever  after  believe  that  lie 
did  not  owe  his  life  to  the  chief  trader. 

Another  incident  that  happened  the  following  year 
I  may  briefly  mention  in  this  connection. 

A  band  of  Okanagans  came  one  day  to  Kamloop 
and  asked  permission  of  Mr  Tod  to  camp  close  by  the 
fort.  Nicola,  they  said,  who  lived  some  forty  miles 
south  of  Kamloop,  near  the  lake  which  to-day  bears 
his  name,  was  very  angry  with  them,  and  wished  to 
kill  them.  The  chief  trader  assented,  stipulatiniif 
that  they  should  behave  themselves  and  obey  the 
.regulations  of  the  traders.  It  was  a  custom  of  the 
company  thus  to  balance  powers  aboriginal,  taking' 
care  that  in  the  end  they  alone  should  be  lords  of  all. 

Nicola  was  furious  when  he  heard  of  it,  and  swoie 
in  good  stout  jargon  that  white  as  well  as  red  should 
suffer  for  so  unfair,  so  unholy  an  alliance.  "A  pretty 
pass,  indeed,  things  have  reached  upon  these  huntinj^- 
grounds,"  he  said,  "when  one  cannot  fight  one's  eiio- 


loo[) 
the 
nilcs 
>ears 
d  to 
itiiiiij 
the 
the 

all. 


NICOLA'S  PLOT. 


163 


lilies  without  this  foreign  interference."  But  he  must 
curb  his  impatience  until  better  prepared ;  for  in  the 
weighing  of  these  rude  destinies,  arms,  and  ammunition 
were  the  strorifjcst  factor.  So  dejjenerate  had  become 
the  times,  since  the  advent  of  skin-buyers,  that  with- 
out these  infernal  implements  little  could  be  done  in 
the  killing  line.  The  Okanagans  were  well  armed; 
Nicola  was  short  of  guns;  and  as  the  chief  trader  was 
at  present  opposed  to  slaughter,  he  would  furnish  no 
weapons  knowingly  for  that  purpose. 

Nicola  was  shrewd  as  well  as  energetic.  His  influ- 
ence was  not  so  widely  extended  as  Lolo's,  but  within 
his  narrower  area  he  was  absolute.  His  warriors  were 
active,  experienced,  brave;  moreover,  he  was  rich,  and 
loved  revenge  The  fort  people  loved  furs;  better 
than  revenge,  religion,  or  other  earthly  distemper  they 
loved  them;  furs  piled  mountain  high;  furs  without 
end. 

One  day  certain  of  Nicola's  men  appeared  at  the 
fort  wishing  to  buy  guns,  which  were  given  them. 
Shortly  afterward  others  of  the  same  nation  came, 
and  asked  for  powder,  balls,  and  more  guns,  which, 
were  likewise  sold  to  them.  The  Okanagans  watched 
those  proceedings  narrowly. 

"Why  should  Nicola  require  so  many  guns?"  they 
asked  of  the  chief  trader. 

"For  hunting,  I  suppose;  I  do  not  know." 

"  No,  they  are  not  for  hunting,  but  for  us." 

"  If  I  thought  so,  I  would  sell  them  no  more;  bold 
and  vindictive  as  he  is,  Nicola  would  hardly  dare 
attack  people  under  my  protection,  under  the  very 
shadow  of  the  holy  tabernacle  of  traffic." 

"He  will  dare;  he  will  do  it.  Those  bullets  are 
for  us,  for  our  wives  and  our  little  ones." 

Again  came  others  from  Lake  Nicola,  and  asked 
for  knives  and  guns,  and  nothing  else. 

"  Why  do  you  buy  only  arms  and  so  much  ammu- 
nition ?'  demanded  the  trader.     "  Yo 


■"ou  will  leave  noiM 


fur  others." 


:  i  <  V 


1  i;J  1 


!.  ' 


n    i'     ■  :    -t 


■  i^ 


4- 


[  .1 

'in  J 


;  I  i- 


i: 


154 


THE  SHU8HWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


"We  are  going  on  a  long  journey,  beyond  the 
Kootenais,  to  hunt,"  they  replied. 

"Ah!  my  friends;  your  hunt,  I  fear,  is  nearer  home. 
You  wish  to  kill  the  Okanagans.  I  will  sell  you  no 
more  weapons;  and  you  may  tell  that  old  fox,  Nicola, 
that  if  he,  or  any  of  his  men,  dare  lift  a  finger  against 
any  person  within  five  miles  of  Kamloop,  I  will  be  upon 
him  in  a  way  of  which  he  has  never  yet  dreamed." 

This  being  told  to  Nicola,  in  no  wise  tended  to 
assuage  his  wrath.  Summoning  his  warriors,  and 
such  of  the  neighboring  chiefs  as  he  could  prevail 
upon  to  hear  him,  he  talked  to  them,  he  harangued 
them ;  breath  failing  him,  he  rested,  and  then  again 
harangued,  until  at  length  the  presence  of  the  spirit 
was  felt,  and  the  converts  acknowledged  it  their  duty 
to  capture  the  fort  as  well  as  kill  the  Okanagans. 
"  Refuse  us,  indeed  1"  growled  Nicola,  as  he  expressed 
his  thanks,  "we  will  take  what  we  require  without 
the  asking." 

Surely  enough  it  was  reported  shortly  after  that 
Nicola  was  marching  with  a  large  force  upon  the  fort. 
As  usual  Tod  had  but  a  few  men  with  him,  not  more 
than  six;  for  it  was  by  the  power  of  mind,  and  not  by 
physical  strength,  that  the  fur-traders  everywhere 
held  dominion.  Again  was  strategy  Tod's  only  re- 
source; for  even  his  few  men  became  so  frightened 
that  they  fled  to  the  woods,  a  most  unusual  proceed- 
ing in  fur-trading  annals.  The  Okanagans,  of  course, 
retired  to  a  place  of  safety,  and  the  chief  trader  see- 
ing himself  thus  left  alone,  sent  his  wife  and  children 
with  them.  One  only  of  his  men,  a  Canadian  named 
Lefevrc,  returned  repentant. 

"  I  cannot  leave  you,  Mr  Tod;  I  would  rather  die 
with  you." 

"No,  you  had  better  go;  we  are  too  few  to  fight 
them.  Had  the  others  remained  and  stood  by  the 
company's  property,  as  they  were  bound  to  do,  wc 
might  hold  the  fort  until  assistance  from  Langloy 
could  reach  us;  as  it  is  I  would  prefer  to  be  alone." 


THE  GUNPOWDER  FARCE. 


m 


Tod  now  bethought  himself  of  the  somewhat  stale 
gunpowder  ruse.  It  seemed  his  only  chance  of  sav- 
ing the  fort;  and  he  did  not  believe  the  trick  had  ever 
been  played  in  these  parts.  There  was  danger  enough 
attending  it  to  make  it  deeply  interesting  to  him,  for 
if  he  failed  in  the  execution,  or  if  Nicola  suspected 
that  it  was  a  trick,  the  fort  was  lost.  Nicola  was  not 
a  common  native;  he  possessed  a  powerful  will;  his 
intellect  was  keen;  his  hatred,  when  aroused,  was 
tigerish.  But  he  was  afraid  of  Tod;  it  is  only  the 
dull  and  brutish  savage  that  does  not  fear  civilization. 
Nicola  was  intelligent  enough  to  know  that  the  white 
man,  with  his  superior  arts  and  appliances,  held 
the  poor  redskin  at  disadvantage.  Another  point 
was  greatly  in  favor  of  the  fur-trader  in  the  coming 
combat:  an  officer  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
very  seldom  deceived  an  Indian.  It  was  the  leading 
maxim  of  their  policy  to  inspire  confidence  as  well 
as  fear.  "Did  ever  I  lie  to  you?"  roars  Tod,  as  he 
heaps  oaths  and  blows  on  the  head  of  an  offender. 
"  Did  not  I  tell  you  I  would  knock  you  down?  And 
there!  I  have  kept  my  word,"  as  the  redskin  drops 
sprawling. 

So  that  when  the  chief  trader  sprang  from  an  am- 
bush and  caught  one  of  Nicola's  men  who  was  recon- 
noitring close  upon  what  he  now  supposed  the 
deserted  fort;  when  he  drove  the  captive  within  the 
palisades,  and  forced  him  to  bring  from  the  magazine 
three  kegs  of  powder,  upon  one  of  which  the  trader 
seated  himself,  driving  in  the  heads  of  the  two  others 
with  his  heel;  when  he  asked  the  affrighted  savage 
for  his  flint,  coolly  remarking  that  he  was  now  ready 
to  meet  Nicola,  and  any  number  of  his  men,  for  that 
the  power  was  at  hand  to  blow  into  atoms  the  whole 
earth  from  Kamloop  to  Okanagan  Lake;  when  this 
was  done,  I  say,  and  the  terror-stricken  captive,  as 
a  mark  of  benign  favor  was  permitted  to  escape  and 
save  himself,  upon  the  solemn  promise  that  he  would 
not  reveal  the  plot  to  Nicola  or  any  other  person,  the 


i  I 


iu 


MM 


i 


156 


THE  SHUSHWAP  CONSPIRACY. 


man  believed  it,  and  Nicola  believed  it,  when  his  scout, 
more  dead  than  alive,  returned  to  him  and  told  him 
all,  as  the  wily  Tod  had  wished,  and  well  knew  would 
be  the  case.  These  credulous  wilderness  men  had 
never  seen  so  great  a  mass  of  powder,  and  had  no  idea 
of  the  effect  if  ignited  at  one  time.  If  the  little 
a  nutshell  will  hold  can  bring  down  a  buffalo,  three 
kegs  might  bring  the  world  down.  What  Mr  Tod 
had  said,  that  would  he  do.  Besides,  if  while  the  buf- 
falo was  being  brought  down  by  the  nutshell  of  pow- 
der he  who  fired  the  shot  remained  uninjured,  might 
not  he  escape  harm,  who,  with  three  kegs,  blows  the 
world  up?  So  Nicola  made  overtures  of  peace,  which 
the  chief  trader  required  should  include  the  Okana- 
gans.  The  following  summer  John  Tod  retired  from 
Kamloop. 


Nkcessity  ( 

AND  Ne 

Ankers 
Bkkikai 
Manusc 
Kamloc 
Lakes ' 

MKKN,    , 

Fkaher 
Trail— 


Meanv 

well  us  ai 
1845  A. 
Alexandi 
tlio  Fras 
the  bouni 
(loinain  o 
tlieii  pen< 
event,  a  1 
within  B 
primary  i 

'  Wliile  at 
spfiit  much  o 
iluoii,  withoul 
8011,  Tolmie,  ] 
witli  any  ilegi 
of  British  Col 
Bay  Coiiipanj 
and  courtly. 
WiTc  (lead,  bu 
iufdnimtion  m 


I 
i 


CHAPTER  IX. 

ANDERSON'S  EXPLORATIONS. 
1846-1847. 

NKCEasmr  of  a  New  Rottte  betwkkn  the  BRmsii  Columbia  Seaboard 
AND  New  Caledonia — Must  be  Wholly  within  Britlsh  Territory — 
Anderson  Proposes  Explorations— Authority  and  Means  (iKanted— 
bimiraphical  and  bibliographical  note  ov  anderson  and  iiis 
Manuscript  History — Sets  out  from  Alexandria— Proceeds  to 
Kamloop — Thenck  Explores  by  Way  of  Anderson  and  Harrison 
Lakes  to  Lanoley— Returns  by  Way  of  the  Coquiualla,  Similka- 

MEKN,    AND  LaKB  Nk'OLA— SecOND  EXPEDITION   ALONG   ThoMPHON    AND 

Fraser  Rivers — Back  by  Kequeloosk  and  the  New  Similk/meen 
Thail — Report  and  Suggestions. 

Meanwhile  brains  were  active  in  the  interior  as 
well  as  at  Fort  Vancouver  and  on  the  seaboard.  In 
1845  A.  C.  Anderson,^  who  was  stationed  at  Fort 
Alexandia,  New  Caledonia,  then  the  lowest  post  on 
the  Fraser  except  Langley,  became  convinced  that 
the  boundary  line  between  United  States  and  British 
domain  on  the  Pacific  would  be  drawn,  by  the  treaty 
then  pending,  north  of  the  lower  Columbia;  in  which 
event,  a  route  from  the  ocean  to  the  interior,  wholly 
within  British  territory,  would  become  a  matter  of 
jniinary  importance. 

'  Wliile  at  Victoria  in  1878  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mr  Anderson,  and 
8i)t'iit  mucli  of  my  time  with  him  in  studying  Northwest  Coast  affairs.  In- 
(fecil,  without  that  experience  and  the  information  then  given  nie  by  Ander- 
fiiiii,  Toltnie,  Finlayson,  and  others,  I  do  not  see  how  I  could  have  written 
witli  any  degree  of  completeness  or  correctness  a  history  either  of  Oregon  or 
«f  liritish  Columbia.  Anderson  was  the  most  scholarly  of  all  the  Hudson's 
liiiy  Company  officers;  Tolmie  was  keen  and  practical;  Finlayson  intellectual 
luid  courtly.  Sir  James  Douglas,  Mr  Work,  and  Mr  Ogden  unfortunately 
Wen:  <luud,  but  their  respective  families  kindly  placed  at  my  disposal  all  tlie 
iitl'orntation  within  their  reach.     I  s^jeak  of  all  those  gentlemen  elsewhere.    I 

(167) 


i^ 


'    ■  ■( 


^'^.;^^ 


1 1 


w 


I  ■ 


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%  ' 


1 

1 

1 

1 
1 
1 

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i 

1 

158 


ANDERSON'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


Acting  on  this  conviction,  Anderson  wrote  Governor 
Simpson,  in  council  at  Norway  House,  Lake  Win- 
nipeg,   asking   permission   to   explore   a  route   from 

will  give  here  only  a  brief  biographical  and  bibliographical  sketch  of  Mr 
Aiidvrsun  and  his  works. 

The  more  immediate  result  of  my  many  interviews  with  Mr  Anderson  in  a 
manuscript  History  qf  Ihe  Nort/iwent  Coast,  comprising  285  pages,  and  covlt- 
ing  the  entire  field  of  OreEon  affairs  to  1846,  ana  of  matters  relating  to  New 
C'luedonia  and  British  Columbia  to  date.  So  far  as  possible,  the  ncedlesH 
repetition  of  facts  alrea<ly  in  print  was  avoided.  He  as  well  as  I  knew  well 
enough  what  was  wanted,  and  as  neither  of  us  had  time  to  waste,  we  cuntiiieit 
ourselves  pretty  closely  to  inquiries  into  the  domain  of  unrevealed  facts.  A 
thousand  important  events  are  thus  for  the  first  time  placed  upon  record,  and 
a  thousand  incidents  heretofore  but  vaguely  stated  are  explained.  In  style, 
Mr  Anderson  is  somewhat  pompous,  pedantic,  and  diffusive  in  parading  him- 
self before  the  world,  while  in  bringmg  into  proper  prominence  the  deeds  of 
his  associates  a  false  delicacy  makes  him  painfully  reticent.  This  is  a  habit 
common  to  all  the  officers  of  the  great  monopoly,  who,  after  living  in  deadly 
fear  of  speaking  of  company  affairs  for  a  score  or  two  of  years,  almost  tremble 
in  their  old  age  to  set  their  tongues  wagging  over  these  old-time  an*l  sacred 
secrets.  But  for  his  honesty,  courtesy,  liis  sound  business  sense,  and  di.s- 
criminatins  analysis  of  character,  we  may  well  forgive  him  a  few  superHiidUH 
words  and  nigh-sounding  sentences.  Throughout  the  whole  work,  ]>articularly 
in  the  first  pages,  the  facts  are  sadly  jumbled,  t)eing  thrown  together  as  they 
arose  in  our  minds,  without  regard  to  chronological  or  other  order;  but  when 
segregated  from  the  confused  mass,  by  the  system  of  note-taking  obtaining 
in  my  Library,  and  l>eing  brought  into  conjunction  with  parallel  facts  and  con- 
temporaneous incidents,  almost  every  sentence  is  a  jewel  which  finds  its  proi)er 
fitting.  To  the  personal  work  of  Mr  Anderson  are  appended  certain  A  uUxjroyh 
Notes  by  the  late  John  Stuart,  written  at  Torres,  Scotland,  in  1842,  and  consist- 
iiig  of  caustic  criticism  of  a  previous  narrative  by  Mr  Anderson.  While  that 
work  of  Anderson's  is  as  a  whole  highly  eulogized  by  Stuart,  parts  of  it  were 
pronounced  apocryphal,  and  other  parts  exaggerated.  This  indeed  would  l)e 
the  case  with  any  work  which  could  ho  written.  Place  three  or  even  two  of 
these  old  Hudson's  Bay  men  in  a  room  to  discuss  general  affairs  iir  which  they 
had  all  participated,  and  hot  words  if  not  blows  are  sure  to  follow.  In  his 
Notes,  Stuart  takes  exceptions  to  the  dark  side  only  of  Indian  character  wliich 
Anderson  chooses  to  dwell  upon,  and  to  the  boundaries  Anderson  gives  to 
New  Caledonia,  which  Stuart  says  are  too  limited,  and  the  like.  To  all  tliis 
Anderson  replies  in  such  a  way  as  to  bring  out  the  real  state  of  affairs  in  the 
clearest  possible  manner. 

And  now  for  a  brief  biography,  leaving  details  to  their  proper  place  in  the 
history.  Alexander  Cauliield  Anderson,  a  native  of  Calcutta,  educated  in 
England,  was  a  youth  of  eighteen,  having  served  the  Hudson's  Bay  adventurers 
as  clerk  but  one  yeax  when  in  1832  he  first  appeared  at  fort  Vancouver. 
After  participating  in  the  founding  of  the  posts  at  Milbank  Sound  and  on  tlie 
Stikeen,  in  the  summer  of  1835  he  was  appointed  to  Mr  Ogden's  district  of 
New  CaJedonia,  and  reached  Fort  George  about  the  beginning  of  September. 
He  was  then  despatched  with  a  party  by  way  of  Yellowhoad  Pass  to  Jasjier 
House  to  meet  the  Columbia  brigade,  and  bring  back  goods  for  the  New  (  ale- 
donia  district.  Two  months  afterward  he  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  the 
post  at  the  lower  end  of  Fraser  Lake,  his  first  independent  command.  In  tlie 
autumn  of  1839  he  was  removed  to  Fort  George,  and  in  the  spring  of  1;j40 
accompanied  the  outgoing  brigade  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  the  same  year  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  Fort  Nisqually.  In  the 
autumn  of  1841  Mr  Anderson  left  Nisqually  and  passed  the  winter  at  Kurt 
Vancouver      Next  spring  he  went  with  tht  expres*    to   York  Factory,  re- 


wav  mui 


FORMER  SURVEYS. 


IW 


Alexandria  to  Langley  through  a  tract  of  country 
then  practically  unknown.  His  request  was  granted, 
five  men  were  detailed  for  the  service,*  and  the  neces- 
sary horses  and  outfit  provided. 

The  descent  of  the  Fraser  had  been  twice  at- 
tempted, and  twice,  after  r.  fashion,  made:  once  in 
1808  by  John  Stuart  and  Simon  Fraser;  and  once, 
twenty  years  after,  by  Governor  Simpson.  It  was 
known  to  be  unnavigable  in  part;  it  was  then  deemed 
decidedly  impracticable  for  boats.  Some  other  path- 
wav  must  therefore  be  made,  where  nature  was  less 
()j»pugnant. 

turtie<l  ill  October  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Alexandria,  to  the  charge  of  which 
)iu  liad   l>eeu  appointed,  and  remained  there   till  1848,  having   meanwhile 
Iteeii  promoted.     In  that  year  he  was  appointed  to  the  Colville  district,  suc- 
oei'diiig  Chief  Factor  John  Lee  Lewes.     At  Colville  he  remained,  making  an- 
nual trips  with  supplies  and  bringing  out  the  furs  to  Fort  Langley  till  1851, 
when  he  went  to  Fort  Vancouver  as  assibtant  to  Mr  Ballenden,  and  succeeded 
teiriporarily  to  the  superintendence  till  1854,  when  he  retired  from  active 
Herviue.     Marrying,  ho  passed  a  few  vears  near  the  house  of  his  father-in-law, 
Janiug  Birnic,  and  then  purchased  a  home  at  Cathlamet.     In  18.'>8  he  went  to 
Victoria  to  inquire  into  the  gold  discoveries.     Douglas  urged  liim  to  accept 
ntlice  and  bring  his  family  and  assist  in  the  affairs  of  the  colony,  which  he  did, 
Hincu  residing  at  Rosebaiik,  Saanich,  near  Victoria.     In  1876  he  was  appointed 
liy  the  Dominion  government  commissioner  to  settle  the  Indian   land   dif- 
ferences in  British  Columbia,  and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  until  the 
voiinnission  was  dissolved  in  1878.     On  his  retirement  from  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company's  service  in  1853-4,  he  received  two  years'  retiring  furlough  in  ad- 
dition to  the  usual  retiretl  interest,  which  continued  for  seven  years  subse- 
quently.    It  was  as  chief  trader  that  he  left  the  service  of  the  company,  his 
(ommission  as  chief  factor  being  dependent  on  his  returning  to  take  charge 
ot  New  Caledonia,  where  he  had  already  passed  a  year;  but  the  education  of 
hi8  family  demanded  that  he  should  resitle  nearer  the  conveniences  of  civiliza- 
tion.    In  184G  Mr  Anderson  made  an  exploration  for  a  route  from  Alexandria 
ilnwn  the  Fraser  Valley  to  Fort  Langley,  and  in  1847  a  similar  survey  from 
Kaniloop  down  the  Tliompgon  to  the  mouth  of  the  Nicola;  thence  by  way  of 
Lytton  to  Yale  and  Langley.     The  lines  then  traced  afterward  became  the 
niaiii  routes  of  access  to  the  interior.     In  1858,  in  order  to  obtain  means  for 
transport  of  goods  to  the  newly  discovered  gold-diggings,  he  recommended 
Knit  directed  the  opening  of  a  road  from  the  head  of  Harrison  I^ke  by  way  of 
l.iike  Anderson  to  the  crossing  of  the  Fraser,  where  Lilloet  was  afterward 
loeatod.     Five  hundred  miners  were  employeil  on  the  work,  and  the  road  thus 
constructed  was  used  for  the  transport  of  all  supplies,  until  the  road  alo;ig 
tlie  Fraaor  was  made.     In  personal  appearance,  at  the  time  I  saw  him,  he 
lieing  then  sixty-three  years  of  a^e,  Mr  Anderson  was  of  sliglit  build,  wiry 
make,  active  in  mind  and  body,  with  a  keen,  penetrating  eye,  covered  by  lids 
whiuh  persisted  in  a  perpetual  and  spasmodic  winking,  urought  on  years  ago 
by  anow-tield  exposures,  and  now  become  liabitual,  and  doubtless  as  disagree- 
al'le  to  him  as  to  his  friends.     In  speech  he  was  elegant  and  precise,  an<i  by 
no  means  so  verbose  as  in  his  writings,  and  in  carriage,  if  not  so  dignified  as 
Fmlayson,  his  manner  would  do  him  credit  at  St  James. 

''Their  names  were  Edward  Montigny,  J.  B.  Vautrin,  Abraham  Charbon- 
nedcrn.  Theodore  Lacourse,  and  William  Davis.  Andemons  N'ort/uvaU  Cotut, 
MS.,  124. 


I 'IP 

'  i 


M 


!y 


•1  •  J 


V; 
I     ill 


lililhli 


Si- 


'    ;  IS 


M 


lUO 


ANDERSON'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


Anderson's  journal  dates  from  Kainloop,  the  capi 
tal  of  tlio  Tlioinpson  River  district/  whence,  on  the 
15tli  day  of  May  184G,  tlie}-^  started,  and  passed  down 
Thompson  River  to  Cache  Creek,  in  the  main  by  tiie 
lino  of  what  is  now  the  v/agcm-road.  The  first  en- 
campment was  at  tlie  lower  end  of  Kamloop  Lake. 
Crossinj^  the  Defunt  River  in  an  old  canoe  whidi 
they  found  at  hand,  narrowly  escaping  being  swept  to 
their  death  by  an  eddy  into  a  boiling  rapid  in  the 
effort,  they  continued  to  the  River  Bonaparte  wliicli 
they  found  much  swollen.  Nearly  the  whole  of  tiu^ 
17th  was  consumed  in  making  a  bridge  for  the  men. 
and  finding  a  ford  for  the  horses.  At  niglit  they  en- 
camped at  the  Bivi^re  aux  Chapeaux.* 

Through  a  cut  in  the  hills  they  jjussod  on  next  day 
to  a  small  lake,  then  to  another  lake,  then  to  Pavil- 
lion  river  and  village  on  the  Fraser,  following  which 
southward  they  reached  Upper  Fountain  at  four 
o'clock.  In  the  early  part  of  the  day  they  hod 
startled  a  village  of  natives,  who,  rushing  to  arms 
midst  terrific  yells  and  fear-compelling  antics,  threat- 
ened the  party  with  instant  annihilation.  On  An- 
derson's riding  forward  and  demanding  what  all  the 
uproar  was  about,  they  subsided  into  the  smallest 
compass,  saying  they  thought  their  enemies  were  at 
hand. 

Here  the  way  was  found  too  rugged  for  horses,*  so 

'  '  I  remember  the  old,  compact,  and  well-palisaded  fort,  and  the  stockades 
a  little  (lidtatice  nil',  large  enough  for  tlirce  or  four  hundred  horses,  fur  tlie 
hors'j  brijiadea  for  transport  of  goods  in  and  returns  out  for  the  district,  and 
for  New  ( 'alodonia,  generally  numbered  about  two  hundred  and  fiTty  horsfs. 
A  beautiful  sight  was  that  horse  brigade,  with  no  broken  hacks  in  the  train, 
but  every  animal  in  his  full  beauty  of  foi-m  an<l  color,  and  all  so  tractable.' 
Malcolm  McClcod,  in  Peace  River,  114.  The  New  Caledonia  and  Thompson 
Rivpr  briga:lc:i  wore  encamped  at  Kamloop  Miicn  Anderson  set  out. 

*  Now  called  Hat  Creek.  'This  stream  derives  its  name  from  an  Indian 
habitation  connected  with  a  large  granite  stone  on  its  left  bank  indented  with 
83vural  hat-iiku  cavities;  it  flows  throu,";h  a  very  picturesque  valley  ricldy 
covered  witli  herbage,  and  bordered  by  hills  sprinkled  by  fir-trees.'  Aivln- 
soHK  Xnrtliirest  (JotrM,  MS.,  125. 

*  'The  proposed  track  passes  over  a  mountain  1,500  to  2,000  feet  high,  the 
summit  of  which  even  at  this  advanced  season  is  still  thic!;ly  coveretl  with 
snow,  and  obviously  impassable  save  with  snow-shoes.  Indeed,  there  dues 
rot  c:;i  ;t  t'.io  sli'Thtoit  po-isib'lity  of  a  horse-road  in  this  directioa  suitable  tor 
our  purposes.'  Anderson's  Northwest  Coast,  M.S.,  128. 


tliey  W( 
the  Ver 
to  awai 
down  t 

Kngagin 
continue 
Kivir  at 
follow  ] 
found  ii 
liundn'd 
and  j)re 
save  perl 
jjoints  le! 
therefore 
Andersoi 
and  iiarj 
journey, 
with  deni 
ance,  so 
him.  I 

On  the 
Anderson 
(lid  not  s 
for  an  es 
]ior.se-pas1 
should  th< 
than  the 
tute  woul( 

The  joi 
in  canoes 
were  freq 
fell  upon 
>>anin  day 

Thus  f{ 
vith  his  I 
return.  I 
company  > 
ing  the  ha 
fishery,  th 

III  ST 


DOWN  THE  FKASEH. 


ta 


they  were  sent  into  the  open  country  southward,  to 
the  Vermilion  branch  of  the  Siniilkanieen  Hiver,  there 
to  await  Anderson's  return,  and  the  party  continued 
down  the  river,  alternately  on  foot  and  hy  canoo. 
Kii<jfaj^ing  several  native  lads  to  carry  luyj^aj^e,  they 
continued  their  journey  next  day  and  crossed  Fraser 
Kivir  at  Lilloet.  Anderson  had  hoped  to  he  able  to 
follow  Fraser  liivcr  to  its  mouth,  hut  this  he  now 
found  iuipossihli!.  'Precipitous  rocks,  ten  to  fifteen 
hundn-d  feet  in  heij^ht,''  he  says,  'rise  on  both  sides, 
and  preclude  the  j)ossibility  of  all  proj^rcss  by  land, 
save  perhaps  by  ecalinjjf  the  craggy  sides  at  some  rare 
jioints  less  precij)itous  than  the  rest."  He  concluded, 
therefore,  to  strike  westward  by  lakes  Seton  and 
Anderson,  and  thence  proceed  southward  by  Lilloet 
and  Harrison  lakes,  which  was  done.  It  Avas  a  rough 
journey,  but  the  natives  everywhere  received  him 
with  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  lent  him  every  assist- 
ance, so  that  no  insurmountable  obstacles  opposed 
liini. 

On  the  2lst,  while  in  the  vicinity  of  Lilloet  Kiver, 
Anderson  writes:  "As  far  as  my  search  extended,  I 
(lid  not  see  any  favorable  spot  conveniently  situated 
for  an  establishment  having  the  maintenance  of  a 
horso-pasture  in  view.  But  it  may  be  presumed  that 
should  the  idea  ever  be  entertained,  a  narrower  search 
than  the  state  of  our  provisions  enabled  nie  to  insti- 
tute Would  prove  successful." 

The  journey  by  the  line  of  lakes  was  made  chiefly 
in  canoes  obtained  from  the  natives,  though  portages 
were  frequent.  About  noon  or  the  24th,  the  party 
fell  upon  Fraser  River  again,  and  at  five  o'clock  the 
sanio  day  reached  Fort  Langley. 

Thus  far  Anderson  was  not  particularly  pleased 
v'ith  his  success,  but  he  hoped  to  do  better  on  his 
return.  Embarking  at  Langley,  the  28th  of  May,  in 
company  with  a  party  from  the  fort  Avho  were  ascend- 
ing the  river  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  salmon 
fishery,  they  encamped  the  first  night  just  below  the 

IIIHT.  UltlT.  COL.     11 


[  '7 

itl!  - 


rt- 


■:  *''1( 


* 'fl 


IS'!? 


■!   !'■ 


PI 


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r'f' 


v^l-     t 


162 


ANDERSON'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


Chilakweyak.*  The  second  day  thereafter,  at  noon, 
they  reached  the  mouth  of  the  llaekullum,  just  below 
the  Quequealla'  River,  where  the  town  of  Hope  now 
stands.  There  Anderson  and  his  assistants  were  left 
by  the  Fort  Langley  party. 


Andkbsom's  Roctu. 


Anderson  had  brought  with  him  an  Indian  chief 
as  a  guide  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Similkameen, 
and,  plunging  through  the  Cascade  Range,  hoped 
for  the  best."  Over  a  high  ridge,  he  continued  his 
march  through  a  labyrinth  of  huge  bowlders  which 

*  Written  by  Anderson  Chilwhaeook. 

*  Or  u  it  is  now  called  the  Coqnihalla.    Go  Tmtch's  map  Coqnhalla. 
''This  from  all  I  could  ascertain,  both  at  Kamloop  and  Fort  Langley,  i« 

the  most  probable  if  not  only  route  by  which  it  is  likely  we  may  disci:"'.'r  < 
oommunicatioB  for  horaea,  if  auch  exist.'  AnderaoiCt  N.  Coatt,  MS.,  HiS. 


I    f 


SKAGIT  RIVER. 


163 


seemed  to  laugh  at  these  searchers  for  a  horse-way 
tlirough  them,  and  the  baffled  party  beat  a  retreat. 
Another  defile"  to  the  northward  was  next  attempted 
and  with  better  success.  Returning  to  the  Fraser, 
Anderson  engaged  a  boat,  which  carried  them  into  the 
Quequealla,  where  disembarking  they  took  a  south- 
eastward course  by  land,  and  soon  found  themselves  in 
a  broad,  well  watered  valley.  Passing  out  of  this 
into  a  defile,  they  examined  the  country  carefully  on 
lH)th  sides  of  the  river,  and  though  rugged,  Anderson 
discovered  a  route  through  which  he  thought  a  road 
might  be  built.  Of  the  surface  over  which  his 
proposed  horse-path  should  go,  he  gives  a  minute 
description,  so  partic  lar  that  from  it  a  contractor 
niij^ht  almost  make  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  con- 
struction. 

The  first  day  of  June,  while  groping  his  way  slowly 
among  the  craggy  hills  and  unexplored  streams  of 
this  region,  Anderson  fell  in  with  an  intelligent  Indian 
from  the  fork  of  Thompson  River.  He  was  hunting 
beaver,  and  being  well  acquainted  with  the  country 
Anderson  engaged  him  under  promise  of  a  few  charges 
of  ammunition  and  some  tobacco  to  show  him  the 
way.  The  party  were  now  at  the  Sumallow^"  branch 
of  the  Skagit  River,  down  which  they  proceeded  to 
the  fork,  and  then  up  the  north-east  branch,  or  the 
head-waters  of  the  Skagit.  Their  way  was  for  the 
most  part  through  a  rocky,  thickly  wooded  country, 
the  elevations  and  even  some  of  the  valleys  being 
covered  with  snow.  Occasional  patches  of  grass  were 
found  on  which  horses  might  feed.  Wending  their 
way  north-east  toward  the  height  of  land,  they  leave 
the  little  river  and  ascend  the  mountain  from  whose 
side  the  forest  had  been  partially  burned  by  the  natives. 
Arrived  at  the  summit,  a  vast  expanse  of  white  lay 

*  It  was  up  the  TIaekullum  defile  the  Langley  guide  first  took  them ;  now 
An<ler8on  proposed  to  follow  up  the  Quequea^a. 

'"The  Indians  call  it  Simalaouch,  or  Simallaow,  and  say  that  it  falla,  aa 
nearly  as  I  can  ascertain,  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  Bellingham  Bay.' 
Aiuleraon'a  Northuxtt  Coa$t,  MS.,  144. 


!         .1 


i'^ 


Mliill 


m. 


m 


ANDERSONS  EXPLORATIONS. 


P  I 


spread  out  bcforo  thorn."  Close  at  liand  was  a  small 
lake  liavinu  a  striking;  resemblance  to  the  Committee's 
Punch  Bowl  at  the  summit  t)f  Athabasca  Pass.  Hen; 
their  jjuide  left  them. 

Missinj^  a  good  Indian  trail  on  account  of  its  beinij^ 
covered  with  snow, they  wandered  jd)out,  scarcely  know - 
iiiij;  where  they  were.  One  of  the  party,  Montigny, 
lost  himself  while  out  explorinjj^,  and  Anderson  was 
obliged  to  go  in  search  of  him.  From  Sununit  l^ukc 
they  followed,  as  best  they  might,  its  outlet,  which 
WJis  a  feeder  of  the  Similkameen  liiver,  to  Vermilioi., 
or  ]{ed  Earth  Fork,  the  appointed  rendezvous,  where 
they  fountl  their  horses, 

l*roceeding  northward  through  a  fine  o])en  country, 
they  reached  the  Louchameen  road,  just  above  Roclur 
dc  la  Bichc,  which  took  them  to  McDonald  Kivcr, 
whence  by  Nicola  Lake  they  continued  their  journey 
with  ease  and  pleasure  to  Kand()op,  where  tiuy 
arrived  at  evening  on  the  Oth  of  June.  Thence  An- 
derson ])roceeded  to  Alexandria. 

"This  line,"  says  Anderson,  "in  its  main  features 
was  afterward  adopted  for  the  government  road,  and 
is  tlie  direct  route  «)f  eonnnunication  with  the  soutli- 
western  interior  of  British  Columbia."  It  was  the 
intention  that  the  trail  from  Kandoop  to  ]rn|te 
should  be  made  suitable  for  horses.  For,  concludes 
the  journal,  "  a  temporary  establishment  would  o( 
course  be  recjuired  at  the  place  where  the  horses 
must  remain,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Quecpiealla.  Ae- 
cording  to  all  accounts,  this  vicinity  allbrds  one  of  tlie 
most  prolific  fisheries  on  Fraser  liiver.  Tlie  services 
of  a  few  men  might  thus  be  profitably  employed  in 
the  interval  during  which  it  would  be  necessarv  <>> 
maintain  the  post.  The  boats  necessarv  for  the  accoiii- 
modation  of  the  brigade  were  to  be  brought  up  'ty 
the  Langley  people  and  Indians  at  the  })roptT  [urnxl, 


t  i', 


"Tho  causo  was  easily  explaiiicil,  ln'iiig  'ascrilniMoto  tlui  relative;  pusitiuii 
of  till!  npposito  Hides;  tiiat  l)y  wliicli  we  ascciiiiccl  lias  a  Hiuitlicni  i!X|n)suiv', 
lyiiii;  n])t>ii,  ooiiRe(|Ui!iitly,  to  tlio  full  iulltionco  «if  the  huii'h  rays,  aided  liy  I  lie 
Buuthurii  wiiuls,  and  vice  verm.'  Aiitti'i-Moii'ii  ^orUuiMniC  t'txi-it,  SiS.,  14'J. 


M 


TIIK  SIMILKAMEEN  COUNTRY. 


165 


i<l 
1- 
it' 
to 

(if 

St'S 
iC- 

li' 

'I'S 

ill 

lo 

111- 

i.v 


coil vevin<»;  salt  and  barrels;  the  ])roducts  of  the  fishery 
to  bo  conveyed  by  the  same  means  to  Fort  Langley, 
jiiU'r  the  return  of  the  bri«^ado." 

From  Alexandria,  Anderson  wrote  the  boanl  of 
iiiiinat^ement  at  Fort  Vancouver  on  the  21st,  and 
a^ain  on  the  2l{d  of  June,  ufivin*^  the  particulars  of 
his  proceedings  and  his  opinion  concerning  the  result. 
\W  waiting  until  the  snow  nu.'lted,  and  the  streams 
swollen  thereby  had  subsided,  ho  i)ronounced  practi- 
cable the  route  by  wa}'  of  the  Quecjuealla  and  Lake 
Nicola.  Fearful  lest  the  opening  of  a  road  by  the 
wJiite  men  should  tlie  easier  let  tluur  enemies  of  the 
Siinilkameen  upon  them,  tlu^  natives  of  Fraser  liiver 
(lid  not  kindly  regard  the  movement.  Indeed,  Ander- 
son was  informed  by  Blackeye,  a  most  respectable  abo- 
ii;4iiial  and  an  a^/tuiAc'of  Kamlooj),  thatl^diallok,  chief 
of  the  Fraser  River  Indians,  ha<l  tampered  with  Ids 
titli>lity  by  attempting  to  persuade  him  to  mislead  and 
tilt  reby  deter  the  road-makers  from  their  purpose. 
SoDio  delay  might  arise  therefrom,  but  no  serious 
trouble  was  apprehended. 

It  was  an  important  matter,  this  selection  of  a 
route  for  the  main  line  of  travel  between  the  British 
Columliia  sea-board  and  the  Ulterior,  and  the  stu- 
[u'ikIous  obstacles  interposed  by  nature  rendered  it  not 
so  easy  of  accomplishment.  Anderson  had  learned 
iiiiicli  in  his  late  exi)loration,  but  yet  he  was  not 
tlioroughly  satisfied.  Hence,  in  the  following  sum- 
iiur  W(!  find  him  examining  Thompson  and  F'raser 
livers  between  Kamlooj)  and  Langley,  having  the 
saine  ])urpose  in  view. 

Sotting  out  from  Kamloop  on  the  T.»th  of  Mny 
1^17,  Anderson  proceeds  with  five  men  to  Niet)!a 
liiiko,  wlienee,  following  the  Nicola  Kiver  by  the  trail 
of  the  trading  parties  to  its  junction  with  the  Thomp 
^oii,  lie  sends  back  the  horses,  to  meet  him  on  the 
i'^rascr  near  Anderson  lliver,  where  there  is  a  well- 
liiiown  trail  from  that   point  to  Similkameon.     The 


n 


I 


'  1 
?  I 


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1.;' 


■(  it 


iff 

•r, 


166 


ANDERSON'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


weather  is  sultry ;  several  Indian  camps  are  encountered 
on  the  wr^v ;  the  country  is  remarkable  for  its  rugged 
volcanic  rock,  wormwood,  and  rattlesnakes.  Crossing 
the  Nicola  in  a  canoe,  on  the  22d  the  explorers  con- 
tinue along  the  left  bank  of  Thompson  Kiver,  crossing 
the  streams  on  fallen  trees  until  next  day,  when  they 
reach  Fraser  River,  and  encamp  near  the  Indian 
village  of  Shilkumcheen,  where  now  stands  Lytton. 
Here,  contracted  to  a  width  of  some  sixty  yards  and 
deepened  correspondingly,  the  Thompson  flows  quietly 
between  ragged  bounds  of  limestone  and  granite  into 
the  Fraser.  Soon  Pahallok  presents  himself,  and  do- 
livers  a  letter  from  Yale.  Accompanying  the  chief 
is  a  concourse  of  savages,  men,  women,  and  children, 
a  scampish-looking  set  of  vagabonds  Anderson  calls 
them,  though  exceedingly  polite  and  affable. 

Continuing  along  the  left  bank  of  the  Fraser  on  the 
24th,  Anderson  finds  the  road  as  well  as  the  river-bed 
exceedingly  rough,  and  pronounces  it  impracticable 
for  a  loaded  horse  brii^ade.  Nor  can  Pahallok  or  aiiv 
native  of  that  region  point  out  a  smoother  wuy.'^ 
Still  the  natives  at  the  villages  they  pass  receive  them 
with  loud  acclaims  and  bombastic  oratory.  At  tlie 
stream  called  Tummuhl  the  aborigines  are  actively 
employed  in  erecting  a  stockade  for  protection  against 
their  enemies,  and  the  superior  death-dealing  con- 
trivances of  the  white  men  would  be  exceedingly  ser- 
viceable just  now.  Squazowm,  a  populous  village,  is 
reached  the  25th.  The  river  banks  in  this  vicinity 
are  wooded  with  cedar,  pine,  and  plane  trees,  and  the 
hills  which  rise  abruptly  in  the  background  are  I'ne 
from  timber  in  parts,  aflbrding  good  pasturage.  Ilei  b- 
age  on  the  elevations  is  luxuriant,  and  the  hiU-sidcs 
are  decked  with  larkspur,  red  flowering  vetch,  and 
the  dwarf  sunflower,  which  flaunts  its  glories  in  bravo 
contrast   to  the   arid   declivities   so  recently  passed. 


"  '  In  the  vicinity  of  the  villaee  called  Skaoose  is  a  succession  of  rocky 
hills,  some  of  M'hich  arc  avoiilahlo  l>y  making  a  circuit,  while  others  appiMi-  to 
offer  no  such  alternative .  .  The  rocky  iiassagus  extend  tor  a  long  distiiucu. 
Amlerson'a  Northwest  Coast,  MS.,  I(j5. 


THE  RETURN. 


ler 


The  horse- road  which  leads  hence  to  the  Similkameen 
country,  as  well  as  the  region  between  this  point  and 
Nicola  Lake,  is  well  known  to  Montigny  and  Michel 
Ogden,  both  of  whom  have  traversed  it;  therefore 
Anderson  deemed  it  safe  enough  to  order  his  horses 
sent  thither,  and  does  not  feel  obliged  to  stop  now  to 
examine  it.  The  new  road  was  but  recently  opened 
by  the  Similkameens. 

Their  way  now  lies  along  the  Squazowm,'*  which 
they  cross  upon  a  fallen  tree  and  follow  for  some  dis- 
tance, when  they  pass  over  to  the  Eraser.  Anderson 
now  seeks  a  suitable  place  for  a  ferry  across  this  man- 
defying  stream,  passage  by  the  left  bank  becoming 
more  than  ever  perilous.  Kequeloose,  near  where 
the  suspension  bridge  has  since  been  erected,  is  reached 
the  27th,  and  Spuzzum  six  miles  below,  which  stands 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Fraser,  and  where  Pahallok 
l)roposes  that  the  ferry  should  be  ])laced.  "The  coun- 
try is  very  rough,"  remarks  Anderson,  "and  much  labor 
with  many  painful  circuits  would  be  necessary  to  com- 
I)lete  a  road  anywise  practicable  for  horses."  The  ex- 
plorers, after  careful  observation,  think  most  of  the 
ra[)ids  hereabout  can  be  run  as  safely  as  those  of  the 
Columbia.  Leaving  now  the  ra})ids,  their  pathway 
leads  ahmg  a  causeway  of  cedar  boards  connecting 
several  projecting  points  overhanging  a  precipice;  ob- 
viously an  exceedingly  dangerous  walk.  Then  after 
crossing  a  stream  they  come  on  the  28tli  to  tlie  first 
village  of  the  Sachincos,  where  afterward  the  fort  and 
town  of  Yale  were  placed.  After  a  hearty  breakfast 
next  morning,  on  fresh  salmon  and  potatoes  furnished 
by  the  natives,  in  hired  canoes  they  pass  rapidly  down 
the  river  to  Langley. 

Keturning,  they  leave  Fort  Langley  the  1st  of 
June,  having,  in  addition  to  the  canoes  hired  from 
the  natives,  a  large  Northwest  Coast  canoe  in  which 
Anderson  proposes  to  attempt  the  ascent  of  the  rnp- 

"Now,  more  appropriately  than  is  always  the  case,  called  AiiderBon 
KiviT, 


.1 

i 


u 

1. 
1 

I'll 


F 


168 


ANDERSON'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


ids  to  Kequeloose,  where  he  proposes  the  horse-port- 
age of  cotnincrce  by  proving  the  navigabihty  of  the 
Frasor  thus  far.  The  ascent  of  the  rapids  is  begun 
on  the  4th  of  June,  a  rainy  day,  the  natives  offi- 
ciating with  the  boat."  Two  portages  are  made  with- 
out much  difficulty,  when  the  boat  is  lightened,  and 
taken  by  a  line  through  the  swollen  channel;  then 
crossing  to  the  o])posite  side,  the  ascent  was  continued, 
one  Indian  being  in  the  boat  and  the  others  dragging 
by  the  line.  All  goes  well  until  the  middle  of  the  last 
ra})id  is  about  reached,  when  the  line  parts,  and  tlio 
boat  sweeps  swiftly  down  the  current  while  a  wail  as- 
cends from  the  bank  over  the  perilous  position  of  tlic 
boatman.  Fortunately,  with  the  boat  but  half  full 
of  water,  he  succeeds  in  getting  it  into  an  eddy,  and 
so  comes  to  land.  But  he  cannot  be  induced  to  enter 
it  again ;  so  the  canoe  is  carried  with  no  small  diffi- 
culty to  the  head  of  tho  falls,  where  they  encanij). 
After  paying  the  natives  for  their  important  assifst- 
ancc,  taey  continue  next  morning,  breakfast  at  Spuz- 
zum,  and  reach  Kequeloose  at  eleven.  Leaving  the 
canoe  in  charge  of  Pahallok,  they  set  out  over  the 
proposed  horse-portage  by  way  of  Lake  Nicola  tn 
Kamloop,  clearing  the  way  with  their  axes  as  tluy 
go,  and  reaching  the  horse  rendezvous  the  8th.  Tlie 
last  day  they  had  merely  indicated  the  route  by  clii[)- 
phig  the  trees,  the  natives  under  the  superintendcnee 
of  Pahallok  undertaking  to  finish  this  portion  of  the 
road  for  them.  The  natives  below  object  to  the  j)nt- 
posed  change  of  route,  and  one  of  them  threatens  dis- 
turbance, but  is  soon  quieted.  On  the  10th,  Anderson 
leaves  the  party  in  charge  of  Montrose  McGilli\riiy, 
with  orders  to  continue  the  opening  of  tlie  road  to 
Lake  Nicola,  and  then  to  proceed  to  Kamloojt  in 
time  to  meet  with  the  horses  of  the  New  Caledonia 


'*  'Cross  to  the  eilily  at  tho  foot;  make  a  short  portage  and  rcc'inl'irU   . 
A  scrii'8  of  cilclios  ioinluot«  to  a  secoml  jiortago  upon  tlio  same  side,  rij;lil  :is- 
I'ciiiding.  .  .Cross  and  l)roakfa.st  at  the  foot  of  tlie  rapid  formed  like  tlic  lirst 
))y  a  rock  which  lies  near  the  left  shore.'  Amleraon'n  NorthtWHt  Coa.il,  MS., 
178. 


li'  i 


ANOTHER  ROUTE. 


169 


Itrigade  at  Okanagan.  Anderson  then  presses  on  to 
MrDonakl  River  and  Kauiloop,  and  thence  proceeds 
to  Alexandria. 

It  would  seem  from  these  facts,  taken  wholly  from 
And(>rson's  journals  and  letters,  that  prior  to  these 
expeditions  no  route  between  Langloy  and  New  Cale- 
donia was  open ;  none  practicable  was  known  to  exist, 
the  nearest  approach  to  it  being  that  portion  of  an 
Indian  or  horse  trail  from  Siniilkameen  to  Koque- 
loose,  a  point  on  Fraser  River  six  miles  above  Spuz- 
zuni.  His  first  return  route,  by  the  defile  of  the 
Coquihalla  and  the  Vermilion  Fork  of  the  Similka- 
iiicon,  Anderson  thought  ])resented  almost  insurmount- 
alile  obstacles;  tlio  snow  alone  preventing  the  road 
from  being  open  for  more  tban  a  brief  period  each 
year.  The  second  route,  by  way  of  Kequeloose,  he 
preferred,  provided  the  rapids  intervening  could  be 
overcome.  Of  the  first  he  reports  to  tlie  board  of 
'iiunagement:  "I  have  no  opinion  of  its  feasibility. 
It  is  difficult  to  realize  a  conception  of  the  ruggedness 
of  this  extraordinary  region."  And  of  the  other  route : 
"Keeping  in  view  the  ol)vious  disadvantages  insepa- 
rable from  the  route  surveyed  by  me  last  summer,  as 
being  availal)le  only  for  a  comparatively  brief  seastm 
of  the  3'ear,  I  have  no  longer  any  hesitation  in  accord- 
ing a  decided  preference  to  the  route  recently  exam- 
ined by  way  of  Kcfpieloose.  The  series  of  raj)ids  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  falls,  extending  with  intervals  of 
sniooth  watf  "  ■  all  from  two  to  tliree  miles,  jiresents 
no  insurmoui'aible  imi)ediment  to  our  ]>rogress,  from 
the  facility  of  making  portages  if  found  necessary,  as 
tluy  doubtless  will  be  at  the  higher  stages  ci  the 
water.  .  .  .  For  divers  reasons  I  would  suggest  tiiat  the 
New  Caledonia  party,  if  intending  to  pass  by  the  new 
route,  should  not  leave  Alexandria  before  the  2oth 
AFay,  timing  their  departure  so  as  to  reach  Langley 
about  the  20th  June,  to  admit  of  a  delay  of  ten  days 
there,  and  to  depart  about  the  Iht  July,  a  day  or  two 


I 


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170 


ANDERSON'S  EXPLORATIONS. 


1 
H 


H 


1 1 


later  than  the  brigade  usually  leaves  Vancouver  by 
the  present  route."  We  shall  see  later  the  more 
definite  results  of  these  observations;  suffice  it  for 
the  present  to  say,  that  several  lines  were  ultimately 
opened,  and  that  Anderson  was  finally  led  to  modify 
his  first  marked  preference  for  the  route  by  way  of 
Kequeloose  and  Lake  Nicola. 

Understanding  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
board  of  management  to  open  the  new  route  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  that  is  to  say,  1848,  Anderson  coupled 
with  his  report  the  following  suggestions: 

A  sufficient  number  of  boats,  similar  to  those  used 
on  the  Columbia,  should  be  constructed  during  the 
winter,  either  at  Kequeloose  or  Langley,  and  if  built 
at  the  latter  place,  they  should  be  sent  to  the  ren- 
dezvous at  Kequeloose  before  the  river  was  swollen 
by  the  melting  snow,  A  gauge  at  Langley  would  at 
all  times  determine  the  state  of  things  above,  the  rise 
or  fall  of  one  foot  at  that  point  being  equivalent  to  a 
rise  or  fall  of  eight  or  ten  feet  in  the  confined  channels 
of  the  inferior  regions.  It  would  be  well  for  the 
brigade  to  time  its  return  with  the  ascent  of  the 
salmon,  as  well  that  provisions  might  be  plenty  as 
that  navigation  would  be  easier,  owing  to  the  abatiiiy 
of  the  waters,  which  considerations  apply  to  all  the 
lines  of  intercommunication  as  far  north  as  Stuart 
Lake.  Likewise  by  making  the  annual  departure 
from  Alexandria  as  late  in  the  spring  as  possible,  agri- 
cultural operations  would  be  less  interfered  with,  and 
horses  then  would  be  in  better  condition. 

Anderson  concludes  with  a  lengthy  discussion,  (^!.  - 
tailing  regulations  which  should  govern  the  s])nn!if 
and  autumn  expresses  to  and  from  Hudson  Bay,  tlie 
use  of  boats  and  horses,  and  the  introduction,  when' 
necessary,  of  sledges  and  snow-shoes,  an  Indian  mail 
system,  intercourse  between  posts,  protection  of  })ri  p- 
erty,  treatment  of  the  natives,  and  the  like,  all  emi- 
nently practical  and  interesting,  but  which  for  lack  «if 
space  I  shall  not  be  able  here  to  introduce. 


CHAPTER  X. 

YALE  AND  HOPE  ESTABLISHED. 
1848-1849. 

K*I  AllLISIlMENT  ON  THE  FrASER  AT  THE  LANDING  OF  THE   SaCHINCOS — JaMES 

MuKRAY  Yale — Causes  Which  Led  to  the  Buildinu  of  Fokt  Yale — 
Orders  Given  Interior  Traders  to  Break  their  Way  thbouoh  to 
Lanuley — Three  Brigades  Join  for  That  Purpose — The  Route 
Chosen  not  Satisfactory — Anderson's  Proposal — Building  of  Fort 
lIorE— A  New  Koute  Aitempted — It  Proves  Worse  than  the 
First — Joseph  W.  McKay  on  the  North  Coast — Sharp  Praiticb 

HKTWEEN  EnuLISH  AND  RUSSIAN  TRADERS — ThE  '  CONSTANCE  '  IN  NoRTH- 

r.RN  Waters — Effects  in  British  Columbia  of  the  California  Oold 
]>iscovERY — Bags  of  Gold-dust  at  Fobt  Victoria — The  Excitement 
IN  the  Interior. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1848  a  small  post  was 
civ(;ted  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  on  the  Eraser 
Kivor  near  a  village  of  the  Sachincos,  and  just  below 
the  rapids  ascended  by  Anderson  the  year  previous. 
Tlio  establishment  was  called  Fort  Yale,  in  honor  of 
Chief  Factor  Yale,^  then  in  charge  of  Fort  Langley, 
and  was  the  only  point  on  the  wild,  weird  Eraser 
between  Langley  and  Alexandria,  a  distance  of  some 
three  hundred  miles,  then  occupied  by  white  men,  save 
only  the  salmon  fishery  estabhshed  below  the  Coqui- 
halla  two  years  previous. 

'  .fumes  Murray  Yale  entered  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
wluMi  liut  a  boy,  in  about  the  year  1815.  For  a  long  time  ho  remained  a  boy, 
lint  rcctjiving  any  promotion  until  fifteen  years  after  tlio  coalition,  or  twenty- 
dill'  years  after  entering  the  service;  and  to  the  day  of  hia  death,  and  long 
afterward,  lie  was  known  to  the  officers  of  the  company  only  as  Little  Yale. 
Tliimgh  small  of  statue  he  was  strongly  built,  wiry,  and  active,  and  as  coura- 
giiiiis  and  enduring  as  a  young  Hercules.  lnilee<l,  his  reckless  bravery  was 
fur  a  time  rather  against  him  tiian  otherwise,  bs  it  rendered  him  in  a  measure 
unlit  for  tliti  staider  duties  attending  promotion  and  partnerdlii[);  but  this 


i  J 


!<*> 


:  '1 


lii^m  i 


I  ■ 


I'l 


,1'. 

I: 


triiiili 


m 


fi ;   ; '' 


'i 

'At 

w' 

J; 

I  ' ' 

172 


YALE  .VNI)  HOPE  e;:tabusiiei). 


Olio  immediate  cause  which  led  to  this  estabhshmeiit 
was  the  Waiilatpu  massacre,  wliich  occurred  in  tlic 
autumn  of  1847,  and  tlie  liostihties  which  fohowed. 
Anotlier  was  the  conclusion  of  the  Oregon  treaty  of 
184G,  which  not  only  placed  the  boundary  line  seven;! 
degrees  north  of  the  lower  Columbia,  but  left  tlic 
matter  of  duties  on  foreign  goods  in  sucli  a  sha[)e  as 
almost  to  stop  business  at  Fort  Vancouver.  To  Brit- 
'u\\  subjects  was  reserved  the  right  of  freely  navigating 
the  Columbia  and  ])assing  over  the  portages  with  their 
goods,  upon  the  same  terms  accorded  citizens  of  tlic 

was  afterward  proved  a  great  ini:4tako,  or  else  as  the  man  advanced  in  years 
li  i  changed  materially,  lor  \\  all  the  company's  Bcrvice  there  w as  scareily  a 
better  post-commander  than  Little  Yale.  From  boyhood,  hanlship  seemed  to 
mark  him  for  its  own;  his  young  bones  were  kneaded  in  the  trough  of  expos- 
ure, and  the  sword  of  Damocles  seemed  too  often  to  hang  fiom  tiie  trees  of 
tlio  forest  lie  tlireiided.  His  first  appearance  in  tlie  arena  of  savage  life  while 
yet  a  stripling  is  significant  of  the  man's  character  and  of  his  subserpient 
career.  It  was  at  a  time  when  feuds  waxed  wurm  between  the  brother  skin- 
buyers,  eacli  fearful  less  the  other  should  gain  advantage.  The  old  ailven- 
turers  of  Ijij;land  had  fully  awakened  to  the  fact  that  their  niorcslu'ewd  and 
energetir  rivals  of  the  Northwest  Company  were  surrountling  them  in  their 
operations,  and  if  they  would  secure  territory  ecpial  to  their  desires,  tliey  nuist 
Ijave  the  sliores  of  Hudson's  Bay  and  take  possession  of  it.  So  po.sts  wire 
planted  along  the  Saskatchewan,  the  highest  of  which  was  then  K  Iniontoii; 
a. id  as  lied  Kiver  blossomed  un<ler  the  benign  smile  of  tlie  Earl  of  Silhik, 
his  associates  followed  their  more  adventurous  opponents  througli  I'eaee  K'vit 
Pass,  anil  opened  their  eyes  toward  the  Pacific. 

Just  about  the  time  Yalo  entered  the  service,  John  Clark,  with  one  Imii- 
dreil  men,  set  out  for  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  beyond,  for  the  pr.rposr  of 
planting  new  posts  for  the  circumvention  of  the  Northwest  Company.  ('■  r- 
t  lin  fi.sheries  in  the  beaver  country,  upon  which  they  had  depemled  for  a  win- 
ter's food  supply,  failed  them,  and  starvation  stared  them  in  the  face.  TIk  ir 
rivals  were  there  with  food,  and  would  most  charitably  have  supplied  tluiii 
on  condilion  of  tlieir  renouncing  allegiance  so  the  old  adventurers  and  joining' 
tiie  Northwesters;  but  sooner  than  do  this  they  wouht  die. 

And  die  they  must  uidess  relief  should  soon  oome.  One  day  an  Indian  came 
into  their  camp  and  reported  that  his  people  had  been  successful  li.iiiiiig,  and 
that  they  had  food.  Though  the  way  was  long  and  perilous,  a  party,  o:n-  it 
whom  was  the  boy  Y'alo,  set  out  for  the  Indian  camp.  One  after  another  fell  1  y 
the  way,  overcome  by  starvation  and  fatigue,  and  laid  down  earth's  burden  m 
<U'spair.  At  length  Y' ale's  little  legs  began  to  fail  him.  A  long  tramp  ttironL'H 
the  deep  snow  took  him  greatly  at  disadvantage.  In  this,  hij  first  adventiiie, 
he  had  become  the  pet  and  proti'ij/;  of  a  stalwart  ohl  voyageur,  \\  ho  was  as  .i 
giant  to  this  Jack,  and  who  encouraged  him  by  every  means  in  his  jiower  to 
keep  moving.  But  all  was  of  no  avail.  The  boy  finally  threw  himself  on  the 
snow  and  told  his  old  friend  to  leave  him  there  and  to  save  himself.  Tiie  French- 
man continued  a  few  paces,  calling  to  his  companion  to  come  on  and  keip  up 
his  courage.  But  finding  it  all  of  no  avail,  he  retraced  his  steps,  tearing  liis 
hair,  and  swearing  as  only  a  French  Canadian  can  swear,  meanw^hile  liis  Iiij,' 
heart  swelling,  and  as  ho  came  up  to  his  now  insensible  little  friend,  Imrsti.ig 
into  tears — these  villanous  voyageurs  could  sometimes  cry  like  women — lie  ex- 
claimed in  his  doggerel  French:   '  Sacrel  niisOire!    C'es*;  trop  do  valeurl    Fni- 


EXPEDITION  UNDER  M  ANSON. 


173 


Uiiltcd  States.  But  this,  of  course,  did  not  permit  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Coiu])any  to  import  goods  free  of  duty. 
So  long  as  Fort  Vancouver  remained  the  distribut- 
ing depot,  imported  packages  must  there  bo  broken 
and  parcelled  fortlie  several  interior  and  coast  stations. 
To  p.iy  tlie  same  tariff"  on  goods  destined  for  British 
Columlila  traffic  which  citizens  of  the  United  States 
wtTo  ol)liged  to  pay  on  goods  sold  in  Oregon,  was  not 
for  a  moment  to  be  thought  of  Less  was  said  in 
Oregon  about  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  as  the  cause  of 
liasteuiiig  a  change  of  base,  than  of  the  hostilities  fol- 
lowing the  Wliltman  massacre,  which  set  bristling  the 
sava!.;os  of  the  Columbia  as  far  up  as  Walla  Walla, 
but  the  former  rendered  the  opening  of  a  route  be- 
tween the  seaboard  and  the  interior  within  British 
territory  as  necessary  as  did  the  latter. 

The  building  of  Fort  Yale  had,  indeed,  been  pro- 
jected before  the  outbreak  of  hostilities;  the  terms  of 
the  treaty  were  amply  sufficient  to  warrant  the  move, 
as  wi^ll  as  to  hasten  the  opening  of  a  new  route,  but 
eaeli  several  event  carried  Its  due  weight. 

However  all  this  might  have  been,  certain  it  is  that 
early  In  1848  orders  were  sent  by  express  fr-om  Fort 
^'alle()uver  to  the  officers  in  charge  of  the  interior 
posts  Immediately  to  break  their  way  through  to 
Langley,  where  supplies  from  head-quarters  for  the 
several  districts  would  be  sent  this  year. 

Acting  on  these  instructions,  a  part}',  consisting  of 
three  brigades,  namely,  one  each  from  New  Caledonia, 

l)iiniuo  !  Embarque  !'  by  which  latter  marino  exclamation  the  Canadians  were 
wiiiit  ti)  tell  little  people  to  get  oil  their  back,  and  seizing  Yale  by  the  arm, 
lio  Hwiing  him  over  hia  shoulder  on  to  his  pack,  and  sturdily  marched  forward. 
'1  hat  iii.  Jit  they  reached  tlio  Indian  camp,  wliere  an  affecting  scene  took  place. 
^\^'  gciKTally  associate  in  our  minds  with  savages  only  bUMid-thirstiness,  mer- 
cil('^sIu•ss,  and  cruelty.  To  many  native  women  were  given  by  tlie  creator 
la'ait.-j  as  Immane  and  tender  as  to  many  white-skinned  dames.  At  sight  of 
t  le  siiiseless  youth,  says  Anderson,  to  whom  tlio  tale  was  told,  '  the  women 
of  tlie  camp  melted  to  tears,  rushed  forward,  carried  Yalo  into  their  encamp- 
int'iit,  rubbed  his  limbs  to  restore  suspended  circulation,  fed  him  with  clioico 
liroths,  and  in  every  way  treated  him  as  if  he  had  been  one  among  tlieir  own 
cliiMn  n.'  We  may  be  sure  the  boy  never  forgot  that  old  voyageiir  or  those 
liiili.iii  wonuMi.  About  1870,  after  over  half  a  century  of  continuous  Hud- 
son's ]5ay  Conijiany  service,  Yale  settled  near  Victoria,  and  died  there,  leav- 
ing several  children. 


>       I 


M 


[* ' 


\m 


m 


YALE  AND  HOPE  ESTABU8HED. 


Thompson  River,  and  Colville,  after  due  preparation, 
set  out  toward  the  end  of  May,  selecting  as  their  way 
Anderson's  return  route  of  the  previous  summer. 
Fifty  men  with  four  hundred  horses,  many  of  thtm 
unbroken,  comprised  the  party,  which  was  under  the 
command  of  Donald  Manson  of  New  Caledonia,  he 
being  senior  officer  present,  Anderson,  in  charge  of 
the  Colville  district  to  which  he  had  been  recently 
appointed,  being  second. 

It  is  needless  to  recite  the  difficulties  encountered 
by  the  three  brigades  united  under  Manson.  A  small 
party  can  often  manage  better  in  an  untrodden  wilder- 
ness than  a  large  one.  In  the  present  instance  a  large 
band  of  heavily  laden  horses  was  no  slight  encum- 
brance. Over  the  roughest  part  Anderson's  former 
journey  had  been  on  foot,  and  with  the  anxiety  and 
chagrin  attending  the  discomforts  and  curses  of  liis 
companions,  his  ardor  for  the  new  route  began  to 
abate. 

Nevertheless  Fort  Yale  was  in  due  time  reached ; 
and  leaving  +here  the  horses,  the  party  passed  rapidly 
down  to  Langley  in  boats.  The  return,  which  was 
by  the  same  route,  was  if  possible  more  disastrous 
than  had  been  the  journey  down.  The  merchandise 
carried  back  was  more  bulky  and  perishable  than  was 
their  former  cargo,  and  not  only  a  large  percentage 
of  the  property  was  destroyed,  but  many  of  the  horses 
were  lost. 

The  fact  is,  the  course  pursued  by  the  united  bri- 
gades was  over  neither  of  the  routes  explored  by  An- 
derson ;  or  at  all  events,  it  was  over  a  portion  only  of 
his  favorite  road.  He  had  expected  to  make  Keque- 
loose  the  station  on  the  river  for  the  horses;  but  the 
rapids  had  interposed  objections  too  formidable  in  the 
minds  of  the  management,  and  hence  Fort  Yale  liad 
been  built  below.  The  disastrous  results  of  the  at- 
tempt of  the  united  brigades  to  open  a  road  back  from 
Fort  Yale  turned  attention  once  more  to  Anderson's 
exploration  of  1846,  and  to  his  return  route  of  that  year. 


ANDERSON  ON  ROUTES. 


I7i 


After  their  return  to  Thompson  River,  in  August 
1848,  Anderson  addressed  r  written  communication 
to  his  associates  there  present,  Donald  Maiison  and 
John  Tod,  which  was  subsequently  forwarded  to  the 
management,  setting  forth  the  importjince  of  adopt- 
ing immediate  measures  for  the  opening  of  the  Simil- 
kameen  route,  which  was  his  Coquihalla  route  of  1846 
with  certain  modifications  suggested  by  Old  Blackeye, 
the  wise  and  scientific  savage  before  mentioned. 

It  appears  that  a  party  had  been  sent  by  Yale  from 
Langley  the  previous  year  to  take  a  second  look  at 
this  section,  more  particularly  to  ascertain  its  condi- 
tion in  regard  to  snow,  and  a  favorable  report  had 
been  made.  The  snow  was  not  an  insurmountable 
()l)stacle,  and  a  band  of  workmen  with  horses  in  ten 
or  fifteen  days  would  be  able  to  make  the  way  pass- 
able. 

As  to  the  route  over  which  they  had  just  passed, 
there  could  be  but  a  single  opinion,  and  that  a  condem- 
natory one.  "The  question  of  navigation,"  continues 
Anderson,  "as  far  as  Kequeloose,  where  I  last  year 
])roposed  the  horse  transport  to  commence,  being 
negatived,  the  whole  scheme  of  communication  thence 
depending  necessarily  falls  to  the  ground.  The  pru- 
dence, not  to  say  possibility,  of  extending  our  horse 
transport  beyond  that  point  has  this  year  been  fully 
tested,  and  needs  no  comment  on  my  part.  As  re- 
gards the  question  of  navigation,  my  opinions  have 
undergone  some  change;  for  though  as  before  I  think 
it  practicable  to  bring  up  Columbia  boats  by  making 
the  necessary  portages,  further  examination  teaches 
nie  that  it  must  be  by  very  arduous  degrees  at  the 
higlier  stages  of  the  water,  and  therefore  unadvisable. 
At  low  water,  however,  the  rapids  have  been  proved 
to  ho  safely  navigable  with  loaded  bateaux,  one  port- 
age only  intervening.  These  points  admitted,  I  am 
still  constrained,  however  reluctantly,  to  withdraw 
the  proposal  of  navigation  formerly  advanced  by  me. 
My  recent   experience  of  the  pass  in  question  con- 


's 1 1 


■tr 


n 


« \ 


\i'' 


176 


YALK  AND  HOI'K  KSTAHLISHKl). 


vhices  mo  that  no  ]K)rtJigo  on  a  lar;^o  walo  could  with 
|)ru<len('(i  Ik;  (jtte(;to(l  tlu'io  (luriM<if  i\\v  HunuiuT  st^asun, 
alter  tlu!  liost  of  l)arl)ariaiiK  anu»n^  whom  w»;  have 
recently  [)a.sHecl  are  con<^re»;ated  at  the  fisheries.  The 
risks  of  sacriHcin^  hoth  life  and  j)i-o[)erty-  for  it  is 
netidless  t»)  attempt  to  cloak  the  mattiT  under  cir- 
cumstances where  neither  courage  nor  j)ri'cauti()ii 
could  avail  to  resist  surprise  or  «j;uai'd  a<^''ainst  tri-adi- 
ery,  are  alone  sufficient  to  deti;r  us  from  the  attempt. 
The  lossi's  hy  theft,  in  themselves  nowise  contempti- 
ble, which  have  already  taken  place,  are  hut  the 
prelude  to  future  depredations  upon  a  lart^er  scale, 
should  the  })resent  system  of  operations  he  unfortu- 
nately ])crsisted  in — depredations  which  it  is  to  \)r. 
feared  will  ho  difficult  either  to  discover  in  time  or  to 
prevent  effectually." 

Anderson  then  proposed  that  Henry  Peers,  as- 
sisted hy  Monti^ny  and  certain  natives,  should  !•(■ 
a[)pointed  to  the  duty  of  making  rc;ady  the  new 
route. 

In  view  of  all  which,  during  the  winter  of  1848-9 
another  j)ost  was  established  a  short  distance  Ixlow 
Yale,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Fraser  at  the  mouth  <if 
the  Coquihalla,  to  which  was  given  the  name  Hoix.' 


'■'BettiT  fortiiiii!  was  expecteil  another  tiiiio.  The  llovoreud  N[r  (iood  aK- 
Bunlly  tlatu.s  tlio  rstahlishiiig  of  Fort  Hopo  1840-1.  Britlih  ('ulunihia,  MS.,  tri. 
It  i.<  a  imrely  random  Btatumeiit,  and  might  with  cc("al  propriety  have  Iklii 
placed  a  hundred  years  earlier  or  later.  '  Fort  Uope.'h^  say.s,  '  was  reinarkiilik' 
lor  the  extraorilinary  be.iuty  and  grandeur  of  its  .situation,  the  fort  heiii;;  a 
very  old  Hudsnu'a  Bay  Conipai  •  station  erected  in  1840-1.  From  hence  tliu 
company '.s  hrij,'ade  carried  .snpj)  s,  and  communicated  for  trading  purim-is 
with  stations  on  tlie  t'olunilna  ai'.  >ther  parts  of  Oregon,  by  w'vat  w;us  called 
the  SindlUanieen  Pass,  and  they  ■>  connected  with  Nicola,  Kandooii,  an. I 
Okanagan  hy  the  old  and  well-we  brigade  trail.'  The  author  of  BrU'.<h 
North  Aiiirricd,  '2S'A,  calls  it  in  ISGj  •"  second  town  in  British  Coluniliia, 
meaning  the  mainland,  and  'next  in  ii  )rtance  to  the  capital,'  being  'alimit 
o  le  hundred  miles  up  the  Fraser,  at  tl  elbow  where  the  course  alters  innn 
south  to  West.  Here  the  miners  stop  bi  'i  going  to  and  returning  from  tliu 
i:pper  country  gold-diggings;  and  a  numl  r  of  Chinese  have  taken  up  tli'  ir 
abode  in  the  town.  It  is  making  rapi<l  progress,  and  roads  are  being  pushcil 
forward  north  and  cast  of  it.'  See  also  (inii/'n  Or.,  43,  and  Barrett-Lin"/'/  * 
Triin-ls,  14H-!),  which  latter  work  calls  the  river  the  Coquiklum,  and  tlio 
mountain  scenery  around  it  grand  and  beautiful,  while  adjacent  is  the  vill;ige 
of  the  Tunisioux  Indians,  though  where  he  obtains  such  a  name  it  is  ditlii'iilt 
to  decix)her.  Soo  Anderson's  NorthwcKt  Coa-^l,  MS.,  175. 


A  ^EW  TRAIL  CUT. 


177 


Yalo  was  the  head  of  navij^ation  on  the  Frascr,  while 
should  the  defile  of  the  (Joquihalla  prove  the  most 
advantageous  passage  to  the  interior,  as  was  now  be- 
coming more  than  probable,  to  at  least  certain  parts 
of  it,  llope  would  lor  the  present  be  the  more  impor- 
tant post. 

In  1849  the  New  Caledonia  spring  brigade  followed 
the  route  of  the  previous  year  by  way  of  Yale  to 


%V=..  \^|^ 


1  i  ill 


% 


t 

-&    1'' 

''■' 

i 

I 
I) 

i! 

II 


i 


Yalk  and  Hope. 


Langley,  the  Hope  road  being  not  yet  read^  ,  out, 
returning,  disembarked  at  Hope,  determined  at  all 
hazard  to  attempt  the  defile  of  the  Coquihalla.  With 
tho  brisrade  was  broujxht  a  number  of  men  from 
Langley,  and  the  whole  force  being  set  to  work,  soon 
cut  a  trail  across  the  mountains,  which  differed  in 
souio  respects  from  Anderson's  return  route  of  1846.. 

Hut.  Ban.  Col.    \'i 


I  ■■! 


■nr 


imh 


178 


YALE  AND  HOPE  ESTABUSHED. 


A  nd  this  was  the  main  route  followed  until  1860,  when 
the  government  road  was  made. 

To  Joseph  W.  McKay  now  in  1 8  4G  was  given  the  gen- 
eral supervision  of  the  north  coast  establishments,  up 
to  this  time  under  the  more  immediate  supervision  of 
James  Douglas.  Proceeding  northward  in  the  Beaver 
in  October,  as  was  usual  for  the  general  agent  to  do,  ho 
stopped  at  the  several  stations,  and  made  such  changes 
and  left  such  instructions  as  seemed  to  him  best.  The 
Russians  he  found  affable  and  polite,  but  tricky.  "In 
August  1847,"  he  says,  "a  chief  of  the  Stakhine  Ind- 
ians, whom  I  knew  well  and  had  reason  to  believe 
perfectly  trustworthy,  told  me  that  he  had  been  ap- 
proached by  a  Russian  officer  with  presents  of  beads 
and  tobacco,  and  that  he  was  told  that  if  he  would 
get  up  a  war  with  the  English  in  that  vicinity,  and 
compel  them  to  withdraw,  he  should  receive  assistance 
in  the  shape  of  arms  and  ammunition,  and  in  case  of 
success  he  would  receive  a  medal  from  the  Russian 
emperor,  a  splendid  uniform,  and  anything  else  lie 
might  desire,  while  his  people  should  always  be  paid 
the  highest  prices  for  their  peltries." 

Taking  his  position  at  Fort  Simpson  in  1847,  Mc- 
Kay became  practically  dominator  of  that  region,  and 
so  remained  for  many  years,  although  his  duties  did 
not  confine  him  there  constantly.  Traffic  being  kins;, 
and  McKay  king,  we  are  prepared  to  learn  that  tlie 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  more  successful  in 
those  parts  than  the  Russian  American  company, 
that  the  former  secured  nine  tenths  of  all  the  beaver 
and  land-otter  taken  in  the  country  drained  by  the 
Stikeen,  and  that  even  on  the  coast  north  of  the 
river,  and  toward  the  country  of  the  Chilkats  and 
Tungass,  all  strictly  Russian  domain,  no  small  pro- 
portion of  the  catch  fell  into  the  immaculate  niaw 
of  the  English  adventurers.  Armed  vessels  Avero 
sent  at  various  times  by  the  Russians  to  break  up 
this  traffic,  but  the  trading  canoes  sent  by  the  Knj,'- 


lish  C( 
easily 


NORTH-COAST  AFFAIRS. 


179 


lish  company  into  the  intricate  channels  and  inlets 
easily  escaped  encounter  with  a  superior  force.  Even 
American  and  other  vessels  which  went  thither  to 
trade  on  their  own  account  were  brought  into  requisi- 
tion by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  turning  the 
tide  of  this  commerce  into  their  own  channels  and 
away  from  those  of  the  Russian  company. 

Toward  the  end  of  1847,  while  the  Chimsyans  and 
Tungass  were  indulging  in  hostilities,  Shemelin,  on 
behalf  of  the  Russian  company,  made  a  visit  to 
McKay,  who  was  then  at  Bellabella,  with  the  object 
of  inducing  him,  if  possible,  to  use  his  influence  to 
stop  the  savage  feud  which  so  greatly  interfered  with 
trade.  For  while  fighting  not  only  were  the  belliger- 
ents diverted  from  hunting,  but  such  furs  as  they  did 
secure  fell  into  the  hands  of  foreign,  or,  as  the  great 
monopolists  designated  them,  contraband  traders  for 
arms  and  ammunition. 

While  Shemelin  was  thus  engaged  at  the  house  of 
McKay,  the  two  being  then  at  dinner,  a  native  re- 
tainer of  the  latter  appeared  at  the  door,  and  beckon- 
ii;<,'  McKay  without,  informed  him  that  a  large  fleet 
of  Ills  canoes  heavily  laden  with  furs  surreptitiously 
obtained  in  Russian  ■'critory,  was  entering  the  port. 

What  was  to  be  done?  It  would  never  do  at  all  to 
let  Shemelin  know  how  his  company  had  been  robbed 
by  the  honorable  servants  of  the  honorable  English 
coin})any,  and  to  parade  the  spoils  before  his  very 
eyes.  Surmise  was  one  thing,  positive  proof  quite 
another.  In  his  dilemma  McKay  bethought  himself 
of  the  Muscovite  love  of  liquor,  and  inwardly  thanked 
Bacchus  for  the  suggestion.  Instantly  despatching  a 
messenger  to  the  approaching  canoes  to  await  his  signal 
outside  the  harbor,  he  returned  to  his  guest.  Thoro 
was  less  than  a  gallon  of  rum  in  the  storehouse,  and  it 
took  nearly  the  whole  of  it  to  stretch  the  enemy  hors 
dc  combat.  But  it  was  done;  and  while  Shemelin  lay 
unconscious,  and  his  men  were  feasting  in  a  house  at 
some  distance  from  the  scene  of  action,  the  expedition 


^:  i  111  ■ . 


m 


li 


180 


YALE  AJUD  HOPE  ESTABLISHED. 


Hfl  i 


landed,  the  peltries  were  speedily  put  out  of  sight,  and 
the  canoes  hidden  in  an  adjacent  cove.^ 

After  the  arrival  of  the  frigate  Condance  at  Victoria, 
during  the  summer  of  1848,  she  sailed  northward,  call- 
ing at  the  company's  stations  along  the  coast.  Tlio 
natives  everywhere  were  impressed  by  her  formidable 
appoar.ince,  for  she  was  a  fine  ship,  well  manned  and 
appointed.  Some  time  after  her  departure,  McKay 
was  informed  that  just  then  the  Chimsyans,  Tungass, 
atid  Stikeens  were  conspiring  to  join  in  an  attack  on 
the  Europeans.  Russians  and  English  at  one  RH 
swoop  were  to  l>e  swept  from  their  shores.  But  after 
an  examination  of  the  death-dealing  mechanisms  of 
the  Constance,  they  thought  better  of  it.  However 
the  truth  of  it  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  all  throut^h 
the  following  year  these  savages  were  restless  and  nu- 
pudent,  and  it  was  only  by  exercising  the  utmost  care 
and  patience  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  pro- 
vented  their  outbreak. 


(■.■, 


■    i\ 


There  was  little  difference  thus  far  between  tlio 
character  of  trade  at  Fort  Victoria  and  that  at  otlicr 
posts  of  the  company  on  the  Pacific,  the  gomial 
routine  of  affairs  becoming  more  and  more  similar  to 
business  at  Fort  Vancouver,  which  establishment  it 
was  destined  in  due  time  wholly  to  supersede. 

The  first  startling  im.ovaticm  arose  from  the  Califtr- 
nia  gold  discovery  of  1848,  which  during  the  followiiiLj 
year  stirred  in  the  breasts  of  thousands  the  fires  {\( 
cupidity,  and  shook  with  nionetary  ague  the  financial 
centres  of  the  world.  Fort  Victoria  was  then  tlic 
nearest  and  most  accessible  point,  outside  of  S.ui 
Francisco,  where  miners  could  obtain  their  outfits. 
True,  they  might  have  gone  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and 


'The  officers  of  tlie  Hudsou's  Bay  Company,  not  leas  than  Wasliiiivrtmi 
Irving,  love  to  dwell  on  the  fondness  of  the  Uus.sians  for  liqnor,  and  how  ili  iiuk 
they  used  to  ceton  every  posaihle  occasion.  How  an  intelligent  and  prDiriin.  nt 
officer  Like  McKay  reconciles  his  accusation  when  he  calls  the  Russians  iiii- 

tirineipled  and  tricky  with  this  story,  which  he  tells  with  unblushing  gu.>tu, 
leave  the  reader  to  judge. 


=ilf 


CALIFORNIANS  IN  VICTORIA. 


181 


(lid  to  some  extent;  but  at  the  latter  post  the  goods 
had  been  raised  in  price  by  reason  of  United  States 
duties,  and  the  stock  was  likewise  daily  diminishing 
there,  while  svipplies  were  constantly  increasing  at 
I'ort  Victoria.  The  custom-house  regulations  at  San 
Francisco  were  then  not  of  the  strictest,  especially  in 
ri\i,^ard  to  miners'  outfits.  While  at  that  point  articles 
not  immediately  desired  could  scarcely  be  sold  at  all, 
such  goods  as  were  in  demand  and  of  limited  supply 
bore  exorbitant  prices.  Hence  many  miners,  particu- 
larly during  the  winter,  when  they  could  not  work 
their  placers,  found  it  more  profitable  to  take  a 
pas- sage  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  tlie  north  coast,  and 
tlurc  lay  in  their  spring  supply,  instead  of  idling  the 
time  in  riotous  living  in  any  of  the  comfortless  and 
expensive  towns  of  California. 

It  was  a  strange  spectacle  thus  so  suddenly  pre- 
sented to  the  staid  officers  of  the  honorable  Hudson's 
Bi\y  Company,  these  curious  characters  on  their  sin- 
gular errand,  springing  from  so  miraculous  an  event — ■ 
exceedingly  strange,  and  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  simple- 
iiiiiided,  methodical  traders  were  somewhat  confused 
1)V  it.  But  though  thus  isolated,  knowing  little  of 
wliat  was  going  on  in  the  great  world  without,  and 
aeeustomed  to  traditionary  rote  in  their  business 
transactions,  their  instinctive  shrewdness  did  not  de- 
sert them. 

"These  rough-looking  miners,"  writes  Finlayson, 
"lauded  here  from  their  vessels,  which  entered  the 
liarlxir  early  in  1849.  I  took  them  first  to  be  pirates, 
and  ordered  our  men  to  prepare  for  action.  I,  how- 
evfi'.  entered  into  conversation  with  them,  and  finding 
wild  they  were,  was  satisfied  as  to  their  friendship 
fur  us.  They  had  leather  bags,  full  of  gold  nuggets, 
wliicli  they  offered  to  me  in  exchange  for  goods.  At 
tliis  time  I  had  never  seen  native  gold  in  my  life, 
iuid  was  doubtful  whether  to  take  it  or  not.  Having 
heard  about  pure  gold  being  malleable,  I  took  one  of 
the  pieces  to  our  blacksmith  shop,  ordered  the  smith 


IF 


^'p 


'I' '  •II 

!■  'i 

'■  i 

4 


182 


YALE  AND  HOPE  ESTABLISHED 


and  his  assistant  to  hammer  away  at  it  on  the  anvil,  and 
finding  that  it  answered  the  description  by  flatteniiifr 
out  as  thin  as  a  wafer,  I  offered  to  take  it  at  eleven 
dollars  per  ounce,  in  exchange  for  goods.  This  offer 
was  accepted  readily,  and  as  I  could  not  go  back  from 
my  word,  the  trade  opened  on  this  basis.  I  would 
tlien  have  been  better  satisfied  had  they  complained 
of  the  low  rate,  but  no  complaints  were  made.  I 
therefore  thought  I  had  made  a  mistake.  I  traded, 
however,  all  they  had,  and  was  doubtful  about  the  cor- 
rectness of  the  transaction  until  the  express  I  sent 
to  the  Columbia  River  to  head-quarters  came  bark 
with  the  intelligence  that  the  gold  was  satisfactory, 
and  also  the  rate  at  which  I  had  traded  it.  Other 
factors  followed,  so  that  we  had  a  good  remittance  of 
gold  that  year  to  send  to  England,  in  addition  to  our 
furs." 

The  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  on  and  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  lower  Columbia,  were  in  a  position  to  de- 
rive great  advantages  from  this  gold  discovery.  Not 
so  great,  indeed,  as  if  they  had  held  their  post  at 
Yerba  Bucr.a,  yet  their  profits  were  very  greatly 
swelled  thereby.  Prior  to  1846,  they  had  placed  a 
post  at  Cape  Disappointment,  consisting  of  a  dwelling 
and  a  storehouse,  with  wliich  they  claimed  one  m'\\r. 
square  of  land;  there  was  the  fishing-station  at  Pillar 
Hock,  where  salmon  in  large  quantities  were  cured; 
there  wjre  the  granaries  at  Coweeman,  where  the 
Cowlitz  enters  the  Columbia,  the  warehouses  and 
wharf  at  Champoeg,  and  the  mills  above  Fort  Van- 
couver; their  cattle  had  increased  abundantly,  and 
their  farming  lands  had  become  widely  extended;  they 
had  their  own  ships  in  whi(;h  to  send  away  tlieir  prod- 
uce, and  all  under  the  most  perfect  system  and  the 
strictest  ct)ntrol.* 

Anderson  was  appointed  to  the   Colville    distrirt 


*  Aii(i  yet  Douglas  testifiod  before  the  joint  commission  at  Victoria,  If.  B. 
Co.  El'.,  If.  li.  Vn.  Cl/iims,  59,  tliat  'the  dividenils  (m  the  general  jirolit-i  ni 
the  Pludmm's  TJay  Company  were  not  appreciably  atlected  by  the  disouM  r y 
of  gold  ill  Califoraia; '  which,  if  true,  showd  a  large  falliiig-oti'  in  the  fur  tiailc. 


EFFECT  OF  GOLD  ON  MEN. 


183 


in  1848.  "It  was  there,"  he  writes,  "that  I  first  got 
notice  of  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Cahfornia  in  a  pri- 
vate letter  to  Mr  Douglas,  who  had  just  returned 
from  a  trip  to  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Little  excite- 
ment, however,  arose  from  this  communication  on  the 
])art  of  any  one;  and  in  fact,  Mr  Douglas  himself 
.seemed  half  incredulous  of  the  report.  A  few  montlis, 
however,  served  to  dissipate  this  belief,  and  before 
the  autumn  of  1849  the  whole  country  was  ablaze.  I 
myself  felt  fearful  on  my  return  from  Langley  in 
August  of  that  year,  lest  every  man  should  leave  me. 
By  prudent  management,  however,  and  possessing,  I 
ihitter  myself,  the  confidence  of  my  men,  I  contrived 
to  confirm  them  in  their  allegiance,  and  retained  their 
services  until  their  contracts  were  fully  expired,  a 
])eriod  of  some  two  years.  In  this  respect  I  was 
exceptionally  fortunate,  for  while  my  men,  some  thirty 
in  number,  adhered  to  me  faithfully,  the  other  posts 
lower  down  the  river,  including  Fort  Vancouver,  in 
which  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  had  been  sta- 
tioned, were  almost  deserted,  and  Indian  laborers  were 
hired  to  supply  the  deficiency. 

"It  is  almost  impossible  to  realize  to  the  mind  the 
intense  excitement  which  at  times  prevailed.  Gold 
ap|)cared  to  be  almost,  as  it  were,  a  drug  in  the  mar- 
ket, and  more  than  one  of  the  French  Canadian  ser- 
vants who  had  left  Vancouver  under  the  circumstances 
nuiitioned,  returned  the  following  spring  with  accu- 
mulations varying  from  $30,000  to  $40,000.  It  is 
noecUess,  however,  to  add  that  the  large  amounts  of 
tieasure  thus  collected  with  so  much  facility,  united 
witii  the  Jiabits  of  extravagance  which  the  unexpected 
]iiissession  of  wealth  engendered,  speedily  disappeared. 
The  men  who  had  thus  dissipated  their  possessions, 
sanguine  of  their  capacity  to  re]>lace  them  with  equal 
facility  as  before,  returned  to  California  only  to  find 
tliat  the  field  of  their  operations  was  fully  occupied 
by  others,  who,  in  the  mean  while,  had  fiocked  in,  and 
that  their  chance  was  gone." 


";i 


i    i 


•a 


\    X- 


m 


!  \'> 


a. 


m 


mr: 


ii 


if  .-■ 


f4 


»   ! 


184 


YALE  AND  HOPE  ESTABLISHED. 


Mr  Anderson  would  have  been  yet  more  confounded 
had  he  known  that  at  that  moment,  in  the  very  dis- 
trict he  was  then  superintending,  this  precious  metal 
was  so  abundant  as  some  day  to  cause  a  stir  which 
should  rank  among  the  prominent  mining  excitements 
of  the  period. 

When  gold  was  found  at  Colville,  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  had  on  Thompson  River  a  small  farm  and 
a  trading-fort.  As  Fort  Colville  was  situated  sonic 
twenty  miles  south  of  the  boundar}^  that  establisli- 
ment  was  removed  northward  across  the  line,  in  order 
to  avoid  paj'ing  United  States  duties  on  Englisli 
goods.  It  was  still  called  Fort  Colville  after  its  re- 
moval. 


ES' 


A  Nfav  FAr 
Eauuk.' 
BOK — Ti 
MiK  Ar 
Rki'ort 

ME.NT — 
ASOTHE 
Rtl'EItT 
SMITH  S' 
— I'OUT  ] 

And  n 
sional  jx 
dennine 
Xorthwe: 
tlio  inhos 
contribut 
iinricultui 
stratlve  a 

The  of 
iiitrlligen 
jimtVssior 
tlu"  forest 
country  v 
matter  oi 


the  begir 
coal  in  c 
nii'fliate  i 
':iii;l  corpo 


CHAPTER  XI. 


ESTABUSHING  FORTS  RUPERT  AND  NANAIMO. 
1849-1852. 

A  Nkw  Factor,  Coai, — The  Existence  of  This  Mineral  Known  from  thr 
Eauliest  Times — Pacific  Coal-fields — Discovery  at  Ueaver  Har- 
bor— The  Ql'A(;kolls  and  the  Fort  McLouuhlin  Blacksmith — Tol- 
MiK  Appears — The  Notable  John  Dunn — Warre  and  Vavasour 
Kki'ort  the  Discovery— Which  Attracts  the  Attention  of  Oovern- 
ment — Fort  Rupert  Built — Muir  and  his  Scotch  Miners  Arrive — 
Another  Arrival — Examinations  and  Tests — Failure  at  Fort 
KiPERT— Discovery  of  Coal  at  Nanaimo  Harbor — Another  Black- 
smith Storv — McKay  TO  THE  Proof — Muir  Moves  from  Fort  Rupert 
— loitT  Nanaimo  Built — Visit  of  Douglas — Minor  Discoveries. 

And  now  appears  another  factor  in  tliat  progres- 
sional  power  which  seems  destined  shortly  to  un- 
(k'nniiie  the  sovereignty  of  the  fur-traders  in  the 
Xortliwest,  and  to  drive  them  still  farther  back  toward 
tlic  inhospitable  Arctic — coal;  a  factor  of  civilization, 
cDiitiibuted  direct  by  mother  earth,  second  only  to 
aj^riculture,  and  although  not  so  immediate  or  demon- 
strative as  gold,  yet  in  truth  far  more  ])otential. 

The  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were 
iiitolligent  and  observant  men.  It  was  part  of  their 
])r(ifr,ssion  to  have  their  eyes  open  as  they  tramped 
tlie  forests,  and  the  resources  and  possibilities  of  the 
country  whose  sovereignty  they  swayed  was  never  a 
matter  of  indifference  to  them;  hence,  almost  from 
tlie  beginning,  they  were  aware  of  the  presence  of 
coal  in  certain  localities.  But  as  they  had  no  hn- 
nicdiate  use  for  it,  and  as  they  were  constitutitmally 
Hill  corporately  reticent,  they  said  little  about  it. 

'185 


UJ 


in 


,'  1  f 


if 


H  s 


186 


ESTABLISHING  FORTS  RUPERT  AND  NANAIMO. 


All  through  the  interior,  all  along  the  coast,  on 
both  sides  of  Johnson  and  Georgia  straits,  on  b(jth 
sides  of  the  Columbia  from  the  Willamette  to  the 
ocean,  in  the  Willamette  and  Cowlitz  valleys,  on  the 
coast  and  in  the  mountains  of  southern  Oregon,  in 
eastern  Oregon,  on  Queen  Charlotte  Islands  and  tlie 
mainland  district  of  Nass-Skeena  adjacent,  at  inter- 
vals in  large  or  insignificant  quantities,  coal  croppings 
were  seen. 

Wood  being  abundant  and  always  at  hand,  and 
charcoal  being  for  the  most  part  used  by  the  company  s 
blacksmiths,  there  was  Jittl*^  necessity  for  drawiiit( 
from  the  deposits  around  them.  Indeed,  it  was  found 
easier  and  cheaper  for  such  posts  as  did  not  burn 
charcoal,  particularly  for  those  accessible  to  the  ocean, 
to  bring  from  England  the  small  quantity  requiivd 
by  the  blacksmiths,  than  to  dig  for  it;  but  where  it 
was  known  to  be  convenient,  and  natives  could  he 
employed  to  bring  it  in,  it  was  obtained  upon  the 
spot. 

The  existence  of  coal  in  considerable  quantities  at 
Beaver  Harbor,  where  later  Fort  liuj)ert  was  estal)- 
lished,  was  made  known  to  the  officers  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  in  1835. 

It  happened  in  this  -wise;  A  party  of  Quackolls 
from  the  north  end  of  Vancouver  Island  were  at  Foit 
McLoughlin  trading,  when  one  day,  being  of  an  in- 
(juiring  turn  of  mind,  they  strolled  into  the  black- 
smith shop,  and  stood  watching  intently  the  movemiMits 
of  the  smith,  as  he  drew  from  the  fire  the  incandesci'ut 
metal  and  hammered  it  into  shape  upon  the  anvil. 
Presently  they  saw  him  take  from  a  little  pile  mar 
by  some  hard  sooty  substance,  and  lay  it  on  the  fire, 
which  under  pressure  of  the  bellows  glowed  with 
intenser  satisfaction  over  its  crackling  food.  Their 
curiosity  was  more  than  ever  excited.  Crowding 
round  the  furnace,  they  saw  the  black  subsiince  trans- 
formed to  living  heat.     Then  they  went  to  the  pile, 


COAL  AT  BEAVER  HARBOR. 


187 


and  pickin<]f  up  some  of  the  lumps,  turned  them  over, 
rubbed  tliem  in  their  hands,  broke  them,  bit  them, 
then  threw  them  down  with  a  questionable  grunt. 

"What  is  that?."  they  demanded. 

"Stuff  to  make  the  fire  burn,"  answered  the  good- 
natured  smith. 

"  What  do  you  call  it  ? " 

"Coal." 

"  How  is  it  made  ? " 

"It  is  dug  out  of  the  ground." 

"Where  do  you  get  it  {  " 

"It  is  brought  over  from  the  other  side  of  the 
great  salt  sea;  a  six  months'  journey  and  more  it 
makes  before  it  gets  here." 

Another  more  prolonged  grunt,  as  of  relief  fol- 
lowed this  colloquy.  Falling  back  before  the  sparks 
which  again  Hew  from  the  anvil,  they  were  soon  in 
warm  and  gesticulating  converse  among  themselves. 
Soon,  however,  their  voices  subsided.  Then  over 
tluir  sombre  Cyclopean  features  gradually  dawned  a 
sniilo,  which  soon  stretched  into  a  loud  guffaw,  abso- 
lutely startling  in  a  savage.  And  when  to  this  they 
added  their  former  antics,  now  redoubled,  the  black- 
isniith  stood  amazed,  and  wondered  if  indeed  they 
wore  insane  or  drunk. 

"White  men  are  very  wise!"  they  cried,  in  uncouth 
irony.  "The  great  spirit  tells  them  everything,  and 
"ivcs  them  strenoth  for  cunninyf  contrivances.  The 
red  man  knows  nothing;  he  is  poor,  and  the  great 
s[urit  is  ashamed  of  having  made  Jiim;  and  yet  lie  is 
Hot  such  a  fool  as  to  bring  soft  black  stone  so  great  a 
(iistancu  when  it  may  be  had  at  his  very  door." 

The  blacksmith  stopped  his  work  and  called  Tol- 
luii'  and  other  officers  of  the  fort,  to  whom  the 
Quackolls  explained  themselves  more  fully,  telling 
liow  in  different  places  in  their  country  that  same  black 
stone  was  found  in  hillocks  at  or  near  the  surface,  and 
that  the  quantity  of  it  was  very  great. 

AVord  was  sent  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  in  due  time 


111 
■I 


'  ^1 


li^i-Kf, 


m 


1! 


e..l 


i 

I  : 

■lii. 

M  ■ 


■|if 
IP.. 

ill 


( 


188 


ESTAHLLSHINO  FORTS  TlUPWlT  AND  NANAIMO. 


McLouglillu  ordered  the  Beaver  to  stop  on  one  of 
her  ujiward  voyages,  at  the  place  indicated  by  the 
Quackolls,  and  ascertain  the  trutli  of  their  report, 
whicli  was  done.  Duncan  Finlayson  was  cliicf  factor 
in  charge  at  the  time,  and  of  the  party  was  John 
Dunn,  wlio  reports:  "Mr  Finlayson,  with  a  party  of 
the  crew,  went  on  sliore,  leaving  me  in  the  ship  to 
conduct  tlie  trade;  and  after  some  inquiries  and  a 
small  distribution  of  rewards,  found,  from  the  natives, 
that  the  original  account  given  at  Fort  McLougli- 
lin  was  true.  The  coal  turned  out  to  be  of  excel- 
lent quality,  running  in  extensive  fields,  and  even  in 
clumpy  moumls,  and  most  easily  worked  all  along  that 
part  of  the  country."^  The  place  where  the  steamer 
anchored  was  first  called  ^McNeill  Harbor  in  honor 
of  her  captain,  and  afterward  Beaver  Harbor  after 
the  vessel  herself. 

Indeed,  the  first  use  the  company  found  for  coal, 
except  what  little  the  blacksmiths  required,  was  n(»t 
until  after  the  arrival  of  the  steamer;  and  even  tin  ii 
the  necessity  was  not  actual;  for  we  have  frequent 
and  al)undant  proof  that  for  several  seasons  after  en- 
tering the  service  wood  was  employed  for  her  furnace ; 


'  Jolin  Dunn  was  a  stupid  observer,  and  an  exceedingly  desultory  writer. 
I  give  tiio  date  as  nearly  as  I  ean  decipher  it.  His  book,  llixtori/  nj  tin:  Or<i/iiii 
Territory,  was  published  in  London  in  1844.  The  information  given  is  thmwu 
together  in  a  confused  mass,  with  but  little  regard  to  chronological  or  otlur 
order.  The  preface  informs  us  tliat  the  writer  was  eight  years  iu  the  coin- 
pany's  service,  but  when  he  came  to  the  coast  an<l  when  ho  left  it  we  are  imt 
infornie<l.  The  (Itxmjiiiede.  brought  him,  and  he  remained  for  a  year  after  lii^ 
arrival  at  Fort  Vancouver,  in  the  capacity  of  assistant  storedceepcr.  AmiIct- 
son  inform  us.  Hid.  Korthwcxt  Count,  MS.,  17,  that  Dunn  was  of  the  party 
which  went  to  estiiblish  Fort  McLougldin  in  1833.  Tims  by  many  careful  coni- 
parisons  with  reliable  authors  I  am  able  in  most  instances  to  det'-rmiuo  alimit 
tlie  date  of  his  several  events.  It  is  to  be  deplored  that  one  who  shouM  siitlir 
himself  to  write  a  book  at  all  should  perform  the  task  so  poorly.  '  Mr  Iluiiii  s 
book  was  written  with  the  same  view  as  his  letters  to  tiie  Times  new.spapi-r, 
namely,  to  draw  the  attention  of  this  country  to  the  value  of  Oregon  and  tlie 
eacroachnients  which  the  Americans  made.  Neither  his  disposition  nor  his 
temperament  iidmitted  of  his  telling  tlie  whole  truth.  Had  he  written  \m 
book  himself,  and  had  he  not  been  compelled,  according  to  his  own  stateimut, 
to  burn  his  journal  at  Fort  Vancouver  by  a  regidatiou  of  the  company  jin'- 
liibiting  their  servants  from  refciining  any  record  of  what  passes  in  the  coiiiitrv, 
his  Iliitory  of  Oreijon  would  be  far  more  valuable  than  it  is.'  I'lirli'i/n'-id 
Pitpert,  3d  April  1849,  58.  'ThiTc  never  was  any  such  regulation.'  Sir 
George  Simpson,  in  Jloute  Commons  Bepl.  II.  B.  Co.,  1857,  100. 


JOHN  DUNN. 


189 


and  oven  after  slie  began  the  use  of  coal,  such  use 
was  only  partial.  It  was  the  custom  at  the  several 
stations  to  have  wood  in  readiness  on  the  arrival  of 
the  steamer,  while  coal  was  not  always  convenient. 
Thus  during  her  first  northward  voyage  in  1830  ])unn 
writes :  "At  Fort  McLoughlin  we  took  on  board  about 
twenty-six  cords  of  wood  for  fuel,  which  was  ready 
cut  for  us;  this  generally  lasted  us,  when  runnuig  on, 
bi'tweeu  three  and  four  days."  And  again  on  their 
return  trip  they  wooded  at  Milbank  Sound." 

Lieutenants  Warre  and  Vavasour  report,  the  2()th 
of  October  1845,  that  "there  is  coal  in  the  neighbor- 
liood  of  Puget  Sound,  and  on  the  Cowlitz  River;  the 
specimens  used  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were 
obtained  from  the  surface,  and  were  probably  on  that 
iU't'ount  not  found  good."^ 

Thus  the  attention  of  government  was  directed  to  the 
coal  at  Vancouver  Island,  and  at  his  request  a  report 
was  made  to  J.  A.  Duntze,  captaui  of  the  sh\\)  Fisgard , 
by  Peter  Skeen  Ogden  and  James  Douglas.  The 
report  is  dated  at  Fort  Vancouver  the  7tli  of  Septem- 
ber 184G,  and  may  be  relied  upon  as  containing  all 
knowledge  of  the  subject  up  to  that  time. 

Although  the  indications  were  that  important  strata 
existed  along  the  entire  north-eastern  part  of  Van- 
couver Island,  namely,  from  Cape  Scott,  its  northern 
extremity,  simthward  to  latitude  50°  30',  there  was 
only  one  s})ot  known  as  the  coal-mine,  and  this  was  in 
McNeill  Harbor,  in  latitude  50°  39'.* 

There  the  beds,  which  were  separated  by  layers  of 
sandstone,  were  most  distinctly  visible  upon  the  beach, 
wliere,  for  a  mile  or  thereabouts,  the  waves  had  washed 


iiiiii 


H! 


-  William  Fraser  Tolmie  claims  all  the  rrodit  due  him  in  this  coal  discov- 
ery lit  IJcavcr  Harbor  when  he  sav",  ■'  aiidilinii  Purijii:  Ra'dii'mj  /'oii/in,  Int.: 
'Attlu!  H.  B.  post,  Fort  McLoughlin,  ^lilhaiik  Sound,  having  for  two  years 
iiu'itril  the  natives  to  search  for  that  mineral,  he  iiad  the  good  fortune  in  188.5 
to  iisrortain  the  existence  on  the  uorth-e.'ist  shore  of  Vancouver  Island  of  good 
iiitUMiiiions  coal,  which  was  tested  less  than  a  year  after  on  board  the  com- 
pany's new  steamer,  Bemvr,  just  out  from  London.' 

'  Ifonse  Commons  Heturns  to  Three  AddresxeK,  7. 

'  This  according  to  the  report,  and  not  in  accordance  with  the  facts. 


:,    -II 


|(V 


190 


KSTABLTSHINf!  FORTS  RUPERT  AND  NANAIMO. 


away  the  incumbent  nioulc],  leaving  tlie  soains  clearly 
exposed,  particularly  at  low  water.  L  kewise  a  rivu- 
let runnini^  eastward  across  the  bed  exposed  tlie 
strata  for  three  quarters  of  a  mile  l)ack  from  tlio 
shore.  The  de{)th  of  the  bed  was  unknown,  as  it  had 
been  penetrated  but  three  feet.  Coal,  however,  had 
b(jen  obtained  by  passing  vessels,  the  natives  for  a 
small  compensation  cheerfully  lending  their  assistuncc 
in  loading/ 

There  were  a  few  men  employed  by  the  Hudscjii's 
Bay  Company  at  this  time  in  opening  this  mine,  hut 
from  lack  of  proper  implements  they  made  slow  ])r()i,''- 
ress.  The  quality  of  the  coal  was  not  highly  s[)ok('n 
of  The  substrata,  however,  were  better  than  the  sur- 
face lumps,  which  exposure  had  deprived  of  their  hitu- 
men.  None  which  they  had  been  able  thus  far  to 
obtain  could  be  used  in  the  company's  forges,  but  fur 
steam-vessels  it  had  been  found  very  serviceahle. 
Ogden  and  Douglas  concluded  their  letter  with  the 
suggestion  that  if  the  government  intended  makiiii,' 
available  this  coal  for  its  navy,  it  would  be  necessary 
to  establish  works,  keep  on  hand  a  supply,  and  pro- 
tect operations  with  a  sufficient  force  from  depreda- 
tions by  the  natives,  who  were  there  numerous  and 
bold.  But  first  of  all,  the  directors  of  the  Hudson'.s 
Bay  Company  in  London  must  be  consulted,  after 
which  all  would  be  plain  and  easy  far  the  subordinate 
officers  on  this  coast. 

Upon  receipt  of  this  letter.  Captain  Duntze  directed 
G.  T.  Gordon,  commander  of  lur  majesty's  steam-slooj) 
Cormorant,  to  proceed  to  Mcr^eill  Harbor  and  in(juirt' 
into  the  matter.  Arrived  at  the  mine,  Gordon  made 
known  his  wishes  to  the  natives  through  one  Saiig- 
ster,  who  informed  him  how  to  proceed.  A  tub 
which  would   hold  about   six    hundred   pounds  was 


slung  fr 
coals  €a| 
during 
por't.     J 
the  tub 


If 


*  '  On  one  occasion  when  we  employed  them  for  that  purpose,  they  hrnuKlit 
in  upwards  of  90  tons  in  a  few  days,  which  thej'  dug  with  hatchets  and  dtlur 
inconvenient  implements,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  with  proper  excavatins! 
tools  they  would  have  done  the  work  much  more  expeditiously.'  f.etlir  oj 
Ogden  ami  Douyhu,  in  Howe  of  Commons  Return  to  Three  Addresses,  6. 


I  f' 


iS 


tub 
was 


(JORIKIN  AT  McNElLX,  HARBOR, 


1»1 


nhmg  from  tlio  fof'oyard.  Prc'sently  canoos  laden  with 
cduls  appeared,  which  hourly  increased  in  nuniher 
diiriii<^  the  several  days'  stay  of  the  vessel  at  that 
port.  As  the  canoes  came  alotijufside,  each  in  its  turn, 
tlie  tul)  was  lowered  and  (juickl}^  filled.  ICach  tub 
was  ])aid  for  as  it  was  hauled  up,  in  trinkets  of  little 
value.  In  this  maimer  sixty-two  tons,  at  a  cost  not  to 
exceed  four  shillinf^s  a  ton,  including  presents  to 
chiefs,  were  takc^n  on  board  in  less  than  three  days. 

(lordon  then  went  ashore,  and  after  digging  a  little 
amongst  the  coal-beds,  fell  to  naming  things.  In 
honor  of  the  first  lord  of  tin-  admiralty,  the  peninsula 
forming  the  north-west  part  of  McNeill  Harbor  was 
calK'd  Ellenborough;  a  cove  eight  miles  to  the  no?.*th- 
wcstward  he  named  Baillie  Hamilton's  Bay,  because 
the  secretary  of  the  admiralty  was  so  called,  and  had 
patronage.  A  fine  seam  of  coal  was  found  at  this 
last-mentioned  place,  which  Gordon  surmised  was  con- 
nected with  those  at  McNeill  Harbor.  The  quality 
was  pronounced  fair  for  steamer  purposes,  and  from 
the  appearance  of  the  country  the  seams  were  thought 
to  extend  well  inland.  All  which  mformation  m 
due  time  reaching  Sir  George  Seymour,  rear-admiral 
commanding  the  CoUingwood,  it  was  by  him  for- 
warded from  Valparaiso  on  the  8th  of  January  1847  to 
the  admiralty.  As  the  Oregon  question  was  now 
settliKl,  the  Cormorant  had  been  withdrawn  from  the 
north,  and  to  any  other  part  of  that  station  it  would 
l)c  cheaper  to  ship  coal  from  England.  Nevertheless, 
these  min.es  could  but  add  importance  to  the  island  of 
Vancouver,  and  a  box  of  specimens  was  sent  forward 
hy  the  Frolic  homeward  bound  about  that  time. 

Might  it  not  be  better  for  the  fur-traders  to  turn 
ooal-miners  at  once  than  to  wait  for  other  results  to  flow 
from  the  pryings  of  government?  True,  the}'  had  but 
little  use  for  such  an  article  at  present;  but  California 
ini<j,lit  take  some  if  the  reports  proved  true  that  gold, 
in  paying  quantities,  had  been  found  there,  and  that 


mm' 
:ritJ 


m 

-1 


m 


m 


ESTABLISHING  FORTS  RUPERT  AND  NANAIMO. 


I  i 


a  line  of  steamers  had  been  established  between  tlio 
east  and  west  coasts  by  way  of  Panamd.  Hence  it 
was  determined  in  due  time  to  open  operations  at  tli« 
northern  end  of  Vancouver  Island. 

William  McNeill^  was  sent  thither  in  his  steamer 
Beaier,  with  orders  to  establish  a  post,  George  Blen- 
kinsop  being  second  in  command.  McNeill  had  often 
been  there,  and  knew  the  place  and  people  well.  Lanci- 


<ls, 


Northern  Forts. 

ing  at  McNeill  Harbor,  which  I  shall  hereafter  < 
Beaver  Harbor,  with  forty  men,  whites,  half-brc. 
and  Kanakas,  during  the  summer  of  1849  work  was 
vigorously  prosecuted,  which  resulted  in  due  time  in 

•  Often  mentioned  in  my  History  of  the  Northwest  Coast  as  captain  of  the  lnig 
Llama  and  the  steamer  Benvcr.  Ho  was  a  native  of  Boston  done  into  a  IJritish 
subject  and  Hudson's  Bay  Company  oilicer  on  the  Northwest  Coast.  He  unco 
took  a  run  to  London  commanding  tlie  company's  ship  Nereid,  and  waa  lor  a 
time  in  chargy  of  Fort  Simpson.    See  Andersons  Northwest  Coast,  MS.,  70. 


II 


MICHEL  MUIR. 


ms 


quadrangular  stockade,  with  interior  gallery,  two 
u:..stions  mounting  four  nine -pounders,  and  the  usual 
storehouses,  workshops,  officers'  quarters,  and  laborers' 
cottages.  The  establishment  was  called  Fort  Rupert. 
A  smaller  stockade  protected  the  garden  and  out- 
buildings. Although  established  more  as  a  protection 
in  developi.ig  coal-deposits,  Fort  Rupert  was  never- 
theless a  trading-post.  In  this  respect  it  was  made 
partially  to  take  the  place  of  Fort  McLoughlin  on 
Milbank  Sound,  whence,  although  as  wo  have  seen 
the  latter  post  was  abandoned  in  1843,  certain  articles 
yet  remaining  were  transferred  to  Fort  Rupert.'' 

Fort-building  was  still  in  progress  when  in  Septem- 
ber 1849  tlie  Scotchman  Muir,  with  wife,  daughters, 
and  sons,  arrived  at  Fort  Rupert.  Among  these  v/as 
Michel,  born  at  Kilmarnock  in  1840,  to  whom  I  am 
personally  indebted  for  this  account.^ 

The  elder  Muir,  with  his  family  and  a  party  of 
niiiieis,  was  brouglit  from  Scotland  bj  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  for  the  purpose  of  opening  coal-mines 
at  this  point.  At  the  time  of  Muir's  arrival,  the  na- 
tives were  engaged  at  Saquash  cutting  out  surface 
coal  lor  the  company.  So  inferior  was  the  quality,  of 
loose  and  open  structure  as  it  was,  and  interspersed 
with  slate,  that  no  remunerative  market  could  be 
found  for  it.  A  shaft  to  the  depth  of  ninety  f  )et  was 
sunk  by  the  Muirs,  who,  after  further  examination, 
pronounced  the  seam  too  small  to  bo  workable. 

This  shaft  was  six  miles  from  Saquash,  and  half  a 

'  Kitlicr  Fort  McLoughlin  was  never  ■wholly  abamloiicil,  nlthough  it  is  ilis- 
tiiictly  so  stated  by  several  authorities,  or  else  it  was  abandoned  and  rcoccupied 
SfYinil  times.  Writing  of  1843,  Finlayson, //^•.•^  ('.  /.,  MS., 'Jl,  says:  'After 
tlie  aliand'iunient  of  Fort  McLoughlin  on  Milbaid;  Sound,  tUu  Jlca in;  wiih 
the (itlitt  rs  and  men  at  that  place,  with  those  from  the  fort  at  Tako,  proceeded 
to  tlif  south  pointof  Vancouver  Island, 'and  built  Fort  Caniosun.  AiKlerHon, 
Xorthinst  Const,  MS.,  '22,  affirms  that  'the  post  at  ^liibimk  was  aitrrwaiil 
aljanduiitd ;  or  rathe-  •  xnsfcrred  to  its  present  position  at  Fort  liujiert. 
Bi.t  sulise(|uently  1.  „)nipany  found  it  advisable  to  reestablish  a  small 
tiaJuig  jiost  on  the  old  site  of  Fort  McLouglilin,  which  continued  to  be  oc- 
cupied in  1878.'  Sec  further  on  Fort  Rupert, />'arrt'«-//,"n;(or(/',s  Travfls,  {)'-$; 
Uriiiit,  in  J^Diiil,  Geoi).  Soi:.,Jonr.,  xxvii.  '27i"i;  Michel  Jluii;  iu  Jirilisli  Columbia 
*(./».■,  MS..  '20;  beaiCg  SeWemeut,  V.  I.    MS.,  19. 

*S(e  llrd.  Co'.  SkcM'hca,  MS.,  '20-5. 

HlHT.  lilllT,  tiOL.      U 


■M 


194 


ESTABLISHING  FOETS  RUPKRT  AND  NANAIMO. 


mile  from  the  iort  Troubles  arose  with  the  natives, 
•who  demanded  pay  for  the  land  or  its  product;  and 
when  the  white  men  refused,  the  savages  surrounded 
the  pit,  threatening  to  kill  all  present  should  they 
persist  in  their  robbery.  Other  complications  arose, 
in  which  Blenkinsop  was  unpleasantly  conspicuous, 
McNeill  having  departed,  .leaving  him  in  charge.^ 
The  result  was  that,  excepting  the  elder  Mulr  and 
certain  members  of  his  famiJy,  the  men  all  left  for 
California. 


ij  I, 


Society  at  Fort  Rupert  at  this  time  was  a  little 
startling  to  European  nerves.  The  day  after  tlio 
Muirs  arrived,  there  appeared  in  the  harbor  sixteen 
war-canoes,  whose  occupants  were  exceedingly  happy. 
Victory  had  crowned  their  recent  efforts  against  their 
enemies,  and  sweet  content  sat  on  every  barbaric  ficc 
there  present.  Not  that  the  white  new-comers  had 
never  heard  of  war,  nor  joined  in  shout  of  victory, 
but  the  American  way  was  a  trifle  different  from  the 
European  way.  That  was  all ;  but  it  was  enough  to 
shock  the  sensitiveness  of  those  unaccustomed  to  sylvan 
slaughter.  For  instance,  after  landing  and  setting  on 
each  of  sixteen  poles  one  human  head,  taken  from 
each  canoe  as  a  specimen,  the  warriors  first  learnod 
that  their  isle  was  honored  by  the  presence  of  a  wliito 
woman,  to  whom  it  was  the  custom  of  her  people  to 
show  courtesy.  There  was  nothing  mean  about  thcni. 
Though  tlio  coal-diggers  had  refused  to  pay  for  what 
they  seemed  to  prize  so  highly,  the  elated  redskins  would 
freely  give  this  female  stranger  of  their  spoils  of  Avar. 
Inviting  Mrs  ]\Iuir  to  the  ghastl}'-  display,  they  b(!g^cd 
her  to  accept  her  choice  of  any  two.  Where  would 
be  found  in  any  primeval  centre  of  civilization  suoli 
delicate  attention,  suc^i  marked  consideration  toward 

•  '  Young  Blenkinsop  was  then  loft  in  command,  but  he  caused  niucli  dis- 
satisfaction among  tl)j  miners,  putting  three  in  irons,  or  in  jail,  bocuusts  V.icy 
would  not  submit  to  liis  arbitrary  ordcra  and  unreasonable  ro;;ul;i'>,ions,  v iiii  li 
lie  endeavored  to  force  upon  them  without  authority.'  Aliiii;  in  Jh-iC.  Col. 
ai-etchca,  M.".,  21. 


Jei'.V  • 

iaStj'-i.o 

fir  ally 
coal-mi 
Cov( 
1850. 
the  me 
behiof  d 


iifi 


\ 


I  i 


,'lvaii 
^  oil 
rom 

arned 
Into 

0    t" 
iU'lll. 

wliat 
ould 
Avar. 

k^ould 


cli  dis- 

m  tluV 

■ttliirh 

Col. 


COAL-MINING. 


195 


a  foinale  visitor,  from  savagism?  Their  latest,  best, 
most  highly  prized  possession,  the  bloody  trophj''  of 
th^ir  priceless  success,  they  freely  offered.  Doubtless 
tlie  simple-hearted  warriors,  accustomed  only  to  the 
restrictei  killing  of  their  foes,  would  have  been  as 
overwhelmingly  shocked  on  witnessing  the  slaughtered 
tliousands  of  a  European  battle-field  as  was  Mrs 
Muir  on  beholding  these  poor  sixteen  trophies  of 
aboriginal  prowess. 


de..;} 


Mj*  Gilmour  continued  the  first  Muir  shaft  to  the 
)f  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet.  He  likewise 
iastitiii.od  a  thorough  examination  of  the  surface,  and 
filially  arrived  at  the  same  conclusion,  namely,  that 
coal-mining  at  Fort  Rupert  was  a  failure.^" 

Governor  Blanshard  visited  the  place  in  March 
1850.  He  reported  the  mines  a  failure,  and  said  tliat 
the  men  could  scarcely  be  induced  to  work  at  all, 
being  dissatisfied  with  their  emploj^ers,  and  having  few 
proper  tools."  Nevertheless,  the  ship  Englarid  loaded 
here  this  year.^^ 

It  Avas  well  known  that  if  at  Fort  Rupert  coal-miuing 
could  not  be  successfully  carried  on,  there  were  otht-r 
places  to  tr}  ;  or  even  here  something  might  yet  be 
done.  Duriisg  i\\<j  3'ear  1851  more  and  better  coal- 
iniiilng  m&.:*).ino]  ;,  with  some  twenty-five  practical 
nuni,  wci\  I  i  o^ji^ht  from  England  in  the  ship  Tory, 
clKirtored  vy  lJ;''  company  for  that  purpose,  and  landed 
at  Fo^t  Rup?r  -^     iiut  this   had   been  ordered  and 

" '  Aiiotner  bore  was  siink  directly  at  the  back  of  Fort  Rupert  to  a  depth 
of  47  J  fathoms.  Two  other  borc.iwore  Buuk  behinj  Fort  Rupert,  towartls  the 
interior:  one,  gome  four  miles  to  V.m  north-west,  where  the  borers  wore  stopped 
liY  loose  quickaanil  at  a  depth  of  30  fathoms;  ai\other,  two  miles  to  the  south- 
Vist,  to  a  depth  of  4J  fathoms;  again,  ten  miles  from  Fort  Rupert,  along  the 
Bca-coiist,  two  bores  wore  sunk  tlirough  sandstone  to  depths  of  47  and  47  i 
f:itlioi!i8  respectively,  without  any  signs  of  workable  coal;  these  were  suiik 
at  siiiae  disU^^r  a  bacii.  from  the  shore.  Close  to  the  shore  two  pits  were  sunk, 
one  siiventet-;  .  "o  other  Sd  fathoms.  Tlio  thickest  vein  struck  did  uotexceed 
six  inches.'  r?,-  ;/',  in  London  Geo;/.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxviL  276. 

"/f/aWt(,     V     ^-^  ptWhet, '2. 

'-.!/wV,  in  .'.'    ,.  Col.  SkvtctteM,  MS.,  22. 

"An  otlieer  o'l  ^.M)ard  tliia  vessel  was  Herl)ert George  Lewis,  who  gave  me 
tlif  information,  this  being  liis  seconil  voyage  from  Kn^land  in  theconipauy'a 
BtT\  i,.,..    See  JirU.  Col.  Sketches,  MS.,  1,  2. 


m 

■m-m 


■m 


P'  i 


It 


II 


:i  Vr 


:t  i: 


106 


ESTABLTSHINO  FORTS  nUPERT  AND  NANAIMO, 


tliG  men  broujjht  out  before  it  was  settled  tliat  tlioro 
were  no  seams  wortli  worhiug  in  tlie  region  around 
Fort  Rupert.  The  arrival  of  this  recnforcemcnt,  ho  »v- 
evcr,  was  nc^t  inopportune,  as  we  shall  presently  hw. 
Prospects  were  better  at  X'^^anaimo;  and  thithar  in  tlio 
spring  of  1851  Muir  proceeded  with  all  his  men  and 
mining  machinery,  leaving  Fort  E-upert  in  possession 
of  traders  only.^* 


The   incid 
Nanaimo  are 


One  morning 


'T^tcndin;^  the  discovery  of  coal  at 
like  tliose  at  Eeaver  Eay.^"'^ 
1  December  1849,  while  Joseph  Y»'. 
McKay,  then  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company  on  the  Northwest  Coast,  was  en- 
gaged in  the  ofnce  at  Fort  Victoria,  he  was  called 
aside  by  the  foreman  of  the  blacksmith  shop,  av1u> 
informed  him  that  an  old  Nanaimo  chief,  from  ilm 
vicinity  of  what  was  then  called  Protection  Island, 
had  entered  the  shop  a  short  time  previous  to  have 
his  gun  repaired.  Yv'hile  waiting,  and  watching  op'.r- 
atlons,  he  noticed  the  men  replenishing  the  fire  witli 
coal.  Picking  up  some  of  the  lumps,  he  observrd 
them  closely,  and  finally  remarked  that  there  ^vas 
plenty  of  such  stone  where  he  lived.  Proceedin;,' 
immediately  to  the  shop,  McKay  entered  into  con- 
versation with  the  Indian,  who  reiterated  what  lie 
had  said  to  the  blacksmith,  giving  further  particuliir;5 
and  with  more  exactness.  ]\IcKay  then  said  that  it' 
he  would  bring  him  some  of  the  pieces  of  the  stuli", 
ho  should  have  a  bottle  of  rum,  and  his  gun  repaiicd 
for  nothing,  which  magnanimous  ofler  the  Nanaimo 
accepted.  He  was  poor  and  feeble;  the  guu  would 
help  to  procure  him  food,  and  the  rum  would  wan  a 
his  stiffened  joints,  and  dispel  his  misery  for  a  monieut. 

•*  "Tliero  are  now  no  miners  at  Fort  Rupert,'  writes  Grant,  Lmuloti  ^'">/. 
Soc,  Jour.,  xxvii.  'iTli,  iu  1854,  'ami  tlie  eatablislinient  consists  of  twiuiy 
oliitvTs  an(l  iiH'ii. '  i^co  aluo  Dcaiin'  Srtlleiiiciit  V.  I.,  M.S.,  19. 

'•' 'i'liat  ouo  is  not  fcikeii  from  the  otlior,  I  am  satisfied.  John  Dunn  lilU 
his  story,  not  without  due  regard  to  dramatic  efft'otit  is  true,  Imt  in  a  niiuinir 
wlioUy  orif^in.d.  !Mr  McKay  states  hi  i  f:u'ts  clearly,  concisely,  and  I  am  viry 
sure,  "hutllfully;  nor  is  it  likely  t'.iut  l:u  wai  fam-Lar  wiih  Dunn's  story. 


ANOTHER  DISC0VP:RY. 


197 


■was 


ai'i;i 


^\  hat  did  it  matter  if  there  were  milhons  in  it  for 
the  white  man;  civilization  would  soon  get  it  in  any 
event,  as  it  was  getting  everything  else,  and  upon 
tei ms  equivalent,  namely,  a  bottle  of  rum  and  a  gun 
r('[)aired  in  return  for  a  coal-mine. 

The  ancient  aboriginal  went  his  way,  and  the  fur- 
trader  went  his;  and  as  nothing  further  was  seen  or 
luard  of  the  chief  at  the  fort,  little  more  was  thought 
of  the  Nanaimo  coal  discoveiy.  But  the  old  savage 
had  not  forgotten  his  promise.  All  during  the  cold 
whiter  he  had  lain  sick,  very  near  death's  door,  think- 
in;^  of  the  rum,  which  did  not  greatly  comfort  him. 
Reviving  from  his  illness  with  returning  spring,  he 
wi'iit  to  work,  and  surely  enough  one  day  early  in 
April  he  appeared  in  Victoria  Harbor  with  his  canoe 
loaded  with  coal. 

It  was  immediately  taken  to  the  foi-ge,  and  ex- 
amined with  no  small  curiosity  by  all  present.  On 
bring  tested  by  the  smith,  it  was  pronounced  of  ex- 
oi'llent  quality.  Then  McKay  remembered  his  prom- 
ise. A  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  officer  always  keeps 
liis  word.  The  bottle  of  rum  was  given  to  the  na- 
tive. 

A  prospecting  party  was  fitted  out  at  once;  and 
jilaciug  himself  at  the  head  of  it,  McKay  latuk'd 
near  where  the  town  of  Nanaimo  now  stands,  about 
the  1st  of  May  1850.'^  Several  days  were  then  spent 
in  a  careful  examination  of  the  countrv  for  miles 
around  After  which,  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  tlie 
J)ouulas  vein,  which  is  still  beinjjf  worked  at  this 
writing,  was  located  Ity  McKay.  And  it  was  from 
this  very  spot  that  was  loaded  the  canoe  of  the  old 

""The  coal  at  Nanaimo  was  first  discovered  liy  Mr  Joseph  McKay  in 
M:iy  l.S.'ii),  who  was  directed  to  it  by  the  Indians  of  the  nei;;hliorliood. '  II raid, 
ill  London  Ocnii.  Soc.,  Jour.,  xxvii.  '211.  The  particulars  oi  the  discovery  are 
IniiiiMr  McKay  himself,  furnished  through  Mr  I'etrotf  while  on  his  expitdi- 
tiiiu  ill  my  lichalf  to  Alaska  in  1S78.  The  dictation  was  taken  at  Fort  ^iiiip- 
•^"11,  and  is  entitlo<l  RecolkHiotm  qf  a  Chief  Trailer  in  the  IIwIsoiih  Bail  Coin- 
J'liii,  1,1/  JoKiph  William  McKay.  '1  ho  manuscript  is  exceedingly  well  written, 
*'liar,  concise,  and  very  interostiny  and  important.  Mr  Mclvay  is  ro;narha- 
'  ly  i  ili'lliiTent,  and  besides,  a  most  courteous  gentlemen.  A  brief  bioj^rapli- 
H'.d  .•-Ivutcli  is  given  elsewhere. 


H/f  i 


198 


ESTABLISHING  FORTS  RUPERT  AND  NANAIMO. 


chief  who  carried  the  first  intelligence  and  the  first 
specimens  of  this  famous  mine  to  Fort  Victoria. 

On  his  return  to  Victoria,  McKay  made  a  circum- 
stantial and  favorable  report,  and  it  was  forthwitli 
determined  to  make  practical  avail  of  the  important 
discovery ;  but  owing  to  other  business,  the  mine  was 
for  a  time  neglected.  It  appears  that  the  natives  had 
first  discovered  a  small  seam  about  eight  inches  in 
thickness,  on  the  undulating  sandstone  surface  af  New- 
castle Island;  then  on  the  opposite  shore  of  Coni- 
mericial  Inlet  they  noticed  more  of  the  black  stuff, 
which  proved  to  be  an  outcrop  of  the  same  seam,  which 
at  this  latter  point  was  but  three  and  a  half  feet  tliick, 
though  its  general  thickness  was  six  or  seven  feet.'' 

The  natives  took  two  hundred  tons  from  Newcastle 
Island  by  the  15th  of  September.  On  the  I7th, 
Gilmour  with  ten  experienced  miners  began  a  pit'^ 
at  the  north-west  extremity  of  Nanaimo  Harbor. 
Another  spot  where  the  seam  was  six  or  seven  feet 
thick  was  struck,  which  was  afterward  worked  in 
several  parallel  galleries.^" 

Muir  arrived  with  the  men  and  machinery  from 
Fort  Rupert  in  the  spring  of  1851,  as  I  have  before 
related.  The  steamer  Otter  brought  them  thither,  and 
Douglas  met  them  there.  The  machinery  was  landnl 
and  set  up,  and  temporary  nieasures  adopted  fur  de- 
fence. Muir's  force  was  small,  and  should  the  natives 
grow  jealous  or  mercenary,  as  at  Fort  Rupert,  they 
could  do  little  that  year ;  nevertheless  they  prospected 
and  dug  heartily,  wasting  no  time.'^" 

But  it  was  not  until  1852  that  work  was  begun  in 


"Eight  or  ton  inches  of  fire-clay  ran  through  the  centre.  The  (linciiuii 
of  the  seam  was  to  tlio  south-west,  and  tlie  dip  45". 

'"A  shaft  of  50  feet  passed  through  12  feet  of  alluvium,  8  feet  of  s.iinl- 
stone,  and  .30  feet  of  slate.  Grant  is  loose  in  regard  to  tlates.  McKay,  /i'"., 
MS.,  1 1,  says  '  the  mine  was  not  actually  opened  until  August  1852.' 

'*  'The  seam  here  runs  nearly  level,  with  a  dip  of  only  some  seven  dc^;ii!es 
to  the  south-west;  the  greatest  quantity  of  coal  that  has  been  raised  fmm  it 
was  at  tlie  rate  of  1«0  tons  per  week  with  ten  regular  miners.'  Omni,  in 
London  Ovoij.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxvii.  277.     This  waji  prior  to  1854. 

'^  'About  1851  !Mr  Muir  startoil  the  Nauaiirio  coal-niiuea,  which  were  mio- 
cessful."  Miiir,  in  Bril.  Col.  Sketches.  MS.,  24. 


THE  DOUGLAS  ON  THE  GROUND. 


199 


III  III 


earnest  at  Nanaimo.  Arriving  on  the  lOtli  of  August, 
after  diligent  search  with  pick  and  shovel,  McKay 
found  the  Douglas  seam  on  a  peninsula  at  the  northern 
end  of  the  harbor,  and  the  men  were  put  at  digging, 
this  making  the  fourth  place  ^^  at  which  work  was  done 
at  an  early  day.  Satisfied  with  his  investigations,  Mc- 
Kay erected  a  fortress,  with  all  the  necessary  build- 
iii<>s,  and  called  the  place  Fort  Nanaimo, ^^  Thus  was 
the  new  industry  of  coal-mining  taken  in  hand  at 
Nanaimo  by  the  fur  company,  and  pressed  forward 
with  uncomnioTf  energy.  Before  tlie  expiration  of 
1853  two  thousand  tons  were  shipped  from  this  point, 
lialf  of  which  was  taken  out  by  the  natives.  The  first 
sent  hence  to  San  Francisco  was  in  May  of  that  year 
by  the  ship  William.  The  company's  price  at  Nanaimo 
was  then  eleven  dollars;  at  San  Francisco  the  coal 
brought  twenty-eight  dollars  a  ton.'^ 

In  1853  James  Douglas  visits  this  mine  in  state. 
Leaving  Victoria  in  the  propeller  Otter,  with  the 
Mary  Dan  in  tow,  on  the  18th  of  August  he  anchors 
before  Fort  Nanaimo  at  precisely  twenty  minutes 
])ast  eight  the  same  day.^*  Early  next  morning  he  is 
out  examining  the  mine  and  buildings  about  the 
fort.  McKay  and  his  men  are  highly  complimented 
by  the  chief  "A  prodigious  quantity  of  work,  for 
the  hands  employed,"  he  writes,  "has  been  aecom- 
pHshed  here;  the  place  has  quite  the  appearance  of 
a  little  village.  The  nnnes  have  cost  a  great  deal 
or  labor  and  other  ouilay.     The  mine-shaft 


IS  now 


'^' '  Those  were  all  the  same  seam  of  coal,  which  is  called  the  Douglas  ' 
Onnil,  in  London  Gcoij.  Sot:,  Jour.,  xxvii.  278. 

■■'-Sue  Dou'jIim'  Privnte  Papers,  MS.,  ser.  ii.  50.  Though  not  as  pretentions 
as  .some  other  establishments,  it  is  digniiioil  by  Douglas  with  the  name  of  fort. 
It  iiii;,'lit,  iierhaps,  more  properly  be  called  a  bastion, 

-J  K,ir  general  description  of  mines  at  Nanaimo,  sec  Newyrnfs  Gcnl.  J}c]^l., 
C">-7,  in  Piwijic  Ji.  Ii.  Pcpt.,  vi. ;  Jloretzky's  Canada  on  the  Pac\jic,  170;  Haw- 
liii'jn'  ('Dii'hlf'rdtion  o/ Brit.  2f.  A.  Prnvina's,  1122. 

"  It  was  with  just  such  ponderous  particularities  that  Douglas  did  every- 
tiiiiig.  After  a  detailed  description  of  an  in.signiticant  trip,  he  concludes  in 
tlicso  words:  'Made  Lighthouse  Point  at  dusk,  and  came  to  an  anclior  off  the 
Flirt  i4  Naiiaimo  at  8:23  in  t!ie  evening,  liavi.ig  been  9  hours  and  40  minutes 
uiulci-  weigh  '  Douijkis'  Prwi'te  Papers,  Alo.,  ser.  ii.  50. 


'  :  'il^l 

•      H 

WM .  .  _. ,  1  := ' 

^Bi 

■ 

1,       ;  '  i 

I' , 


f; 


$' 
% 


soo 


kstabl:shing  forts  rupert  and  nanaimo. 


full  of  water;  that  called  McGrcggor's  headings  and 
north  gallery  give  tlie  miners  employment  at  present. ' 
Thence  he  is  pulled  to  Newcastle  Island,  and  visits 
the  outcroppings,  observes  the  perpendicular  cliffs  and 
fine  white  sandstone  in  regular  beds  and  on  edge 
underlying  beds  of  conglomerate.  The  20th  he  ox- 
amines  with  nmch  interest  a  salt-spring  which  rises 
in  the  bed  of  a  fresh-water  brook,  now  nearly  dry.'^ 
"The  coal-field  between  Chase  River  and  Newcastle 
Island,"  he  writes,  "has  been  proved,  it  being  Mr 
Gilmour's  opinion,  founded  on  the  trials  he  has  made, 
that  coal  may  be  found  anywhere  in  that  district." 
The  22d,  "walked  from  the  establishment  to  the 
coal  crop  at  the  head  of  Commercial  Inlet,  into  which 
a  gallery  sixty  feet  long  has  been  cut."  Thence  to 
Chase  River,  where  is  a  gallery  of  forty  feet;  and  so 
on.  Leaving  Nanainio  on  the  24th,  he  surveys  the 
coast  to  Valdes  Inlet,  and  then  returns  to  Victoria. 


About  this  time,  1852-3,  coal  was  discovered  at 
Bellingham  Bay  by  two  axemen,  who  wore  cutting 
logs  for  a  saw-mill.  In  the  up-torn  roots  of  a  fallen 
trees,  on  the  side  of  a  bank,  they  first  saw  ])ieees 
which  led  to  an  examination  of  the  ground  and  the 
finding  of  a  seam  several  feet  thick.  A  claim  wa.s 
entered,  and  shortly  after  sold  at  San  Francisco  for 
810,000.^^  Several  companies  were  formed  to  work 
this  and  adjoining  claims,  among  which  the  Pugct 
Sound  Mining  Company  and  the  Mamoosie  Mine 
Averc  conspicuous.^' 

Other  coal   deposits  attracting    attention  prior  to 


'•  The  spring  j'iclds  about  two  gallons  of  water  x^er  minute,  or  2,880  ^mIIihis 
in  twenty-four  liours.  It  yields  about  a  pound  of  salt  to  a  gallon,  whuli,  at 
sixty  pounds  to  the  bushel,  would  make  a  daily  yield  of  forty -eight  bushi'l.-i  df 
Kilt.'  DowjUis'  Private  Pajifrs,  MS.,  ser.  'i.  52. 

'*  'Altogether  about  140  tons  of  coal  had  been  exported  from  Bellingliaiu 
Bay  up  to  1st  January  ]854.'  Grant,  in  London  dcoij.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxvii.  li!."'. 

^"  'Another  bed  a  little  to  the  north  of  this,  belonging  to  Captain  I'awntlo- 
roy  and  otliera,  presented  niu(.h  better  indications.  Its  thickness  is  sixteen 
feet  four  inches,  and  the  coal  brighter  and  freer  from  impurities  than  the 
otlier.     A  small  quantity  got  out  here  sold  in  Francisco  for  ^'JIJ  p'r  ti>;i.' 


otlier.     A  small  quantity  got  out  here 
Oiuos,  in  SCcirn-n'  I'ac,  li.  li.  Jk^jt.,  i.  473, 


m 


OTHER  COAL  DEPOSITS. 


201 


1854  wore  those  between  Port  Sail  Juan  and  Cape 
Bonilla;"^  in  the  country  back  of  Barclay  Sound  ;^  near 
tlie  coast  west  of  Soke  Inlet  ;^  at  several  points  on 
the  western  shore  of  Vancouver  Island,^'  and  on  the 
mainland  opposite."''^  The  deposits  on  Queen  Char- 
lotte Islands  attracted  attention  at  various  tinies.^ 

-' '  It  is,  however,  almost  worthless,  as,  though  it  crops  out  on  the  sea- 
Cdiust,  there  is  iioslielter  for  vessels  near  it.'  ffmnt,  in  Loud.  Oeoij.  Soc.,  Jour., 
xxvii.  i!85. 

'"' Tliero  is  no  truth  in  the  reports  which  have  been  circulated  of  there 
heing  coal  on  Barclay  Sound;  the  Indians,  however,  describe  some  coal  as 
txisting  at  .Muuahtali,  in  tlie  country  of  the  Cojucklesatuch,  some  tlireo  days' 
jnui'uey  into  tlie  int;'rior,  at  the  back  of  Barclay  Sound.'  Grant,  in  Lond. 
(!m(f.  Sar.,  Jour.,  xxvii.  2S7. 

'"'  'Traces  of  coal  have  been  found  on  a  small  river  called  by  the  natives 
Qmuicliuka,  which  hero  discharges  itself  into  the  straits.'  Grant,  in  Loml. 
(Ii-Qij.  Snr.,  Jour.,  xxvii.  284.  Few  of  the  seams  were  more  than  one  inch  in 
thickness. 

^' '  At  Nespod,  a  little  north  of  Nootka,  coal  is  reported  by  the  Indians. 
Jsuspod  is  called  I'ort  Brooks  on  the  charts.  At  Koskeenio,  north  of  Nespod 
.111(1  opposite  to  Beavor  Harbor,  a  seam  of  coal  two  feet  in  tliickness  has  aLo 
lioeu  discovered.'  Grunt,  in  Loml.  Geo;/.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxvii.  288.  Grant's  Kos- 
koeiiio  is  Quatsino  Sound.     See  Rkhardton,  in  Gcol.  Hur,  Canada,  1871-2,  7<>. 

^'^  'Between  Burrard  Canal  and  Home  Sound,  i.  c,  on  the  southern  shore 
of  Home  Sound,  close  to  the  entrance,  a  small  seam  of  coal  has  been  found.' 
(I'niiil,  in  Lond.  Geo;/.  Sor.,  Jour.,  xxvii.  314. 

"^'As  early  as  1852  the  brig  liecom  ,/,  Ca^,i..iin  Mitchell,  the  vessel  that 
was  once  the  Orhlt,  M'as  there  for  coal.'  Olijmjiia  i  lub  Conrx.,  MS.,  3—4.  'An- 
lliracite  is  known  to  exist  at  ^kidegato  Island,  Queen  Cliarlotte  Islands,  and 
a  scam  of  the  same  kind  of  coal  is  seen  cropping  out  on  the  mainland  opuoaite, 
abtmt  forty  miles  distant.  The  extent  of  these  deposits  is  not  known,  but 
i^pcciincns  have  been  sent  to  San  Francisco  wliich  were  of  good  (piality,  and 
in  1871  there  were  6G5  tons  of  it  imported.'  Maq/arlanes  Coal  lieijiom  of 
Ainerica,  574. 


■rn 


■r 


11 ; 


C 


t 


1 

;.i; 


■ 


\V\l 


ji 


CHAPTER  XII. 

CROWN  GRANT   OF  VANCOUVER   ISLAND  TO   THE   HUDSON  S 

BAY  COMPANY 

1849. 

Spirit  of  Monopolt — The  Adventurers  of  Enoland  More  Jealous  ok 
British  Subjects  than  of  Fouekiners — Colonization  to  he  Retardkd 

BY    FaVORINO  rather  THAN  BY  Ol'PaSINU   It — ThE  GrANT   SOLICITED  AS 

Early  as  1837 — Woes  of  the  Monopoly — Failure  to  Obtain  thk 
Grant  at  This  Time — Fur-huntino  and  Setflement  Antagonistic— 
The  Liquor  Traffic — The  Company  Apply  for  the  Grant— Staktmnh 
Proposal — Influence  of  United  States  AcyuisrnoNS  on  Bkitisii 
Pacific  Territory— Piety  a  Plea  for  Power — The  Fur-trade  and 
Colonization  again— The  Draft  Perfected — The  Mainland — Phe- 

AMBLE  AND  GRANT — CONDITIONS  OF  GraNT — DIFFERENCES  OF  OPINION 
RESPECTING  THE  WiSDOM   OF  THE  MEASURE. 

Now  that  the  Northwest  Coast  between  Fuca 
Strait  and  the  Russian  possessions  was  wholly  tiiul 
indisputably  their  own,  a  vast  territory  without  a 
government,  too  vast  and  too  important  to  be  held 
absolutely  by  a  commercial  corporation,  while  tlie 
near  south  under  the  liberal  policy  of  the  United 
States  government  was  so  rapidly  being  settled  by 
enterprising  emigrants  of  their  own  Anglo-Saxon  raee, 
it  behooved  the  ligislators  and  rulers  of  England  and 
of  England's  colonies  to  cast  a  parental  eye  toward 
this  very  far  away  and  very  wild  and  very  little 
Britain. 

The  history  of  the  treaty  of  184C,  which  determined 
the  dividing  line  between  the  possessions  of  (jJveat 
Britain  and  those  of  the  United  States  on  the  J'a- 
cific  coast,  having  been  given  at  length  elsewhere  in 
this  work,^  it  would  be  superfluous  to  repeat  it  here. 

^History  of  the  Northwest  Coa-st. 

( -Ml ) 


That  e 
mother 
affairs; 
her  owi 
rather 
The 
north  < 


SERIOUS  QUESTIONS. 


908 


That  event  safely  over,  soon  we  see  the  hand  of  the 
mother  country  again  moving  in  Northwest  Coast 
affairs;  this  time,  however,  confining  her  interest  to 
her  own  pecuhar  case,  and  in  the  capacity  of  patron 
rather  than  that  of  champion. 

The  question  was  what  to  do  next.  The  country 
north  of  the  lately  defined  United  States  boundary 
was  a  wilderness  held  by  an  association  of  British  sub- 
jects under  sanction  of  the  British  government,  which 
had  gone  so  far  as  to  grant  the  occupants  the  privilege 
of  exclusive  trade  with  the  natives  for  a  period  ex- 
piring in  1859.  The  question  now  was,  Shall  anything 
be  done  toward  colonizing  or  settling  the  country,  or 
any  part  of  it,  before  the  expiration  of  the  fur  com- 
pany's present  privilege  of  exclusive  trade,  and  if  so, 
what? 

It  so  happened  that  about  this  time,  namely,  in  1 846 
and  1 847,  the  directors  of  the  fur  monopoly  presented 
themselves  before  Lord  Grey,  quaking  with  foar  lest 
American  marauders  should  pursue  them  beyond  the 
new  boundary,  and  spoil  their  traffic  in  British  Co- 
lumbia, as  they  had  already  done  in  Oregon.  Lord 
Grey  lent  a  favorable  ear;  and  from  this  beginning 
arose  important  negotiations.'^ 

Since  the  charter  of  Charles  II.  to  Prince  Rupert 
in  1G70,  the  policy  of  the  adventurers  of  England 
trading  into  Hudson's  Bay  had  been,  to  say  the  least, 
exclusive.  Not  alone  had  they  been  fearful  of  the 
intrusion  of  foreigners,  but  most  of  all  were  they 
jealous  of  their  own  countrymen. 

During  the  first  half-century  of  their  occupancy  of 
thcsu  hyperborean  shores,  they  had  been  forced  to 
battle  French  soldiery  invading  by  sea;  some  of  their 
forts  had  even  been  taken  from  them  during  these 
encounters.  And  later  they  had  frequently  been 
called  upon  to  resist  the  encroachments  of  French 
fur-hunters  from  Canada.    Wars  with  hereditary  foes, 

■  Compare  Hansard's  Parliamentary  Debates  and  Levi's  Annah  of  Jh-ilish 
Leijislation,  passim. 


!  -  'I  f 

i 


m 


Willi 
S 


iB04 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


It-; 

:(    . 

;!■.; 


however,  were  never  to  be  cotupared  in  point  of  hatred 
and  disastrous  results  with  the  rivalry  between  them 
and  the  Northwest  Company, 

80  in  regard  to  settlement.  The  occupation  of  Ore- 
gon by  emigrants  from  the  United  States  had  given 
them  much  anxiety,  and  they  had  exercised  eveiy 
means,  but  always  within  the  bounds  of  justice  and 
humanity,  to  stop  this  tide  of  population  which  would 
prove  the  total  destruction  of  their  traffic  in  those 
])arts.  Yet  as  in  former  encroachments  and  opposi- 
tion, tlic  government  and  the  people  of  the  eastern 
American  states  gave  them  less  serious  concern  thiui 
their  own.  The  cause  was  obvious.  The  dividinjj  lino 
between  the  North  American  possessions  of  Great 
liritain  and  those  of  the  United  States  they  well 
knew  their  government  would  see  properly  drawn 
without  assistance  from  them.  The  bounds  of  their 
dominion  fixed  they  could  easily  regulate  their  busi- 
ness accordingly.  They  entertained  no  serious  fear 
of  being  cramped  for  territory.  But  when  England 
herself  should  attempt  colonization  on  the  Pacitio, 
well  might  English  fur-hunters  look  to  their  interests. 

It  was  now  considered  certain  that  United  States 
territory  on  the  western  ocean  would  be  speedily 
settled;  that  there  would  be  within  the  limits  of  such 
territory,  and  as  the  result  of  such  settlement,  one  or 
more  large  commercial  towns  conducting  trade  direct 
with  the  coast  above  and  below,  with  the  Hawaiian 
Islands,  and  with  China;  and  that  between  the  eastern 
and  western  seaboards  there  would  be  safe  and  free 
intercommunication.  With  so  powerful  and  })ro- 
gressive  a  people  as  neighbors,  and  with  an  over- 
crowded population  at  home,  it  was  clearly  evident 
that  so  broad  and  valuable  a  region  as  the  British 
Pacific  possessions  could  not  always  be  kept  solitary  as 
the  game-preserve  of  a  commercial  monopoly.  And 
none  saw  this  clearer  than  the  monopolists  themselves. 

Yet  it  was  not  by  opposing  colonization  by  any 
means,  but  rather  by  encouraging  it,  that  the  company 


m 


1  ,  i 


w 


BEFORE  I'AllLIAMmT. 


soft 


Would  attempt  to  control  afi'airs  for  a  tiiuo  Ioniser. 
If  tliey  could  be  constituted  iMiglund's  colonizers  on 
the  Paoific,  then  mi;^lit  tliey  colonize  after  their  own 
fashion,  quickly  or  slowly — very  slowly  indeed,  if  such 
should  prove  their  interest.  Such  advantage,  indeed, 
had  not  been  overlooked  in  arranging  the  terms  of 
the  last  license  of  exclusive  trade,  the  grant  of  1838. 
When  in  1837  the  company  petitioned  for  a  renewal 
of  that  grant,  they  sought  extended  privileges.  In 
addition  to  a  license  of  exclusive  trade,  they  asked  title 
to  the  land  for  purposes  of  colonization,  urging  their 
services  in  excluding  settlers  of  other  nations  as  a 
reason  why  they  should  have  the  management  of  set- 
tlers of  their  own  nation. 

l^oth  Sir  J.   H.  Pelly,  governor  of  the  Hudson's 

Buy  Company  in  England,  and  Sir  George  Simpson, 

"overnor  of  the  company's  affairs  in  America,  after 

ignifying  the  hazardous  efforts  of  the  company  to 
-iiric'h  itself,  after  lamenting  the  heavy  losses  sus- 
tained in  keeping  the  country  clear,  alike  of  British 
subjects  and  foreigners,  after  gently  chiding  their  bo- 
ni;4nant  mother  for  neglecting  that  protection  which 
it  was  their  chief  joy  to  see  withheld,  begged  a  fresh 
continuance  of  their  misfortune,  together  with  such 
hold  upon  the  soil  as  should  perpetuate  them.  The 
piofits  arising  from  the  business,  said  they  to  parlia- 
ment, arc  no  more  than  a  fair  return  for  the  capi- 
tal employed;  and  the  services  rendered  the  mother 
country  in  securing  her  this  commerce,  which  other- 
wise would  fall  to  foreigners,  demand  further  favors. 
IV'sides  their  twenty-two  trading-depots  on  the  west- 
ern slope,  they  have  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
CoUnnbia  large  pastures  filled  with  stock,  and  grain 
tarnis  affording  abundant  supplies  of  every  kind  of 
aijfiicultural  product,  and  it  is  their  intenti(m  to  aug- 
ment such  establishments  so  as  to  export  wool,  tal- 
low, and  hides,  and  at  the  same  time  to  afibrd  a  quiet 
home  for  retired  servants  of  the  company.  Climate 
and  sod  are  all  that  could  be  desired,  they  continued, 


r  >! 


:■) 


I     ■  , 


f 

4u 


■T— ^ 


206 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


but  in  order  to  justify  the  outlay  necessary  to  the 
full  furtherance  of  the  company's  plans,  protecticm, 
that  is  to  say,  monopoly,  must  be  secured  them;  tlie 
natives,  body  and  soul,  must  be  theirs,  likewise  the 
soil,  and  every  subject  of  Great  Britain  who  dare  in- 
trust his  keeping  to  their  arbitrary  will. 

Cunningly  as  these  proposals  were  advanced,  in  so 
far  as  they  related  to  proprietorship  in  the  soil  they  at 
this  time  failed.  It  was  now  pretty  well  understood 
by  England,  after  dreaming  over  it  for  nearly  two  cen- 
turies, that  the  adventurers  trading  into  Hudson's 
Bay  woro  not  unduly  anxious  to  make  settlemonts 
anywhere.  In  one  instance  only  had  they  attem[)te(l 
or  permitted  such  a  measure,  and  that  was  emph)ycd 
as  the  deadliest  engine  for  the  breaking-up  of  a  pow- 
erful rival.  The  Ked  River  difficulties  had  opened 
the  eyes  of  statesmen  to  the  fatal  effects  of  coloniza- 
tion on  hunting-grounds.  It  was  becoming  a  pretty 
well  established  fact  that  foxes,  beavers,  and  native 
hunters  do  not  dwell  long  in  apple-orchards.  Savagisni 
is  essential  to  a  game-preserve  a  thousand  miles  square, 
and  settlement  of  any  kind  is  directly  antagonistic  to 
savagism.  In  a  word,  it  was  against  the  company's 
interests  to  have  their  forests  cleared,  and  their  Indian 
hunters  demoralized  by  drink  and  civilized  diseases. 
This  they  had  well  known  from  the  first,  and  liad 
managod  their  business  accordingly.  Nor  are  they  to 
be  specially  blamed  for  adopting  a  self-protective  ])()!- 
icy,  which  is  no  less  the  first  law  of  corporations  than 
of  governments  and  individuals. 

Notwithstanding  the  very  natural  desire  to  post- 
pone the  day  of  their  downfall  as  far  as  possible,  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  not  blind  to  the  i'act 
that  the  ultimate  destiny,  indeed,  the  near  destiny  of 
their  Pacific  coast,  was  colonization.  It  would  soon 
prove  as  vitally  importait',  to  them  as  to  the  British 
nation  at  large,  in  or  out  of  British  America.  Tli.ir 
very   existence,   the    preservation    of  their   hunting''- 


ARDENT  SPIRITS. 


207 


grounds  to  the  northward,  and  between  the  ocean  and 
the  mountains,  would  soon  depend  upon  their  ability 
t )  guard  their  coast  against  the  inroads  of  foreign 
ti  aclers,  who  had  always  caused  them  much  annoyance, 
and  were  now  becoming  more  troublesome.  By  these 
lawless  traders,  many  of  wh<!)m  were  from  New  Eng- 
land ports,  the  accursed  taste  for  strong  drink  was 
kept  alive  among  the  natives.  So  long  as  there  was  a 
I)ossibility  of  obtaining  intoxicating  liquor  the  Indians 
would  trade  for  little  else.  They  were  wild  for  it, 
almost  as  insane  in  the  desire  as  in  the  gratification. 
From  hundreds  of  miles  inland  past  the  doors  of  the 
company's  forts,  they  would  bring  their  best  skins 
down  to  the  sea-shore,  and  there  hold  savage  saturnalia 
as  long  as  they  lasted.  There  was  no  controlling  them 
or  controlling  business  so  long  as  rum  was  sold  upon 
the  coast.  It  was  as  clearly  to  the  interests  of  the 
luonopolists,  or  license-holders,  to  prevent  this  de- 
moralizing traffic,  as  it  was  to  the  pecuniary  profit 
of  transient  traders  visiting  the  coast  to  indulge 
in  it. 

Not  ilone  were  traders  from  the  United  States 
accused  of  selling  liquors  to  tribes  inhabiting  British 
American  territory,  but  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
were  charged  with  the  like  otfonce  in  disposing  of 
strong  drink  to  the  Indians  of  the  United  States.^ 
However  fatal  the  result  to  the  poor  Indian,  the  fur- 
trading  policy  of  the  time  was  essentially  retaliatory, 
and  although  the  truth  of  these  charges  was  flatly 

'Tlio  question  in  1849  waa  made  one  of  official  correspondence.  On  the 
Stli  (if  December  Henry  W.  Sibley  writes  Mr  Clayton,  asking  i;  remonstrance 
to  1j('  laid  before  the  British  government,  to  prevent  tlie  introduction  of 
ardent  spirits  into  the  Indian  country.  lie  pronounces  it  'a  fact  viiich  ca"  '  ■• 
cstjililiahed  by  incontestable  testimony.'  This  letter  w.is  forwarded  to 
Ahhutt  Lawrence,  United  States  minister  to  (ireat  liritain,  who  laid  theconi- 
pliiiiit  before  Lord  I'almcrstou.  The  matter  was  referred  lo  tiie  secretaiy  of 
fitntt'  (or  tiie  colonies.  Finally  Earl  Grey  received  a  flat  denial  from  Sir  .Inlin 
IVIly,  :«ul  tliere  the  subject  rested.  Since  the  l.'Jtii  of  May  IM'2,  wlien  Sir 
Otorgc  Sinipson  and  Adolphus  Ktholin,  governor  of  the  Russian  American 
onldiiii'a,  signed  at  Sitka  an  agreement  proliibitiiig  the  use  of  spirituous 
iii[iiijr.s  in  the  Indian  trade  of  their  respective  teiTitories,  that  region  liad  in  :i 
iiiciLsmi^  been  free  from  this  curso.  But  tliis  agreement  did  not  prevent  resort 
to  tlif  forbidden  tratlic  when  competition  with  traders  of  other  nationalities 
rendered  it  necessary. 


'm 


1 


m , 

m 


W: 


i:*  i; 


!f!! 


U  ■  t 


<i\ 


208 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND 


denied  on  both  sides,  there  is  no  doubt  that  both  were 
guilty.  _ 

Again  in  184G,  when  the  mueh-agitatcd  question  of 
boundary  was  being  settled,  the  subject  of  coloniza 
tion  was  brought  forward.  As  the  right  honorable 
Edward  Elliee,  M.  P.,  remarked  to  a  select  connnit- 
tee  of  the  house  of  commons — "Being  in  possession 
of  the  trade  of  the  adjacent  country  under  the  ^*  nso 
. .  .  the  company  applied  to  Lord  Grey  for  pn,  .'tion 
in  Vancouver  Island,  for  fear  of  American  maraudm's 
disturbing  their  possessions  tliere."  Earl  (ircy  replird 
that  the  distance  round  Cape  Horn  was  too  far  ior 
even  the  long  arm  of  his  government  conveniently  to 
reach,  and  tJiat  the  company  must  protect  themselvi.s. 
On  the  7th  of  September  a  letter  was  addressed  by 
the  company  to  Earl  Grey,  stating  that  their  estah 
lishment  on  the  south  point  of  the  island  was  annu- 
ally enlarging,  and  asking  a  grant  of  land.  A  lons^ 
correspondence  followed,  and  negotiations  were  begun. 
Then  for  nearly  a  year,  that  is,  from  !Marcli  1847  to 
February  1848,  the  matter  rested.  From  tlie  modest 
first  re(j[uest,  wliich  was  to  be  contirmed  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  island  only,  the  idcnis  of  the  comitaiiy 
hud  gradually  enl;«.rged,  until,  as  Sir  J.  II.  Felly  ex- 
pressed liimself  in  a  letter  to  Earl  Cirey,  the  5th  ot 
March  1847,  the  comj)any  wc!re  "willing  to  undertake 
tlie  government  and  colonization  of  all  the  ti'rritoriis 
!)olonging  to  the  crown  in  North  America,  and  receive 
a  grant  accordingly." 

It  was  this  startling  proposal,  opening  the  eyes  of 
tlie  government  to  the  real  designs  of  the  comjiaiiy, 
wliich  tem])orarily  suspended  negotiations.  In  Felj- 
ruary  184S,  with  more  modest  mein,  they  again  came 
forward  with  the  assurance  that  "])lacing  the  whole 
territory  north  of  the  4yth  degree  under  one  governinij;' 
}H)Wer  would  have  simplifieil  arrangements,  but  the 
company  was  willing  to  accept  that  ]uut  of  the  ter- 
ritory west  of  tlie  Ilocky  Mountains,  or  even  ^'an- 
couver  I^jland  alone;  in  fact,  to  give  every  assistance 


letter  o 


its  lai'ge 
Pacilic   c 


it   "*. 


INEXORABLE  NECESSITY. 


909 


■n  its  power  to  promote  colonization."  In  a  subsequent 
letter  of  the  4th  of  March  the  same  writer  goes  still 
luither,  and  says:  "In  every  negotiation  that  may 
take  place  on  this  subject,  I  have  only  to  observe 
that  the  company  expect  no  pecuniary  advantage 
from  colonizing  the  territory  in  question.  All  moneys 
received  for  lands  or  minerals  would  be  applied  to 
purposes  connected  with  the  improvement  of  the 
country."* 

Accompanying  this  truly  disinterested  offer  was  a 
private  letter  of  a  somewhat  different  nature,  which  was 
nothing  less  than  a  request  that  the  privileges  possessed 
under  the  original  grant  of  Rupert  Land,  giving  the 
adventurers  of  England  power  to  establish  colonies, 
courts,  and  governments  should  l)e  extended  over  the 
entire  Northwest  and  Pacific  territories.  The  magni- 
tude of  the  proposal  at  this  juncture  was  alone  enough 
to  insure  its  defeat.  It  was  at  once  decided  by  the 
government  that  if  a  grant  were  made  at  all,  it  should 
be  confined  to  Vancouver  Island. 

Besides  the  tide  of  emigration  which  since  the 
treaty  of  184G  was  pouring  into  Oregon,  the  United 
States  had  lately  acquired  California,  and  this  alone 
was  more  than  sufficient  to  make  that  nation  the 
dominant  power  upon  the  Pacific,  even  should  there 
be  no  foundation  in  the  reported  gold  discovery,  rumors 
of  wliich  were  now  reaching  British  Columbia  and 
England.  And  if  gold  was  plentiful  in  the  Sierra 
Foothills,  might  it  not  bo  found  north  of  the  49tli 
parallel?  Indeed,  there  had  already  been  indica- 
tions of  the  precious  metal  in  this  region.  Where 
then  would  bo  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  with 
its  large  and  widely  extended  interests,  should  the 
Paeiiic  coast  be  brought  into  sudden  prominence 
hoWn-Q  the  world,  as  in  truth  it  was  even  now  being 
broudit? 


■ii 


( 1 

>  .1 


-1    v 


*  All  this  was  purely  for  efifect.  and  was,  moreover,  so  palpably  opposed  to 
tlic  Lhinactcr  and  policy  of  the  company,  that  none  but  the  most  simple-minded 
Were  for  a  moment  deceived  by  it. 
Hut.  Brit.  Col.    H 


210 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND 


mm 


■   |.  i.;- 


It  was  well,  as  cautious  and  prudent  business  men,  to 
think  of  these  things  and  to  provide  for  them.  And 
the  officers  of  the  company  did  so  think  and  so  pro- 
vide, for  they  were  shrewd,  far-seeing  men.  For  their 
subsequent  policy  as  well  as  for  their  past  deeds,  many 
writers  attempt  to  bring  odium  upon  them.  I  see 
no  special  cause  for  praise  or  blame  in  the  premises. 
They  were  not  professional  patriots  like  our  congress- 
men and  state  politicians;  they  were  a  commercial 
corporation  seeking  to  make  money  by  every  lawful 
means,  and  I  have  failed  to  discover  anything  mort 
dishonorable  in  their  dealings  than  in  those  of  mer- 
chants and  monopolists  generally.  When  a  man  or  an 
association  of  men  raise  the  signal  of  money-making, 
the  less  they  talk  of  piety  or  patriotism  in  connection 
with  their  commercial  efforts,  the  less  they  will  be 
regarded  as  hypocrites." 

'■  It  is  in  exceedingly  bad  taste,  to  say  the  Iea49t,  for  Mr  Martin,  who  writes 
as  special  advocate  for  the  company,  to  devote  one  of  the  live  parts  of  which 
his  work  is  composed  to  expatiating  on  the  '  Christian  conduct  and  beneficent 
policy  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.'  The  fact  is,  there  was  not  the  slight- 
est Christian  conduct  or  beneficent  policy  about  their  business.  Their  occu- 
pation was  neither  proselytism  nor  benevolence,  but  the  fur-trade.  As  a 
matter  of  course,  there  were  religious  and  humane  men  among  them— humane 
I  think  they  almost  all  were,  and  remarkably  so;  but  in  orthodox  Christiiiuity 
they  numbered  many  sceptics.  Their  lives  were  such  as  to  engender  thought, 
and  thought  is  unfavorable  to  faith  Away  from  the  influences  of  form  and 
example,  spending  much  of  their  time  alone  with  nature,  constant  witnesses 
of  the  diversity  of  beliefs  in  the  surrounding  nations,  the  servants  of  the  com- 
pany were  apt  to  fall  into  an  independent  train  of  reasoning  which  led  them 
far  away  from  the  teachings  of  their  childhood.  So  that  I  say  for  that  time, 
and  as  a  class,  the  officers  and  servants  of  the  company  were  remarkably  scep- 
tical. In  this  part  of  Mr  Martin's  work  the  company  itself  can  scarcely  take 
pride.  It  is  made  of  prolix  testimonials  from  church  people  who  have  receiveil 
lavors  from  the  corporation,  and  which  a  night's  lodging  would  buy.  Now,  no 
one  lias  ever  denied,  that  I  am  aware,  that  the  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  were  composed  of  high-minded,  courteous  gentlemen.  I  should  call 
them  exceedingly  lioeral,  both  in  money -matters  and  in  ideas.  Their  respect 
for  the  opinion  of  others,  whatever  might  be  their  own,  and  their  kindncis  to 
missionaries  of  whatever  faith  or  nationality,  were  proverbial.  Therefore 
when  Mr  Martin  cites  instances  of  courtesy  extended  to  bishops  and  other.s  as 
examples  of  piety,  he  renders  himself  ri<liculous.  One  of  his  ttrst  assertions 
here  is  that  the  company  'have  well  fulfilled  the  objects  for  which  their 
charter  was  granted  in  1670,'  which,  if  I  read  the  record  correctly,  is  simply 
not  true.  Exploration  was  made  only  as  thoy  were  driven  to  it,  and  tiicii 
more  to  conceal  knowledge  than  to  reveal  it;  settlement  was  absurd  on  tlui 
face  of  it;  and  although  profoundly  indifferent  aa  to  the  belief  the  savages  en- 
tertained regarding  the  future  state,  and  although  missionary  establishnii'nts 
interfered  in  some  degree  with  their  traffic,  they  wcrf-  not  insane  emmuh, 
awhile  dc^jendent  upon  public  opiiiiou  for  their  very  existence,  to  bring  down 


A  fur 

.f  Engh 

pu    V. 

coloiilzat 
the  ques 
was  mac 
sake  of 
had  nevc 
of  coloni: 

Land 
not  pre te 
held  und 
theirs  ab 
elect.  A 
Mountaii 
with  the 
not  fnr-b 

In  all 
trade,  fn 
destined 
tlie  soutl: 
coniparat: 
the  trade 
fourtlis. 
the  slaug! 
caused  tl: 
increase,  1 
mail  that 
ncnt.     A 
therefore 
not  lonfj  ] 

Again, 
nient,  it  a 
company 


upon  their  he 
in  the  way  o 
ence  the  mess 
at  many  of  tl 
Martin  in  his 
virtue  which 


FUE^TllADERS  AS  COLONIZERS. 


211 


A  fur  company  is  a  bad  colonizer.  The  adventurer 
if  England  never  professed  to  be  a  colonizing  com- 
pu  V-  Before  this  they  had  never  specially  opposed 
coloiiization,  for,  except  in  the  affairs  at  Red  liiver, 
the  question  had  never  arisen,  and  that  settlement 
was  made,  as  before  remarked,  not  so  much  for  the 
sake  of  colonizing  as  for  retaliation.  The  company 
had  never  refused  an  application  for  land  for  purposes 
of  colonization,  because  none  had  ever  been  made. 

Land  held  under  license  to  trade,  the  company  did 
not  ])retend  to  have  the  right  to  sell ;  but  Rupert  Land, 
held  under  charter  of  Charles  II.,  they  did  claim  as 
theirs  absolutely,  to  hold  or  to  sell  as  they  should 
elect.  A  portion  of  the  territory  west  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  might  be  colonized  without  interfering 
with  the  fur-trade;  lands  suitable  for  agriculture  are 
not  fur-bearing. 

In  all  parts  habitable  to  progressive  man,  the  fur- 
trade,  from  its  very  nature,  was  from  the  beginning 
destined  to  diminish.  In  the  United  States  and  in 
the  southern  parts  of  British  America,  it  is  already 
comparatively  extinct.  During  the  present  century 
the  trade  in  ^orth  America  has  diminished  three 
fourths.  The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  by  restricting 
the  slaughter  have,  for  a  time,  and  in  certain  localities, 
caused  the  game,  instead  of  diminishing,  actually  to 
increase,  but  it  is  only  in  latitudes  too  cold  for  civilized 
man  that  we  may  expect  the  peltry  trade  to  be  perma- 
nent. All  this  the  company  had  long  understood,  and 
therefore  were  well  aware  that  Vancouver  Island  could 
not  h)ng  remain  untenanted. 

Again,  though  constitutionally  opposed  to  settle- 
ment, it  was  interference  with  the  fur-trade  that  the 
company  feared  more  than  the  mere  segregation  of 


4 II 

1 

1 ' 

"  |i' 

:  'm 

f  ! 

1- 


'..lit 


r  Li 


:^^1| 


liWI 


upon  their  heads  the  indignation  of  the  religions  world  by  throwing  obstacles 
in  the  way  of  heathen  conversion,  or  ot  treating  with  coldness  or  indiffer- 
ence the  messengers  of  the  gospel.  They  even  had  their  own  paid  chaplains 
at  many  of  their  posts,  but  this  was  rather  for  form's  sake.  Evidently  Mr 
Martin  in  his  extraordinary  ardor  has  here  given  the  corporation  credit  for  a 
virtue  which  they  themselves  never  claimed. 


\'\A 


..! 


212 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


any  small  part  of  their  vast  domain  for  purposi^s 
of  cultivation.  Could  colonial  operations  be  strictly 
confined  to  the  Island,  the  Mamland  meanwhile  being 
under  the  absolute  dominion  of  the  company,  moro 
particularly  if  there  was  money  in  it,  the  adventurers 
of  England  would  scarcely  remain  long  averse  to 
doing  good  in  that  way.  Throughout  their  long  and 
eventful  career,  never  had  they  for  a  moment  hesi 
tated  to  serve  their  country  when  the  largest  profit 
was  to  be  realized  in  so  doing.^ 

In  1847  certain  complaints  were  made  at  ihe  colo- 
nial office  in  London  agninst  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany by  Mr  Isbister,  laiely  returned  from  a  visit  to 
the  territories  of  the  company.  The  answers  given  by 
the  company  to  these  complaints  not  being  satisfactory, 
the  matter  was  referred  to  Lord  Elgin,  governor-gen- 
eral of  Canada,  whose  opinion  as  rendered  seemed  not 
adverse  to  the  government  of  the  fur-traders. 

The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  now  emboldened 
to  present  their  request  in  due  form,  and  the  follow!  iiij; 
year,  the  draft  of  a  charter  granting  them  the  Island  of 
Vancouver  was  laid  before  parliament.  Mr  Gladstone 
spoke  against  the  measure,  believing  the  corporation 
unqualified  for  the  undertaking.  Likewise  the  puMic 
journals,  as  a  rule,  were  against  investing  the  company 
with  these  privileges,  and  the  chamber  of  conimeivo 
of  Manchester  sent  up  a  remonstrance  against  the 
proposition. 

Two  principal  objections  were  urged:  first,  that  the 
colonization  of  the  Island  at  the  present  time  was  an 
unwise  movement;  and  secondly,  were  it  not  so,  ilio 
officers  of  the  fur  company  were  not  the  proper  per- 
sons to  undertake  it.  Objections  were  made  to  cortaui 
features  of  the  proposed  grant.     For  example,  it  was 

*  'I  suppose  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  discourage  having  any  snttloineiit 
as  far  as  they  can,  within  their  territory?'  asked  the  chairman  ot  tlie  house 
of  commons  committee  of  Mr  KUice.  '  The  Hudson's  Bay,  liite  all  (-tluT 
people,  would  like  very  much  to  have  any  settlement  that  was  proti  table,  wiis 
the  reply. 


m 

"M 


at  the 
,vas  aii 
io,  the 
;v  pt'f- 
;ortain 
it  was 


COMPLAINTS  OF  SETTLERS. 


213 


the  intention  to  vest  in  the  company  the  fisheries  of 
the  Island,  and  it  was  said  to  be  tlie  purpose  of  Earl 
(iroy  to  let  the  provisions  of  act  1  and  2,  George 
IV.,  cap  GO,  regulate  the  administration  of  justice. 
By  this  act,  felony  and  civil  cases  involving  over  two 
hundred  pounds  must  be  tried  in  the  courts  of  Canada. 
Olio  of  the  chief  arguments  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
})any,  in  their  eflbrt  to  make  it  appear  to  the  interest 
of  the  British  Government  to  continue  the  license  of 
exclusive  trade  in  their  hands,  was  that  by  so  doing 
the  country  might  bo  kept  in  peace.  It  was  not  alone 
to  prevent  competition  with  Canada  that  an  act  of 
j)arriamcnt  was  about  this  time  proposed,  which  should 
enable  the  crowi;  to  grant  the  company  a  license  of 
exclusive  trade,  while  the  Mainland  should  be  opened 
to  colonization,  but  also  to  hold  the  country  from  the 
inroads  of  peoj»le  from  the  United  States.  Unless  a 
monopoly  was  given  to  a  particular  class  of  British 
sul)jects,  citizens  of  the  United  States  might  trade 
with  the  Indians  the  same  as  British  subjects.  Ter- 
minate our  monopoly,  they  said,  and  you  open  the 
country  to  the  world. 

In  the  house  of  commons  on  the  17th  of  July  1848, 
the  carl  of  Lincoln  asked  if  the  government  intended 
to  make  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company^  a  further 
grant,  giving  them  powers  over  Vancouver  Island 
similar  to  these  enjoyed  over  their  other  territories. 
The  under-secretary  for  the  colonies  replied  that  such 
a  measure  had  been  talked  of,  but  not  yet  determined. 
It  was  understood  that  the  inquiry  had  been  insti- 
tuted through  the  instrumentality  of  the  governor- 
j,^'ncral  of  Canada,  and.  Lord  Lincoln  thought,  merited 
due  deliberation.  Lord  John  Russell  answered  that 
other  persons  besides  the  Hud.son's  Bay  Company 
Were  desirous  of  colonizing  Vancouver  Island,  and  he 
did  not  deem  expedient  at  that  time  such  investiga- 
tion as  would  lead  tt)  long  delays 

A  month  later  Mr  Christy  remarked  that  he  be- 
lieved the  complaints  of  those  who  had  hitherto  settled 


tf 


fi 

i  i 


^1 

' ' '  r 

1 1,' 


mm 


214 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


on  lands  ruled  by  the  fur  monopoly  at  Red  River  and 
elsewhere  to  be  well  founded.  The  system  of  this  cor- 
poration was  utterly  opposed  to  colonization,  and  he 
hoped  this  valuable  island  would  not  be  given  them. 
Mr  Hawes  replied  that  none  of  the  many  persons 
who  had  expressed  a  desire  to  colonize,  had  offered  any 
security  to  settlers,  as  did  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
which  already  had  a  flourishing  post  on  the  Island, 
with  the  exclusive  right  of  trading  with  the  natives. 
The  distance  was  great,  the  climate  and  soil  were  not 
attractive,  and  the  expense  of  colonizing  was  beyond 
the  purse  of  any  private  individual;  the  scheme  would 
likely  prove  disastrous  to  all  engaged  in  it  unless 
backed  by  some  strong  power.  Moreover,  the  pro- 
posed grant  was  only  a  grant  of  territory,  not  carry- 
ing with  it  any  right  to  rule.  The  government  of  the 
Island  was  a  matter  totally  distinct  from  this  grant  of 
land;  it  should  be  perfectly  free,  with  a  governor  and 
an  assembly  making  and  executing  their  own  laws,  and 
collecting  and  disbursing  their  revenues,  wholly  inde- 
pendent of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  But  for  all 
this,  the  proposed  grant  should  not  be  made  until  the 
complaints  of  the  Red  River  settlers  had  been  in- 
quired into. 

The  world  had  already  had  experience  in  colonization 
by  companies,  said  Mr  Gladstone.  The  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  was  at  once  a  trading  and  a  land  company, 
exclusive  and  secret  in  the  strictest  sense,  all  their 
affairs  being  conducted  in  a  spirit  of  absolutism  wholly 
inconsistent  with  imperial  concerns,  which  throughout 
the  vast  British  empire  were  everywhere  open  and 
public.  If  he  read  the  thoughts  of  the  company 
rightly,  they  would  say,  "  Colonization  is  undoubtedly 
a  great  evil ;  but  if  it  is  to  be,  it  will  be  better  in  our 
hands  than  in  the  hands  of  anybody  else,  for  so  we 
shall  be  able  to  keep  it  down  to  the  minimum."  And  to 
this  same  end  they  had  first  asked  for  all  the  quoeu's 
dominions  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Although  Mr  Howard  believed  it  most  unwise  to 


ifer 


grant 


PELLY  AND  EARL  GREY. 


215 


confer  the  extensive  powers  proposed  on  a  fur-trading 
company,  yet  as  California  had  lately  been  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  it  appeared  to  him  a  matter  of 
the  highest  importance  that  a  flourishing  British 
colony  should  be  established  on  the  western  Ameri- 
can coast,  in  order  to  balance  the  increased  maritime 
strength  of  the  United  States  in  that  quarter.  Lord 
John  Russell  explained  that  the  company  already  held 
exclusive  privileges  which  did  not  expire  until  1859, 
that  they  now  held  these  western  lands  by  a  crown 
grant  dated  the  13th  of  May  1838,  confirming  their 
])os8ession  for  twenty-one  years  from  that  date,  that 
these  privileges  could  not  be  taken  from  them  with- 
out breach  of  principle,  and  that  if  colonization  were 
delayed  until  the  expiration  of  this  term,  American 
squatters  might  step  in  and  possess  themselves  of  the 
island,  but  Goldburn  did  not  think  the  last-mentioned 
event  possible. 

Earl  Grey  saw  two  reasons  for  making  this  arrange- 
ment with  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company:  no  other 
persons  were  ready  with  the  necessary  capital  for  the 
undertaking,  and  the  fur  company  already  possessed 
the  exclusive  right  of  trade  for  a  further  period  of 
eleven  years.  The  company  were  willing  to  vest  the 
appointment  of  governor  in  the  crown.^ 

When  Sir  John  Pelly  again  brought  the  subject  of 
the  grant  to  the  attention  of  Earl  Grey,  proceeding 
on  the  principle  that  he  or  his  associates  would  not 
derive  any  pecuniary  benefit  therefrom,  but  would 
apply  all  funds  accruing  from  the  sale  of  lands  or  min- 
erals toward  the  colonization  and  improvement  of  the 
Island,  his  astute  lordship  suggested  that  it  might  be 
well  to  insert  those  terms  in  the  grant,  as  they  had 
been  wholly  omitted  in  the  original  draft.  The  earl 
hhnself,  in  a  letter  to  Mr  Hawes  dated  the  4th  of 
September  1848,  would  not  hesitate  to  take  the  com- 

"The  discussion  of  this  subject  in  ^••'•Uament  was  very  extuudeil,  an^l  is 
ably  reporteil  in  Hansard's  Parliamentary  Debates,  ser.  3,  c.  510-12;  ci.  i2(i3- 
305,  315,  and  4G5-9 


\'l 


'i  i 


sie 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


mm 


pany's  word  for  it,  but  "in  order  not  to  leave  any 
grounds  for  the  jealousy  of  their  intentions,  which  it 
appears  from  recent  parliamentary  discussions  is  en- 
tertained in  other  quarters,  he  thought  it  as  well  to 
introduce  all  these  now  well  understood  conditions 
formally  into  the  grant. "^  The  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany could  do  no  less  than  to  admit  these  stipulations 
into  the  grant,  since  they  had  originally  proposed  them 
in  the  former  petition  which  the  government  had 
denied.  Hence  on  the  9th  of  September  Sir  John 
Pelly  wrote  Earl  Grey  according  to  his  suggestion. 

On  the  30th  of  October  1848,  the  privy  council 
committee  for  trade  and  plantations,  to  whom  the  mat- 
ter had  been  referred  the  4th  of  September,  reported 
to  the  court  at  Windsor  on  the  grant  of  Vancouver 
Island,  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  committee  certain 
amendments  and  further  conditions  should  be  inserted 
into  the  original  draft;  as,  for  example,  the  company 
should  not  have  the  fish  about  the  Island,  and  should 
not  retain  more  than  ten  per  cent,  and  so  on,  which 
report  was  duly  approved  by  her  Majesty.  Although 
there  was  nothing  embodied  in  the  charter  to  change 
the  administration  of  justice,  yet  in  the  proposed 
scheme  of  government  now  made  public,  a  guaranty 
was  given  that  application  should  be  made  to  parlia- 
ment to  vest  in  local  tribunals  the  power  of  adminis- 
tering English  law,  thus  removing  from  this  colony 
the  restrictions  of  the  act  named. 

'In  regard  to  the  remuneration  of  the  company  for  their  services— for 
although  they  had  expressed  the  intention  of  receiving  no  pay,  it  was  well 
understood  that  in  some  shape  they  would  certainly  receive  pay — Earl  Grey 
named  ten  per  cent  of  the  gross  receipts  from  lauds  and  minerals  as  a  fair 
compensation.  The  remainder  he  suggested  '  should  be  expended  either  in 
sending  out  emigrants,  or  in  providing  for  the  cost  of  roads,  and  buildings 
and  other  necessary  charges  for  the  settlement  of  the  Island.  As  tlie  whole 
>  f  these  charges,  and  every  other  expense  connected  with  the  occupation  of 
the  Island  is  to  be  provided  for  by  the  company,  according  to  the  original 
understanding  that  no  pecuniary  demand  of  any  kind  was  to  be  made  upon 
her  Majesty's  government,  it  is  obvious  that  the  company  could  not  expect 
nnder  any  circumstances  to  realize  as  profit  a  larger  proportion  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  land  sales  than  I  have  mentioned,  and  that  therefore  the  intro- 
duction of  an  express  stipulation  to  the  above  effect  into  the  grant  would  be 
attended  with  no  real  sacrifice  of  their  interest.'  Letter  from  B.  Hawcs  to  Sir 
John  Pelly,  4th  Sept.  1848,  in  House  Commons  Returns  to  Three  Addrennnn,  17. 


ISLAND  AND  MAINLAND. 


217 


There  was  no  provision  in  the  original  draft  that 
any  portion  of  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  lands,  or 
of  tlie  royalty  received  from  settlers  for  working 
mines,  should  be  expended  for  the  benefit  of  the 
settlers.  Hence  it  threw  upon  the  project  quite  a  dif- 
ferent aspect  when  in  addition  to  the  restriction  con- 
cerning fisheries  the  grantees  were  required  to  expend 
nine  tenths  of  all  money  so  received  in  public  im- 
j)rovements,  reserving  for  themselves  only  one  tenth 
for  their  trouble. 

It  was  not  at  this  time  deemed  advisable  by  the 
government  to  include  the  Mainland  in  this  coloniza- 
tion scheme.  There  was  work  enough  to  do  for  the 
present  upon  the  Island,  and  until  a  secure  footing 
should  be  established  here,  it  was  folly  attempting 
more  difficult  tasks.  Upon  the  Island  the  natives 
could  be  easily  controlled;  upon  the  adjacent  coasts 
colonists  would  be  at  their  mercy.  When  all  goes 
well  with  the  savage,  he  is  independent  and  arrogant. 
With  a  plentiful  supply  of  fish  for  food,  with  fire-arms 
and  occasional  copious  sup[)lies  of  spirituous  liquors,  the 
natives  of  the  Mainland  would  prove  very  difficult  of 
iiiaiiagement  by  colonists.  The  fur-hunters  if  left  to 
themselves  could  manage  them.  They  alone  under- 
stood them  and  were  accustomed  to  their  ways.  It 
would  be  time  enough  to  take  the  country  out  of  their 
hands  when  it  wos  acuually  needed  for  settlement. 

We  have  already  seen  how  in  the  forty -third  year 
of  tlie  reign  of  George  III.  parliament  passed  an  act 
extending  the  jurisdiction  of  the  provincial  courts  of 
Canada  over  the  British  American  territory  adjoin- 
ing, so  that  crimes  committed  in  the  Indian  terri- 
tories should  be  deemed  offences  of  the  same  nature, 
to  be  tried  in  like  manner,  and  subject  to  the  same 
penalties,  as  if  committed  withm  the  provinces  of 
Upper  or  Lower  Canada.  W^e  have  seen  how  upon 
the  amalgamation  of  the  Northwest  and  Hudson's  Bay 
companies  in  1821,  in  order  to  secure  to  the  utmost 


S   ' 


<i 


'hi 


'     M 


s  • 


si   '■'  * 


;U: 


218 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


such  favors  as  the  united  interests  of  two  such  power- 
ful associations  could  command,  in  order  to  obtain 
official  recognition,  a  renewal  of  rights,  more  clearly 
defined  territorial  boundaries,  and  power  more  abso- 
lute and  determined,  pretence  was  made  that  tlio 
terms  of  the  former  act  were  ambiguous;  in  fact, 
that  doubts  were  entertained  whether  the  provisions 
of  the  act  of  the  forty-third  of  George  III.  extended 
over  all  the  territory  granted  by  the  charter,  and  it 
was  expedient  that  such  doubts  should  be  removed. 

Where  the  power  was  not  wanting,  it  was  easy 
enough  to  make  out  a  plausible  case,  and  to  have  a 
new  act  passed.  The  act  of  1821  was  entitled  "An 
act  for  regulating  the  fur-trade,  and  for  establishing 
a  criminal  and  civil  jurisdiction  within  certain  parts 
of  North  America."  By  this  act  it  was  made  lawful 
for  the  crown  to  make  grants  or  give  royal  license  to 
any  person  or  company  for  exclusive  traffic  with  the 
natives  in  any  part  of  North  America  specified,  other 
than  in  domain  before  granted,  or  not  a  part  of  Brit- 
ish North  American  possessions.  At  the  same  time, 
the  provisions  of  the  act  of  the  forty-third  of  George 
III.  were  declared  extended  over  all  the  territories 
before  granted  to  the  governor  and  company  (>f  ad- 
venturers trading  into  Hudson's  Bay. 

We  have  seen  how  on  the  13th  day  of  Ma/  18:38, 
the  time  then  drawing  nigh  when  the  license  of  1821 
should  terminate,  application  was  made  for  a  renewal 
of  that  license  on  the  ground  that  large  sums  of 
money  were  being  expended  in  the  trade  which,  if  it 
was  to  be  abandoned  so  shortly,  the  company  were  Tint 
justified  in  continuing;  and  that  the  license  was 
newed,  as  asked  for,  another  term  of  twenty-one 
making  it  expire  in  1859.  We  have  seen  h<  >'» 
the  15th  of  June  1846  (ihe  49th  parallel  was  mii<lo 
the  dividing  line  between  the  United  States  and  the 
British  American  possessions,  thus  causing  the  coai- 
pany  to  move  their  operaticns  back  to  the  north  of 
that  line. 


m.h 


TEBMS  OF  GRANT. 


210 


Finally,  with  all  this  as  a  preamble,  and  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  the  letters-patent  of  Charles  II.  as  ap- 
plied to  Rupert  Land  had  been  extended  over  the 
western  territories,  so  far  as  exclusive  trade  was  con- 
cerned, and  the  adventurers  of  England  had  built 
forts  at  various  points  within  that  territory,  and  on 
the  Pacific  slope,  and  on  Vancouver  Island;  and  be- 
cause it  would  conduce  to  the  maintenance  of  justice 
and  good  order,  and  the  encouragement  of  trade  and 
the  protection  of  the  natives,'  it  was  determined  to 
vest  in  the  company  the  property  in  the  land  of  Van- 
couver Island  for  purposes  of  colonization,  and  on  the 
13th  of  January  1849  the  grant  was  consummated. 

By  the  terms  of  this  instrument  the  governor 
and  company  of  adventurers  of  England  trading  into 
Hudson's  Bay,  and  their  successors,  were  given  the 
Island,  with  the  royalties  of  its  seas,  and  all  mines  be- 
longinrif  to  it.  They  were  made  lords  and  proprietors 
of  the  lo  id  forever,  subject  only  to  the  domination 
of  the  joritish  crown,  and  to  a  yearly  rent  of  seven 
shillings,  payable  on  the  first  day  of  every  year. 
TIi(3y  were  to  settle  upon  the  Island  within  five  years 
a  colony  of  British  subjects,  for  to  this  end  alone  was 
the  gift  made;  and  to  dispose  of  land  for  purposes  of 
colonization  at  reasonable  prices,  retaining  of  all  the 
moneys  received  from  such  source  as  well  as  from  coal 
or  other  minerals,  ten  per  cent,  and  applying  toward 
public  improvement  upon  the  Island  the  remaining 
iiino  tenths.  Such  lands  as  might  be  necessary  for 
a  naval  station,  and  for  other  government  establish- 
uicnts,  were  to  be  reserved;  and  the  company  should 
every  two  years  report  to  the  government  the  number 

"  It  would  have  been  better  for  the  majesty  of  England  to  hav j  said  noth- 
ing about  the  protection  of  the  natives  in  tliis  connection.  It  should  liave 
been  by  this  time  well  unuerstood,  the  significance  of  the  term  protection,  as 
applied  by  civilization  to  savagism.  Spain  liad  given  full  exa'^iiple.  The  only 
solitary  instance  in  all  the  two  Americas,  where  the  r.aiives  liad  been  uni- 
formly and  pen  aently  treated  with  kindness,  v,as  by  the  Hudson's  liay 
Cotnpany  themselves,  and  no  further  comment  on  the  comparative  benefits 
which  were  to  flow  in  upon  them  by  reason  of  co  ionization  is  necessary  than 
to  refer  the  reader  to  the  pages  which  follow  upoA  the  subject. 


.Ji; 


i 


wrrn 


220 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


of  colonists  settled  in  the  Island,  and  tl;e  lands  sold. 
If  at  the  expiration  of  five  years  no  settlement  should 
have  been  made,  the  grant  should  be  forfeited;  and  if 
at  tbo  expiratijn  of  the  company's  license  of  exclusive 
trade  with  the  Indians  in  1859  the  govennneiit 
should  so  elect,  it  might  recover  from  the  company 
the  Island,  on  payment  of  such  sums  of  money  as 
had  been  actually  expended  by  them  in  colonizatiui!. 
That  is  to  say,  the  crawu  reserved  the  right  to  recall 
the  grant  at  the  end  of  five  years  should  the  com- 
pany, either  from  lack  of  ability  or  will,  fail  to  colo- 
nize, and  to  buy  it  back  at  the  end  of  ten  years  by  the 
payment  of  whatever  sum  the  company  should  have 
in  the  mean  tinie  expended.  Except  during  hostili- 
ties between  Great  I3ritain  and  any  foreign  power, 
the  com[)any  should  defray  all  expenses  of  all  civil 
and  military  establishments  for  the  government  and 
])rotection  of  the  Island."* 

No  small  difference  of  opinion  arose  as  to  the  wis- 
dom of  the  grant,  and  the  act  w^as  consummated  in  the 
face  of  strong  opposition.  The  friends  and  the  ene- 
mies of  the  measure  arrayed  themselves  on  either  side, 
and  a  war  of  words  followed.  As  a  matter  of  course, 
there  was  much  exaggeration,  and  many  misstate- 
ments, wilful  or  otherwise,  were  made  on  both  sides. 
But  out  of  the  debris  brought  d(.)wn  by  the  combatants 


"Among  othoT  places,  a  copy  of  this  grant  may  1)0  found  in  Jfoiisc  of  Com- 
viom  Ji<tiirii.f  to  'J'/irie  A<lilr(\\.sfii,  ]',i-\[).  The  original  draft  is  in  .1/"/V/h'.< 
Jlmlinii'.i  ISdii,  108.  Bi'siiles  a  cojiy  of  tlio  royal  grant  ot  Vauccnivcr  Island, 
tlio  llniisf  oj  Conniions  nctiirns  to  T/in'e  AddreK'^es,  dated  respectively  the  Itltli 
of  August  1S48  and  tiie  (ith  of  Feliruary  and  the  1st  ot  Mareli  184!),  contains 
copies  of  admiralty  Utteis  and  despatches;  one  from  Sir  George  Seymour;  one 
M'om  Captain  J.  A  L'unt/.e  ot  the  slup  Fw/nnl,  to  Corumauder  Gordon  of  tliu 
.'loop  Coniioniiir,  dated  7tli  of  October  184C;  letter  from  Peter  Kkecn  Ogdeii 
and  James  Douglas  to  Captain  Duntze;  ri;i;ort  of  lieutenants  AVarre  and 
\'ava..oui,  March  I84(),  respecting  sod,  climate,  minerals,  ami  iiarliors,  ;i'!- 
dressed  to  tlie  secretary  ot  state  for  tlie  colonies;  report  by  Vava  ,iiiir, 
March  184(),  addressed  to  (.obinel  Holloway,  Canada;  instructions  .if  the 
admiralty  respecting  the  coal  of  Vancouver  Islaml;  correspondence  lietwccu 
the  2oh)nial  otiieo  and  the  admiralty;  letters  from  B.  Hawes  to  Sir  .biha 
Pelly;  fnmi  Sir  John  I'elly  to  Earl  Grey,  the  9th  and  Hth  Sept  1818;  fniiri 
Haves  to  Felly  the  UTtli  (if  Sept.  and  the  Mth  of  Get.  1848;  and  from  A.  Uar- 
day  to  U  Hawes  .'Jd  Nov,  J848.  Also  report  from  privy  cou  icil  committie 
for  traile  and  plancations  on  the  grant  of  N'ancouver  island,  dated  31st  t>i't. 
1848 


MARTIN  AND  FITZGERALD 


221 


there  is  no  difficulty  in  arrivin<]f  at  tlie  truth,  which 
was  simply  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  desired 
to  control  colonization  on  the  Pacific  coast;  to  press 
or  retard  it  as  they  should  find  it  to  their  interest, 
which  persons  interested  in  tlie  settiement  of  the 
country  preferred  should  be  done  by  those  havnig  no 
ulterior  end  to  serve." 

In  the  Times  of  the  27th  of  January  1849,  a  fort- 
night after  the  ^rant  was  made,  ap[)eared  an  adver- 

"  Among  the  mass  of  matter  published  in  books  and  pciioriicals,  two 
authors  stand  jireominent  as  oiiampions,  one  on  oithui  side,  11.  Montgomery 
Murtin,  T/ic  HmUnnn  Bay  Terrilorii's  tind  Vkiicouivv  k  Ixlind,  for  tlie  cvinjiany, 
ami  .lames  E.  Fitzgerald,  An  ExiDiiinatinn  oj  thf  i'/iiirter  and  ProrfKlliKfi  q/'/Jie 
l/ii'/xoii'n  Baij  Cniiip(t}iy,  irilh  Hcjvrciico,  to  the  (Iriiut  of  VnwouverH  /ulaiid. 
af;:iiiist  it.  Mr  Martin  writes  avowedly  to  eidighten  the  world  on  Hnd.soii  a 
Hay  Company  all'airs.  Ho  K'ves,  first,  the  phj'sical  features  nf  the  territory; 
niHimd,  the  constitution  and  workings  of  the  eorporati(>n;  third,  their  tieat- 
iiu'iit  of  tlio  aborigines;  fourth,  the  condiiet  and  jiolicy  of  the  r.omp.my; 
tiltli,  qualifications  of  the  eonipany  for  colonizing  Vancouver  I:;land  Tlie 
lirst  part  is  made  up  largely  of  quotations;  in  fact,  Mr  Martin  makes  the 
ikuissors  do  duty  throughout  the  entire  work.  In  hiief,  the  country  is  good, 
the  system  perfect,  the  natives  well  treated,  the  conduct  of  the  coin|iany 
heneiiceut  and  Christian,  ten  thou.sand  iialf-lireeds  te..  ■"  •"g  to  their  morality, 
and  to  prove  their  qualitications  for  colonizi'ig  VancoiiM,.  lslan<l,  he  quotes 
ten  [)ages  from  Wilkes,  with  scarcely  a  break — this,  and  to  the  point  nothing 
mure.  Wilkes'  testimony  goes  to  show  that  the  oHicers  of  the  Hudson's  K.iy 
Comiiaiiy  were  intelligent,  entcri)rising,  and  hospitable  gentlemen,  wi.icli  as  I 
have  hifore  remarked  no  one  has  ever  domed  Witli  Martin's  book  Ixjforo 
iiiiii,  which  is  supposed  to  be  all  tlie  infoimation  and  arguments  an  able  ad- 
vocate enjoying  tlie  patronage  of  tlio  company  and  liaving  at  lu'iid  all 
mattM'ial  extant  for  writing  a  good  book  upon  the  subject  eoiUd  producv, 
Fitzgerald  writes  (iladstone  that  tliere  is  little  in  the  work  to  lejdy  to,  and 
what  tlieio  is,  is  'neitlier  fair  or  true.'  His  re|il_v  is  arranged  in  tlie  follow- 
ing order:  F'irst,  he  states  some  recent  occurrences  in  connection  with  tlio 
siilijcet.  Next  lie  examines  this  validity  of  tlie  grants  mailc,  to  tiio  company 
at  vari<ius  times,  wiiicli  he  pronounces  from  tiie  first  invalid.  Tlun  fit;  sjjcaks 
of  tlie  inllueneo  of  the  charter  on  England  and  America,  and  on  ceiouizatioi'. 
liiith  these  writers  are  extremists  Mr  Fitzgerald  leans  as  miuli  too  far 
toward  one  side  as  Mr  Martin  does  toward  tiie  other.  It  is  between  tlie  two 
that  the  triitli  lies.  The  original  grant  of  Cliarles  11.  was  undoubteilly  in- 
valid; liut  ([uiet  occupation  for  one  or  two  centuries  was  suielv  suthcient  to 
givt>  the  possessor  title  as  claimed,  wliicli  was  ownershii)  in  the  soil,  Imt  ;i.';w:iy3 
sul'ject  to  the  crown  of  Englanil  Mr  Fitzgerald's  work  is  f:  i  tlie  aider  if 
the  two.  With  unglovcil  hands  ho  strips  the  suhjeet  of  its  falsities;  exposiu;; 
the  suliterfuges  of  special  |ileaders  with  merciless  severity  ;  and  were  lie  not 
a  siieci.il  phMiler  himself,  liis  work  would  cany  iiiiich  w(Mght.  The  cUHerenco 
hetw.en  these  two  writers  was  this:  While  Fitzgerald  stood  up  to  a  square, 
m  (Illy  hght,  Alartm  played  tlio  piihlic  foul,  not  only  endeav<iring  to  make  one 
tiling  a[ipear  another,  luit  asserting  unblushingly  that  one  thing  w.is  aimtlior 
A  just  cause  needs  no  such  'iterary  trickery  as  that  employed  by  Mr  Martin 
1  do  not  say  Ins  cause  Wii.s  not  a  pist  one  I  do  not  think  the  Hudson  s  Hay 
Ciiiiipany  wero  sjiecialiv  to  ho  blamed  tor  obtaining  the  grant  or  for  what 
fiillnwed  Earl  (it'oy  made  «oino  mistakes  as  well  as  tlio  company.  1  only  say 
witli  respect  to  Mr  Martin  and  his  book,  that  right  or  wrong  he  injured  liia 
cause  by  resorting  to  bold  deceit. 


1 


:rt'^ 


i    I 


Pf    ' 

1  i  ff  !   1 

3  'if  '  j 

l    '.;   1 

If 

■ 

• 


222 


GRANT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


tisement  stating  the  reason  why  this  act  should  not 
have  been  consummated,  or  at  all  events,  not  until 
the  charges  then  standing  against  the  company  had 
been  thoroughly  investigated  and  the  mstter  decided 
whether  additional  power  would  be  safe  in  their 
hands." 

"  Mr  Finlayson  says,  V.  T.atid  Northwent  Coast,  MS.,  26,  that  it  was  only  after 
British  men-of-war  had  visited  Esquimalt  harbor  during  the  Oregon  disputes  of 
1846,  that  the  government  became  alive  to  the  importance  of  the  Island,  '  and 
in  oi  aor  to  enable  them  to  establish  courts  of  justice,  oflfered  the  Island  of  Van- 
couver io  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  in  fee-simple,  on  condition  of  colonizing 
it  at  first  for  ten  years  from  1849,  reserving  to  themselves  the  right  of  appoint- 
ing the  governor.'  See  also  British  North  America,  298,  where  the  grant 
is  called  a  lease;  Martin's  Httdson's  Bay,  passim;  Waddtnijton's  Fraser  Mines, 
30;  Grunt's  Desrrip.  V.  I.,  in  London  Geog.  Soc.,  Jotir.,  xxvii.  272-3;  JlouKe 
C<ym.mons  Kept.  Rae,  par.  648-64;  Simpson,  1283-4,  1635-44,  1C66-74,  1847-8; 
Maynard,  445-6;  Jilanshard,  6102,  5149-55;  Ellice,  5834-67,  5906-33;  Oh/m- 
pia  Cliih  Convs.,  MS.,  1-19;  Langevin's  Rept.,  1;  Coopers  Maritime  Matters. 
MS.,  3,  4;  Tod's  Hist.  New  Caledonia,  MS.,  21-2 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  COLOlTi  IF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND  UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAY 
COMPA>^i  REGIME. 

1849-1859. 

pliosl'ectus  and  advertisement  for  colonists — qualmcatlons  of  thb 
Company  for  Colonizing  —  Objections  Raised  —  They  were  Fur- 
traders- -And  yet  They  HAD  Ships  and  Money — The  Puget  Sound 
Company  would  have  a  Share — No  Easy  Matter  to  Please  All — 
Land,  One  Pound  an  Acre — The  Scheme  a  Foreordained  Failurk 
—Price  of  Land  Too  High — The  Gold-fields  of  California  Onb 
Cause  of  the  Failure — Vancouver  Island  in  Parliament—  The  Earl 
of  Lincoln,  Lord  Elgin,  and  Mr  Gladstone  on  the  Situation— New 
ArriTUDE  OF  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  Relation  to  the  Natives. 


Upon  the  signing  of  their  grant,  the  company  pub- 
lished a  prospectus,  and  advertised  for  colonists.^  In 
the  prospectus  the  price  of  land  to  settlers  was  fixed 
at  one  p*)und  an  acre,  and  for  every  hundred  acres 
bought  at  this  rate  the  purchaser  was  obliged  to  con- 
vey at  his  own  expense  three  families  or  six  single 
nu'ii." 

The  qualifications  for  the  colonization  of  Vancouver 
Island  possessed  by  the  adventurers  of  England  over  all 
otlior  persons  or  powers — if  indeed  they  possessed  any 
such  advantages  as  before  intimated — may  be  briefly 
suinniod  up  as  follows :  First,  capital.  Money  was  re- 
quired from  some  source  to  convey  colonists  thither, 

'  This  their  enemies  said  was  done  more  for  display  than  with  honest  ; 
tent.     ]n  any  event,  it  would  1)0  a  convenii'iit  arguiiieiit  to  have  at  hand  for 
the  purpose  of  proving  at  any  time  that  the  failure  of  the  scheme  was  through 
no  fault  of  theirs. 

^ '  It  is  needless  to  ofifer  comment  on  these  impolitic  and  suicidal  regulations, 
when  at  the  same  time  both  in  Oregon  and  (.'alifornia,  where  gold  was  abundant, 
land  WHS  puroliased  at  six  sliillings  per  acre.  Thr  li.ct  was,  tlie  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  wanted  to  keep  back  emigration  for  tlie  sake  of  the  furs  and  other 
jictty  traffic  with  the  natives;  and  so  far  as  anti-civilizers  tliey  succeeded.' 
ConiinallM'  J^ew  El  Dorailo,  35.  See  also  Finlnynon'M  Hist.  V.  I.,  MS.,  26; 
Cooper,  Afar.  Maltem,  MS.,  3-4,  calls  the  prospectus  a  mere  sham. 

<223) 


224 


UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAY  COMPANY'S  R^GIMK 


i'       1 


to  protect  them  from  the  savages,  and  to  provide 
shelter  and  the  means  t)f  subsistence  until  they  should 
be  able  to  provide  for  themselves.  This  capital  th.o 
corporation  had  at  its  command,  and  were  willing  to 
employ  it  for  that  purpose.  It  is  true,  the  crown  could 
have  su]iplied  the  means ;  but  if  with  relief  from  tlio 
responsibility  and  care  of  the  settlement,  the  expendi- 
ture of  public  money  might  be  avoided  while  the  ob- 
ject was  attained,  it  was  surely  an  argument  in  favor 
of  the  persons  willing  to  undertake  the  scheme  on 
.these  terms.  Second,  organization.  The  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  were  there  upon  the  ground  with  oiiu 
of  the  most  complete  commercial  systems  in  the  world. 
Third,  experience.  For  more  than  a  century  and  u 
half  they  had  occupied  these  northern  realms.  Tlu y 
were  familiar  with  the  country  adjacent  and  its 
capabilities;  with  the  natives,  and  how  to  control 
them.^ 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  claimed  that  the  company 
had  been  recreant  in  former  trusts,  that  they  had  niixii- 
aged  their  affairs  so  as  to  return  to  them  the  greatest 
profit  Avithout  regard  to  their  promises,  and  that  tlie 
additional  power  now  given  them  was  of  a  nature  to 
tempt  their  cupidity  beyond  the  stretch  of  average 
commercial  integrity. 

Already  was  their  grasping,  overreaching  disposi- 
tion manifest  in  putting  forward  a  draft  with  scarcely 
a  binding  provision  in  it,  except  that  which  made  tlic 
land  their  own.  They  were  fur-traders,  and  fur-trad- 
ing was  directly  opposed  to  colonization.  They  were 
monopolists,  and  monopoly  is  but  a  species  of  tyr- 
anny.    It  is  to  that  very  end  that  monopolies  are 

^  Mr  Miirtin's  line  of  argument  in  attempting  to  prove  the  suporior  fitness 
of  tliu  Jiu(ls()ii'.s  Bay  Company  for  this  trust  is  unique.  In  the  first  jilacc,  lie 
(jiiotL's  the  money  they  iiad  made,  twenty  niillions  sterling,  in  somewhat  less 
tliau  two  eenturius,  which  pocket-stuffing  lie  calls  enriching  England.  Tln'ii 
liu  quotes  the  Red  River  colony,  which  was  not  eondueted  by  the  coiii]iiiny, 
and  wiiich  was  a  failure,  and  the  I'ugt't  Sound  Company,  which  was  not  tlu' 
Hudson's  Bay  Conqiany,  and  also  a  failure.  Next  ho  quotes  what  \Vill;cs 
pays  of  the  fort.s  and  fort  life,  missionaries,  McLoui;lilin  and  l)ou>;las,  tlif  f:nni 
at  Fort  Vancouvi-r,  ralifornia  horses,  tlie  Cowlitz  farm,  all  interesting  in  tluir 
way,  but  having  little,  t>u  far  aj  I  uau  sue,  tu  do  with  the  subiuct. 


tyr- 
are 


ADVANTAGES  AND  DISADVANTAGES.  Wi 

made,  that  a  few  may  reap  advantage  to  the  exclusion 
of  the  many. 

Further  than  this,  by  the  terms  of  the  grant  as  it 
now  stood,  a  premium  was  oifered  to  mismanagement 
and  raseaUty.  There  was  probably  never  made  so 
iirational  an  agreement  by  an  Englisli  minister  pro- 
f(!ssiiijr  to  have  his  wits  about  hir-^*  It  was  well 
understood  at  that  time  that  the  company  were  op- 
posed on  general  principles  to  have  their  business 
l)r()ken  in  upon  by  settlers.  The  grant  would  enable 
tlioiu  to  suppress  settlement  ad  lihifinn.  Again,  the 
government  might  buy  the  Island  Ijack  in  five  or  ten 
years,  b^-  refunding  to  the  c()mj)any  what  had  been 
expended. 

Now  the  company  had  at  command  ships,  forts, 
servants,  and  all  the  appliances  of  colonization.  Any 
business  man  will  readily  understand  that  the  com})any 
could  make  a  feint  of  colonization,  or  begin  settlement 
in  aj^parent  good  faith,  to  the  best  of  their  ability,  and 
in  so  doing,  in  transmitting  passengers,  and  in  pro- 
viding for  the  wants  of  the  colony,  could  easily  cliarge 
to  account  a  hundred  tln)usand  pounds  for  that  which 
did  not  cost  them  twenty  thousand  pounds,  and 
whieli,  indeed,  would  have  cost  the  government  under 
its  own  management  all  that  the  company  might  so 
oliarge.  With  shi])S  of  their  own  in  regular  com- 
nuiiiication  with  England,  and  an  abundance  of  land 
at  their  contnd,  the  additional  expenses  of  coloniza- 
tion would  be  insignificant,  and  scarcely  felt  by  them. 
This  NA'as  the  advantage  the  company  had  by  being 
on  tlie  ground  with  an  old  estahhslied  business  and 
experienced  servants.  It  is  a  well-known  fact  that 
private  individuals  or  corporations  will  do  almost 
anvtliinii-  more  economicallv  than  ])ublic  officials.  It 
IS  now  a  pretty  generally  settled  princij)le  that  the 

'  Of  Earl  Grey's  mismanagoineiit  Mr  FitzgeniM  and  others  apeak  in  the 
str.>ni,'cst  terms.  'Tlie  minister  has  {lulilicly  ileclareil  '.y  this  eiuichiet  tliat 
Ih:  Is  [Mw.sessed  of  no  ihatinet  guiding  iK'inoiples  in  respeut  to  colonization. 
I.<'t  till'  piildie  judge  whether  sueii  a  minister  is  tit  to  preside  over  the  viist 
ti'liiiiKil  intiM'ests  (if  tiiis  empire.'  Fitzjcnikl's  V.  I.,  206-7 
Hist  Buit.  Col.    15 


I!- 


^1 


226 


UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAY  COMPANY'S  RfiGIME. 


public  is  a  thing  to  bo  fleeced,  and  that  no  stain  of 
dishonor  attaches  to  a  wasteful  expenditure  of  the 
people's  money;  so  that  the  company  had  but  to 
make  a  pretence  of  colonization,  write  down  large 
sums  against  the  colonization  account,  and  impose 
upon  the  colonists  until  their  situation  should  bo  un- 
endurable, and  so  force  the  government  to  take  the 
Island  oft'  their  hands,  and  pay  the  money  charged  in 
the  account;  most  of  which  would  be  profit;  the  re- 
mainder having  been  faithfully  employed  to  the  best 
ability  of  the  monopolists  in  retarding  settlement. 
Here  was  apparent  the  far-sighted  wisdom  of  Earl 
Grey/ 

There  was  yet  another  reason  why  the  colonization 
of  Vancouver  Island  might  perhaps  be  better  per- 
formed by  other  hands.  The  Puget  Sound  Agricul- 
tural Company,  though  not  identical  with  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  was  closely  allied  to  it.  The  former 
was  simply  a  distinct  association  of  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  latter.  The  officers  of  the  fur  company 
were  the  persons  principally  interested  in  the  agricul- 
tural company;  the  Puget  Sound  Company  being 
rather  a  farm  than  a  colony.  There  remained  only 
the  Red  River  settlement  as  a  sample  of  fur-company 
colonization,  and  this  was  a  failure.  Serious  charges 
were  preferred  by  the  settlers  at  Red  River  against 
the  governor  and  rule  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
and  the  imperial  government  was  begged  to  interfere. 
The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  frankly  admitted  that 
the  Red  River  colonv  was  a  failure,  but  claimed  that 
it  was  none  of  their  doings,  but  the  private  scheme  of 
Lord  Selkirk,  and  never  should  have  been  undertaken. 
The  colonists  there  were  surrounded  by  a  wilderness, 

'  'There  is  strong  reason  to  suspect,'  says  Fitzgerald,  'that  the  company 
never  did  intend  to  colonize  any  part  of  their  territories.  They  never  pio- 
posed  to  do  so  until  it  was  inevitable  that  it  must  be  done  by  some  one ;  and 
their  whole  conduct  suggests  the  idea  of  a  desire  to  get  possession  of  tlio 
country  only  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  others  out.  Driven  out  of  this  dcsigii 
by  public  opinion,  they  have  undertaken  to  colonize  or  to  give  back  tlie 
island  to  the  crown,  to  be  disposed  of  to  those  who  will  do  so.'  This  was 
written  immediately  after  the  grant  was  made. 


A  TRYING  POSITION. 


227 


with  difficult  communication  with  the  world  without, 
and  little  market  for  their  produce.  The  colonization 
of  Vancouver  Island  would  be  a  totally  different 
matter.  Already  there  was  no  inconsiderable  trade 
between  the  Northwesc  and  Russian  American  coasts 
and  the  islands  of  the  South  Sea  and  Asia.  Moreover, 
the  lands  of  the  Puget  Sound  Company,  since  the 
treaty  of  1846,  were  within  the  territory  of  the  United 
States.  The  affairs  of  the  association  were  not  in  a 
very  flourishing  condition.  Now  if  with  one  stroke 
they  might  dispose  of  their  lands  and  improvements 
at  a  good  price  to  the  United  States,  and  at  the  same 
tiuic  secure  a  good  footing  in  the  most  favorable  part 
of  an  island  set  apart  for  colonization,  thus  forcing 
settlers,  should  any  come,  to  subdue  wild  lands  adja- 
cent and  beyond  their  limits,  thus  greatly  enhancing 
the  value  of  their  own,  it  might  surely  be  a  good  thing. 

It  was  a  difficult  undertaking,  this  of  the  fur-traders, 
exceedingly  difficult,  at  once  to  please  England,  to 
please  the  settlers,  and  to  please  themselves.  England 
would  wish  to  see  this  rock-bound,  forested  isle 
speedily  converted  into  fertile  fields  and  flourishing 
settlements,  where  her  prolific  poor  might  find  happy 
liomcs  and  her  manufacturers  good  customers.  The 
settlers  would  like  each  the  best  and  largest  piece  of 
land  upon  the  Island.  If  their  farm  was  not  upon  the 
main  street  of  the  metropolis  it  should  be  at  least  in 
tlu'  suburb.  They  should  be  furnished  for  little  or 
nothing  with  everything  they  required;  they  should 
not  bo  expected  to  perform  much  labor,  for  they  could 
have  lived  at  home  if  they  had  labored  hard;  the 
cliiuato  should  not  be  allowed  to  breed  diseases;  the 
land  with  slight  tillage  should  yield  abundantly,  and 
a  ready  market  should  be  always  at  hand.  As  for  the 
company — those  who  had  been  lords  of  the  wilderness, 
Mould  now  be  nothing  less  than  dominators  of  the  new 
subjugation  society.  Again,  while  there  were  many 
implied  obligations  which  the  company  were  expected 


IN- 


■  m 


m 


mJ.i 


i     ''■ 


i 

n 


li»^' 


m  • 


\^n 


i;^i.'. 


228 


UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAY  COMPANY'S  RfelME. 


faithfully  to  perform,  the  government  did  not  hesitate 
to  impose  duties  which  were  not  found  written  in  the 
grant.  As  a  matter  of  course,  the  crown  would  ap- 
point the  governor.  It  had  been  stipulated  that  the 
land  should  be  sold  at  a  fair  price;  but  what  would 
be  a  fair  price — a  shilling  an  acre,  or  two  guineas  an 
acre?  The  company  made  known  their  ideas,  and  then 
it  was  that  Earl  Grey  thought  a  pound  an  acre  about 
the  right  figure,  though  on  what  ground  is  not  stated. 
That  would  be  assuredly  cheap  as  compared  with  tlie 
price  of  land  in  England,  but  it  might  be  called  dear 
in  a  country  where  five  bottles  of  rum  would  buy  ;i 
square  mile.  It  might  be  thought  high  considering 
its  cost,  which  was  simply  the  taking  of  it. 

The  fur-traders  knew  well  enougli  that  this  alone 
was  sufficient  to  kill  the  scheme.  As  they  Avere  now 
situated,  it  really  made  little  difference  to  tliciu 
whether  it  should  prove  a  success  or  a  failure;  but  it' 
the  latter,  it  would  be  as  well  for  the  fault  to  lie  at  Lis 
lordship's  door  as  at  their  own.  The  company  claimed 
that  the  scheme,  from  the  very  nature  of  things,  wus 
a  foreordained  failure.  It  was  a  fine  thing  for  tlio 
government  to  throw  the  expense  of  settlement  upon 
them,  but  in  due  time  they  began  to  realize  that  tin  y 
never  should  have  accepted  the  charge.  There  wi>ro 
other  restrictions  imposed  by  Lord  Grey  equally 
fatal  to  success.  Not  only  was  a  colonist  required  ti> 
purchase  the  land  at  a  high  price,  but  he  was  obliged 
to  create  other  colonists.  To  obtain  a  footing  in  A'nn- 
couver  Island,  the  emigrant  must  be  comparatively 
a  rich  man,  and  rich  men  preferred  to  remain  in  Eng- 
land. Besides  the  heavy  expense  of  bringing  out  him- 
self and  his  family,  if  he  had  one,  in  order  to  obtain 
a  title  to  the  waste  lands  of  this  far-away  island,  lie 
must  bring  out  other  men  or  other  families.^     Anotlier 

"  Fit^erald  saya  '  three  families  or  six  single  men. '  Grant  says  five  siiiiile 
men,  'bemg  at  the  rate  of  one  man  for  every  twenty  acres;  no  single  iinln  iil- 
uiil  coming  out  was  allowed  to  purchase  more  tlian  twenty  acres. '  J>eM-rip' 
tio»  V.  A,  in  LondonOeoij.  Sor,,  Jour.,  xxvii.  272.  Blanshard,  in  Hoitsf  ('"in- 
nums  Reft.,  287,  says  tliat  live  laborers  nmst  be  brought  out  from  Eiigl.nnl 


i;m 


ll 


'''it. 


^\ 


A  POUND  PER  >CRE. 


229 


s(  rlous  drawback  was  the  anomalous  condition  of  polit- 
ical affairs,  engendered  by  impolitic  admixtures  of  in- 
terests, wherein  the  antagonisms  of  monopoly  and  free 
legislation  were  constantly  being  brought  face  to  face, 
which  will  more  fully  appear  as  the  history  pro- 
ceeds. 

The  charge  of  a  pound  an  acre  as  the  price  of  the 
land,  not  to  mention  the  condition  coupled  to  it  of  re- 
(|uiring  the  buyer  of  every  one  hundred  acres  to  place 
upon  the  Island  five  men  or  three  families,  was  ab- 
surd. In  the  fir.st  place,  the  Island  did  not  offer  the 
liucist  attractions  in  the  world  as  a  place  of  settlement. 
It  was  far  removed  from  the  mother  country,  and  the 
time  and  expense  of  reaching  it  were  great.  Though 
no  farther  north  than  England,  it  was  off  the  main 
lines  of  circumnavigation.  The  surface  was  rocky, 
and  in  places  heavily  wooded,  there  being  compara- 
tively little  good  agricultural  land.  The  market  for 
produce  was  neither  present  nor  secured.  The  pio- 
netr  would  have  difficulties  enough  to  contend  with. 
Were  the  land  given  him  together  with  a  bonus  of  a 
]i(iund  an  acre  for  preparing  it  for  cultivation.  Indeed, 
iar  better  land  at  that  very  moment  was  being  given 
away  in  Oregon,  where  the  climate  was  warmer,  the 
market  nearer,  and  the  government  as  free  and  as 
ftivorable.  Without  impediment  and  without  restric- 
tion, upon  exactly  the  same  footing  as  a  native  of  the 
United  States,  by  simply  declaring  his  intentions  of 
becoming  an  American  citizen,  a  subject  of  Great 
l^ritain  might  settle  upon  any  unoccupied  lands  soutli 
t»f  the  49th  parallel.     Instead  of  five  hundred  doUara 


W 


.   il!     .1 


f(ir  (vory  one  hundred  acres  purchased.  ' For  every  one  hundred  acres  thu 
juiic  li;mf r  >v;is  hound  to  import  four  persons.'  C(Xi]iers  M<n:  Mutters,  MS.,  3. 
A  story  is  told  of  J.  M.  Swan,  who,  it  is  sai<l,  on  consulting  with  Douglas, 
("Iville,  and  Kiulayson,  in  relatiou  to  tlic  terms  of  settlement,  w;is  informe.l 
tliut  f(ir  every  twenty  acres  purclia.icd  one  male  adult  must  settle  on  the 
jji'iiiiiiil;  to  s^jcure  one  hundred  acres,  a  man  nmst  have  four  male  servants,  or 
tliitc  niarriod  couples.  'But  (  have  neither  servants  nor  wives,'  said  Swan, 
_'  I'lirii  ffut  natives, '  was  the  reidy ; '  three  Siwasli  men  and  three  Siwash  women. ' 
'lliis  report,  tliough  unreliahlo,  was  circulated  south  of  the  horder  to  the  no 
s  nail  .iiiuisemeut  of  those  who  wore  securing  their  land  without  money  and 
itliiiMst  without  stipulation.  Olytiqna  Club  Coiws.,  MS.,  1-19. 


H^n 


230 


UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAY  COMP^VNY'S  REGIME. 


ill  money,  and  the  trouble  of  bringing  six  or  more 
j)erson8  to  the  coast  for  every  hundred  acres  secured, 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  were  given  him,  or 
if  he  could  boast  a  wife,  to  the  two  were  donated 
absolutely  and  for  nothing  the  magnificent  area  of 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  Strong,  hideed,  must 
be  the  patriotism  of  the  pioneer  to  deny  himself  these 
advantages  in  order  to  maintain  allegiance  to  the 
mother  country/ 

Nine  tenths  of  the  pound  per  acre,  it  is  true,  went 
to  public  improvements,  and  so  added  to  the  value  of 
the  land;  but  seed,  stock,  and  the  implements  of  uiid 
aids  to  husbandry  are  of  far  more  importance  to  tlie 
struggling  frontiersman  tlian  government  institutions. 
Almost  all  the  pioneering  in  the  United  States  has 
been  done  beyond  the  pale  of  government.  It  is  true 
that  settlers  upon  the  public  domain  of  the  United 
States  have  suffered  from  outrages  and  lawlessness  far 
more  than  settlers  upon  British  American  soil;  but 
unlike  the  latter,  the  former  while  clearing  their 
lands  and  struggling  for  subsistence  have  not  been 
burdened  in  building  institutions  or  supporting  gov- 
ernment.** 

Failure  to  colonize,  among  other  things,  was  charged 
to  the  gold-fields  of  California.  Finlayson,  Anderson. 
and  others  complain  of  the  rush  from  the  ranks  of 
both  agriculturists  and  traders.  Grant  says,  of  four 
hundred  men  brought  out  by  the  company  during  the; 
first  five  years  two  fifths  deserted,  one  fifth  were  sent 

'  Says  Mr  Ellicc,  referring  to  Lord  Oroy's  restrictions:  '  Any  person  acous- 
tomeil  to  the  settlement  of  land  must  know  tliat  if  you  take  a  pound  frmn  n 
man  who  conies  to  settle  in  a  wild  country,  you  take  from  him  all  tho  little 
capitiil  which  he  wants  to  estahlish  himself  on  the  land.  The  land  is  of  no 
value  to  anybody  until  it  is  cultivated.'  Hoxise  Commons  Ji'ipt.,  334. 

"  'Of  the  money  arising  from  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  that  land,  1S,<.  (»/. 
in  every  pound  sterling  was  to  be  applied  to  the  benefit  of  the  colony,  mily 
1a\  iid.  iu  tlie  pound  being  reserved  to  the  company  to  remunerate  them,  us  it 
were,  for  their  undertaking  the  iigency  of  the  disposal  of  tlie  land.  ColnnistH 
were  to  be  allowed  to  work  any  coal  they  might  find,  on  paying  to  the  conijiiiiiy 
a  duty  of  2s.  i5d.  per  ton,  and  a  duty  of  lOd  j)er  load  was  to  be  paid  on  all 
timljcr  exported  (front's  Descrmt  V.  I.,  in  Loud.  Geog,  Soc.,  Jour.,  xx\ii. 
272-3.  '  A  settlor  was  restricto(l  in  various  ways  in  his  operations,  wliicli  also 
tended  to  keep  back  tiie  progress  of  the  settlement.'  Finhytioii'ii  V-  /■  '""' 
Norlliwimt  Coast,  MS.,  2C 


EFFECT  OF  THE  flOLD  MINES. 


231 


I    V. 


to  other  posts,  and  the  reiiuiiiKlcr  were  employed  on 
the  Islaiid.  Admitting  this,  uhich  I  do  not  doubt,  1 
ciinnot  regard  the  excuse  as  a  vahd  one.  The  omnipo- 
tent magnet  of  the  Sierra  Foothills  drew  settlers  from 
Oregon,  but  in  due  time  they  returned,  bringing  with 
tliem  newly  found  friends.  So  would  it  have  been 
with  regard  to  Vancouver  Island,  had  general  relations 
there  been  happy.  The  love  of  nationality  within  the 
bi'cast  of  an  Englishman  is  strong  and  enduring,  and 
many,  willing  for  a  time  to  endure  foreign  rule,  would 
not  for  twice  what  they  might  make  renounce  their 
native  allegiance,  or  live  long  under  any  government 
but  their  own.  After  the  first  flush  of  gold-gathering 
liad  passed  it  was  supposed  the  mines  were  exhausted, 
and  when  the  miners  v/ere  returning  to  their  homes 
then,  liad  the  attractiou^  been  strong  enough,  many 
wlio  liad  learned  to  h^ve  the  excitements  of  pioneering, 
and  who  still  would  choose  to  remain  British,  woukl 
have  taken  passage  to  Victoria  with  their  little  capital, 
and  there  have  made  themselves  homes;  so  that  in 
the  end  California  would  have  proved  a  great  gatherer 
of  settlers  for  Vancouver  Island,  as  she  did  for  other 
parts  of  the  north  Pacific  coast. 

Several  did  go  from  California,  and  returned  disap- 
})ointed;  among  others  a  Mr  Chancellor,  sent  by  a  com- 
l)aiiy  of  Englishmen  whom  he  left  still  digging  while 
awaiting  his  return.  His  report  being  unfavorable, 
they  abandoned  the  project  which  they  had  formed  of 
settling  in  the  Island.  It  was  as  early  as  December 
1^41),  while  the  mines  were  flooded  and  mining  was 
regarded  as  an  extremely  hazardous  business,  that 
J.  A[,  Swan  visited  Victoria  and  would  have  secured 
plaees  for  himself  and  others  as  colonists  had  the  terms 
heen  reijarded  as  favorable.''*  Probablv  Planshard 
liimself  did  as  much  as  any  other  one  man  in  prevent- 
ing; emigration   from  England,  i'ov  being  dissatisfied 

'Suo  lllanshard,  in  Ifoiine  Commons  Rept.,  289;  Oli/iiqiin  Chih  Coiir^.,  MS., 
1  1'.'.  '  I'liure  are  tlums.'UiU  of  iieoplu  in  the  noigliborlKioil  of  Sail  Francisco 
iui  I  in  California  who  wouM  gladly  jro  to  a  IJritish  colony,  proviiluil  it  was 
iiiiiK  r  a  new  administration.'  L'oopvi;  in  lluu.se  Conuiions  Jtijit.,  191. 


HI 


m"' 


T.2 


UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAT  COMl'ANYVS  UtOIME. 


M'itli  liis  r('C'(.'|)ti()n  and  trtuitment  there,  naturally  his 
rc'[)()rt8  and  letters  home  were  colored  accordini^ly. 

To  sum  up  the  case,  we  see  that  colonization  under 
the  crown  *^rant  of  Vancouver  Island  to  the  Hudson'js 
Bay  Conii>any  was  a  failure.  The  causes,  we  have 
likewise  seen,  were  several.  Stripped  of  tlic  cant  and 
cunnino"  in  which  legislators,  fur-traders,  and  sottKr.s 
alike  inwrapju-d  the  subject,  the  naked  truth  pres(;nt,s 
itself  in  the  forms  following.  The  primary  object  of 
the  imperial  government  was  to  save  itself  trouble 
and  ex})ense;  the  field  was  not  sufficiently  enticing  t^ 
excite  either  the  cupidity  or  the  ambition  of  })oliticiaiis. 
There  were  no  spoils.  While  the  settlers  had  abun- 
dant cause  of  complaint,  and  as  a  class  such  p('o|i]e 
complain  with  or  without  cause,  the  fur-traders  de- 
sired, first  of  all,  to  hold  the  country  in  their  own 
liands  as  hitherto.  They  preferred  no  colonization  at 
present.  When  it  nmst  C(nno  they  i)referrcd  to  con- 
trol it.  Could  settlement  be  confined  to  the  Island, 
and  the  Mainland  still  be  kept  by  them  intact  as  a 
game-preserve,  it  would  make  but  little  ditfercnce  with 
them;  but  they  well  knew  that  for  many  years  the 
Island  would  not  support  a  large  population,  and  when 
once  the  limited  agricultural  fields  were  filled  it  would 
speedily  overflow  on  to  the  Mainland. 

And  almost  innnediately  the  grant  was  made  the 
crown  repented  it.  Before  the  end  of  the  year  Lord 
Elgin  had  instituted  further  investigations  into  the 
complaints  made  by  the  Red  liiver  settlers,  to  the 
disparagement  of  the  officers  t)f  the  Hudson's  I^ay 
C*ompany;  and  on  the  Gth  of  February  184'J  the 
I'^arl  of  Lincoln  asked  in  parliament  that  the  new 
charter  or  o'rant  of  Vancouver  Island  miijht  be  laid 
on  the  table.  The  attorney-general  and  solicitor-gen- 
eral were  asked  their  opinion  whether  the  company 
could  hold  land  at  all  as  a  crown  grant. 

In  the  house  of  connnons  the  22d  of  Februaiy  ^h' 
Hume  remarked,  that  since  the  occupation  of  Cali- 


if'' 

(  t  u 


CORPORATION  COLON  IZATION. 


sss 


fdtnia  by  the  United  States  Vancouver  Island  liad 
!)(•(•( )ine  more  valuable  than  ever,  far  too  valuable 
to  Hiiit;'  away  on  a  fur  company,  which  would  do 
imtliino.'" 

In  tli(!  house  of  commons,  the  carl  of  Lincoln,  on 
the  I'Jtli  of  June  1849,  made  a  lenj^thy  8i)ee(;h  which 
showed  that  the  hostility  manifested  from  tlie  first 
toward  the  <^rant  of  Vancouver  Island  had  in  no  wise 
diminished.  lie  believed  the  measure  a  national  dis- 
a-iter,  and  tlu;  j»arties  to  it  culpable  in  a,  hij^h  deforce. 
The  course  i)ursued  bv  the  uovernnient  was  whollv 
informal,  and  what  was  done  should  be  revoked.  Colo- 
nization i)yal)sentee  proprietary  companies  had  always 
proved  a  failure,  and  were  likely  always  so  to  j)rove. 
Witness  the  colonies  of  Virginia,  Massachusetts,  C^ar- 
oliiia.  South  Australia,  ana  otliers.  Penn,  as  a  cor- 
poration sole,  managed  well  enough  so  long  as  he 
was  on  the  ground,  but  disaster  followed  closely  (»n 
Ills  al)sence.  The  superintending  power  of  colonies 
sliould  rest  only  in  the  imperial  government.  These 
i'ur-traders  were  not  only  commercial  monopolists. 
l)ut  in  their  transactions  were  despotic  and  secret,  ai.d 
therefore  the  very  worst  persons  to  whose  care  to  in- 
trust a  tender  infant  colony. 

Ill  short,  the  legality  of  the  powers  of  the  fur  com- 
jiany  in  tlie  matter  of  colonization  occupied  the  atten- 
tion of  liritish  statesmen  during  the  greater  part  of 
tlie  Vi'ar  1849.  The  company  presented  no  objections 
to  the  fullest  inquiry,  though  they  took  care  that  the 
decision  sliould  be  ultimately  in  their  favor.  In  the 
house  of  commons,  the  5t]i  of  July,  when  the  sub- 
ject was  again  (){)ened  for  discussion,  Mr  (Gladstone 
roniarked  that  for  Sir  John  Pelly  and  other  ofHcers 
of  tlie  company  he  entertained  the  highest  respect, 
hut  that  he  was  opposed  to  the  system  as  ap[)lied  to 
colonization.  Again,  on  the  1st  of  August  1850, 
Mr  (iladstone  demanded  an  inquiry  into  the  riglits  of 
the  eoinpany  over  its  territory  in  America.     And  so 

'"//<(;«(«/•</',■(  Pail.  Dtb.,  3(1  ser.  cii.  303,  704,  1169-71. 


W: 


,.]f 


234 


IJNDER  HUDSON'S  BAY  COMPANY'S  REGIME. 


:  1 


B;^ 


'i,. 


Matters  •\vcnt  on,   the  settlers  complained,  the  states- 
men talked,  and  the  fur  company  ruled." 

On  the  whole,  affairs  in  Vancouver  Island,  under 
fur-tradini*'  colonization  rule,  and  up  to  the  time  of 
tlie  fjold  discovery,  were  managed  about  as  miy-ht  have 
been  expected.  There  were  no  flagrant  oti'ences,  no 
outrag(H)Us  wrongs,  and  there  was  much  kindness  and 
humanity. 

As  a  niattc>r  of  course,  the  settlers  and  the  fur- 
traders  quarrelled.  They  had  not  been  human,  else. 
The  idea  of  vesting  in  a  (;ommercial  company  supreme 
power,  makmg  it  lord  of  the  soil  and  of  the  lives  of 
men,  and  then  expecting  free  and  intelligent  subjects 
of  a  liberal  and  enhghtened  government  to  place  their 
neck;^  voluntarily  under  the  yoke  as  colonists,  would 
never  for  a  moment  have  been  entertained  by  a  wise 
and  thoughtful  statesman.^" 

The  Hudson's  }^ay  Company  were  sound  enough 
and  content  enough  throughout.  Fur-trading  was 
their  cliief  object.  They  did  not  care  to  colonize, 
unles.s  then;  was  money  in  it.  Whatever  the  result, 
they  knew  as  business  men  that  tliey  liad  driven  a 
good  bargain  with  tlie  crown,  and,  notwithstanding  the 
assertions  of  Kdward  Ellice  to  the  contrary  before  tlie 
seh'ct  connnittee,  whichever  turn  affairs  took,  they 
could  make  it  profitable. 

Should  colonization  succeed,  they  would  find  tlnir 
reward,  as  I  have  said,  in  bringing  out  settlers,  in 
furnishing  tlu^ni  su})plies,  in  securing  the  l)est  lands, 
and  in  develoj)ing  the  coal-nnnes.  So  far  as  the  Island 
alone  was  concerned,  they  could  undoubtedly  make 
more  out  of  it  in  this  way  than  in  holdmg  it  as  a  fut- 
preserve.  On  the  other  hand,  shoidd  colonization  fill, 
they  would  not  only  have  the  country  all  (piietly  to 
themselves  again,   but  they  might  c<tllect   i'roni  tln' 

" /Arn.svovr.>i  P<irl.  D''h.,  3(1  ser.  ciii.  .')40-94,  cvii  IXm-C^I;  cxii.  C).'!?  S. 
Mlr.'t'  lli'(iint(i\  Ixxii.  274,  •1\)\;  Ixxiv    ],")7,  -77;  PoIi/iic.ikui,  v.  110;  vi.  l.'J. 

'■'  '  Most  Kiiij;lisli  jit,'(H)U;  ((l)JL't't  to  liu  iiiiiler  any  ^ovcrmiicnt  cxrcpt  llir 
roal  truii  Britisli  goveniiiieut. '  Cooper,  iv  lluum;  Commonn  li<i>t.,  200. 


crown  wel 
permit  tin 

True  tc 
patriotic,  i 
ilie  usual 
respectabl 
fulfil  theii 
governmei 

Xor  wt 

lllf.lt  of   S( 

advantage 
undoubted 
there  wen 
.small  soci 
obnoxious, 
and  stir  u 
det'eiice,  w 
(•oiitin<xeiK 
to  treat  al 
s[)t'ctly  be 
tlu'ir  o-ovt 
tions,  iind 
all  good  n 
The  lot 
liap[)y  one 
till'  mo.st  ] 
fnini  the  \ 
privations. 

As  sett' 
the  lluds 
their  treat 
iiioro  stric 
Tntil  the 
Hot  consic 
•  itl'rnder; 
liliMdy  an 
thill  prev; 

And  he 


TTTTTr 


:he  usual  commercial  policy. 


235 


Clown  welliiigh  wliatevur  sum  their  conscionccs  would 
j)iii  iiiit  them  to  charge  as  expenses  of  the  failure. 

True  to  their  principles,  more  Machiavellian  than 
patriotic,  the  company  continued  business  much  aftir 
ilic  usual  way,  and  much  a.^  most  other  shrewd  and 
respectable  merchants  would  have  done,  careful  to 
fulfil  their  obligations,  in  the  letter  at  least,  to  the 
government  and  to  settlers. 

Xor  were  they  specially  tyrannical  in  their  ;reat- 
1111'. it  of  settlers,  or  disposed,  as  a  rule,  to  take  undue 
iul vantage  of  their  necessities.  Their  own  interests 
undoubtedly  commanded  the  company's  tirst  attention; 
tlicrc  were  individuals  always  to  l)e  found  in  new  and 
small  societies  who  rendeied  themselves  })arti'-u]arly 
ol)noxious,  whose  chief  delight  was  to  bri'cd  trouble 
iuid  stir  up  strife,  on  whom  the  corporation,  in  self- 
(Ict'ence,  was  obliged  to  lav  its  stronuf  hands;  but  tliese 
contingencies  satisfied,  the  fur-traders  were  disposed 
to  treat  all  men  justly  and  humanely,  to  walk  circuni- 
sixctly  before  the  world,  upholding  the  dignity  of 
tluir  government,  with  all  its  time-honored  institu- 
tions, jHid  commanding  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
all  good  men. 

The  lot  of  the  settlers,  however,  was  by  no  means  a 
liapiiy  one.  Obliged  to  pay  a  high  price  for  land  for 
the  most  part  difiicult  of  cult' /ation,  and  far  removed 
from  tlie  protection  of  the  fort,  they  were  exposed  to 
privations,  disease,  an;i  dangers. 

As  settlers  scattered  themselves  about  the  Island, 
the  Jludson's  Bay  Company  felt  obliged  to  modify 
their  treatment  (jf  the  Indians.  Not  that  tluy  were 
iiioro  strict  with  them,  but  less  so,  more  conciliatory 
1  ntil  the  white  p()i)ulation  became  stronger  it  was 
Hot  considered  safe  to  arrest  and  })unisli  a  native 
offender;  else  there  would  surely  be  retaliation,  and  a 
liloody  and  disastrous  state  of  things,  aVin  to  that 
till  h  ])rc!vailing  over  the  United  States  border. 

A  nd  here  again  the  coiin>any  dis[)layed  their  c<mpum- 


• 

i 

i 

UNDER  HUDSON'S  BAY  COMP.^^YTS  Ri;cJIME. 


mate  knowledge  of  Indian  character,  and  their  cdoI- 
ness  and  discretion.  The  native  offender  was  by  no 
means  passed  unnoticed,  })ut  instead  of  general  butch- 
ery the  tribe  was  prevaih^d  upon  to  send  in  the  crimi- 
nal, wlio  would  usually  escape  with  a  reprimand  or 
even  after  bt-ing  won  over  as  the  white  man's  friend, 
would  carry  home  with  him  a  present.  This  the  ssct- 
tlers  called  l)ribery,  or  premium  on  crime;  yet  the  re- 
sult shows  the  wisdom  of  the  policy,  for  though  tlic 
nations  of  this  region  were-  as  tierce  as  any  described 
in  all  this  history,  tliere  are  no  massacres  or  outrai^cs 
to  record.  "Many  sleepless  nights  have  I  spent," 
said  Mr  Douglas,  "in  my  anxiety  for  the  safety  <>f 
the  colony." 

Til  is  forbearing  policy,  whkh  effectually  dissipated 
the  clouds  of  contention  which  now  and  then  menaced 
the  Island,  was  quite  marked.  For  example,  when  in 
the  spring  of  1853  a  shepherd  was  killed  by  a  native, 
the  captain  of  the  Tltetw  found  tiie  governor  in  no  wisc^ 
dis[)osed  to  turn  the  ship's  guns  on  innocent  and  guilty 
alike.'^ 

In  185G  an  Indian  v'lo  fired  at  a  white  man  evi- 
dently with  intent  to  kih,  wounding  the  man,  but  not 
mortalh',  was  tried  by  a  jury,  the  governor  acting  ;is 
judge,  found  guilty  aikd  hanged.  The  offender  Wii> 
apprehended  by  the  assistance  of  a  force  sent  froiu 
tlie  Trinmmalee. 

Should  the  question  be  asked,  whether  on  tlie 
whole  the  Hudson's  Bay  Corapanj  had  been  a  blcs,- 
ing  or  a  curse  to  the  country,  the  reply  would  depend 
\\\)o\\  the  view  takt-ji.  Undoubtedly  the  lives  <>f  the 
natives  have  been  prolonged  l)y  the  guardianship  -'iid 
care  of  the  compam'.  The  seeds  of  destruction  Iwve 
not  been  so  rapidly  sown  by  civilization.  ThecoGiitn 
has  been  kept  loEbger  a  wilderness;  develojttiunit  Im^ 
been  retaided. 


If  it  is  I 
state  as  lo 
forests  an( 
means  of  o 
if  it  is  be 
white  men 
for  fur-bea 
.savages,  tli 
it  is  bette 
struction,  \ 
raent,  rapii 
word,  to  t] 
ment,  then 


"  'Captain  Ktrper,  who  was  in  commanfl,  had  to  write  sevpral  letters  Ih- 
iore  he  uoulil  priivail  on  Dougk«  toaot.'  Cooper,  iaHouon  Comimhis  I{q>t.,  I''"'- 


NOT  OVER-ANXIOUS. 


237 


If  it  is  better  to  keep  the  savages  in  their  original 
state  as  long  as  possible,  to  preserve  for  them  their 
forests  and  their  game,  to  place  in  their  hands  the 
means  of  obtaining  food  with  greater  ease  and  safety, 
if  it  is  better  to  keep  back  settlement,  to  keep  out 
white  men,  and  use  the  domain  only  as  a  preserve 
for  fur-bearing  animals,  and  as  a  hunting-ground  for 
savages,  then  the  company  has  been  a  blessing.  If 
it  is  better  to  send  the  natives  more  swiftly  to  de- 
struction, to  let  in  upon  them  the  dogs  of  develop- 
ment, rapine,  disease,  and  speedy  extermination,  in  a 
word,  to  throw  open  more  rapidly  the  land  to  settle- 
ment, then  the  monopolists  have  been  a  drawback. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

TWO  ORIGINAL  CHARACTERS. 

Tns  DocTon  and  the  Divine— Robert  J.  Staines— A  Man  of  Fuillp— 
His  Interview  with  the  Kino  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands — The  Mas- 
Mistaken  FOR  THic  Master— His  Arrival  at  Victoria— Mud— Paiison 
AND  School-teacher— Mrs  Staines  a  Most  Estimable  Lady— Quarrel 
WITH  THE  Company— Joins  the  Settlers'  Faction— He  Citltivaiks 
Swine — The  Settlers  Steal  his  Pigs— Hot  Litigations— His  .Sad 
End — The  Doctor  Colonist — John  Sebastian  Helmcken — His  I'liv- 
siQCE  and  Character — Enters  Politics — Accepts  Office  under  the 
Governor — Discovers  his  Mistake — And  Becomes  a  Supporieu  of 
THE  Monopolists. 

While  yet  the  colony  was  young,  there  appeared 
upon  the  scene  two  men  of  marked  individuahty,  a 
doctor  and  a  divine.  One  undertook  to  cure  men's 
bodies,  and  the  other  their  souls;  both  dealt  in  the 
unseen  and  unknowable;  hence,  the  ideas  and  ethics 
of  neither  could  be  disputed.  And  each  carried  to 
consistent  conclusions,  more  nearly  than  is  generally 
the  case,  the  tenor  of  his  own  teachings;  for  the  di- 
vine died,  and  so  perhaps  might  see  how  much  of  all 
he  had  been  saying  was  true,  while  the  doctor  lived. 

The  name  of  the  clergyman  was  Robert  J.  Staiin's; 
he  signed  himself  of  Trinity  Hall,  Cambridge;  and  ho 
came  to  the  country  in  1849,  in  the  bark  Columbia, 
as  chaplain  for  the  company  at  Fort  Victoria. 

"He  was  a  man  full  of  frills,"  says  Finlayson,  who 
endeavored  to  receive  him  politely  and  treat  him 
kindly,  but  whose  patience  was  sorely  tried  by  him. 
He  was  insufferably  conceited,  without  being  at  all 
shallow-pated.  He  well  knew  the  difference  between 
himself  and  the   common  human  herd,  and  he  was 

(238) 


determin 

indeed,  t 

attemptii 

name  of 

Barba] 

glance,  e^ 

homage. 

touched  I 

the  king, 

his  turgic 

The  kinij 

Stames  d 

portunity 

vatcs  the 

permit  hi 

was  a  po 

he  might 

pride.    H 

of  rcligior 

and  so  pr 

his  Hawa 

waited  hi; 

vesture  of 

he  seized 

warm,  pal 

:\rr  8tt 

with  him ; 

to  light 

husband, 

gether  tin 

te\'ieIiino[', 

creator  lia 

at  A'ictori 

for  the  H 

children. 

"At  thi 
I''iiilayson 
that  evcrv 
the  mud 


THE  REVEREND  STAINES. 


239 


determined  that  others  should  know  it.  He  was  not, 
indeed,  the  first  clergyman  to  make  the  mistake  of 
attempting  to  browbeat  the  company's  officers  in  the 
name  of  his  master,  and  to  his  own  discomfiture. 

Barbarians,  he  thought,  should  know  him  at  a 
glance,  even  barbarian  kings  should  delight  to  do  him 
homage.  On  the  way  out  from  London  the  ship 
touched  at  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  and  Staines  wrote 
the  king,  intimating  that  he  should  be  pleased  to  do 
his  turgid-blooded  majesty  the  honor  to  call  on  him. 
The  king  replied  that  he  should  be  glad  to  see  him. 
Staines  delighted  in  display,  and  here  was  a  rare  op- 
portunity. Unfortunately  that  glitter  which  capti- 
vates the  barbaric  mind,  his  profession  would  not 
permit  him  to  sport  upon  his  own  person.  But  there 
was  a  poor  fellow  whom  he  called  his  servant,  and 
he  might  be  made  to  bear  the  master's  burden  of 
pride.  Hence,  arraying  himself  in  the  sombre  robes 
of  religion,  he  illuminated  his  man  in  gorgeous  livery, 
and  so  presented  himself  in  the  royal  apartments  of 
his  Hawaiian  majesty.  On  entering  the  room  where 
waited  his  visitor,  the  king's  eye  caught  the  dazzling 
vesture  of  the  attendant,  and  rushing  past  the  master, 
he  seized  the  hand  of  the  servant,  and  shook  it  with 
warm,  pathetic  respect. 

^Tr  Staines  was  a  married  man,  and  his  wife  was 
with  him ;  and  however  he  may  have  felt  culled  upon 
to  light  evil  as  found  in  fur-traders,  he  was  a  good 
luisl)and,  and  j\Irs  Staines  stood  true  to  him.  To- 
gether they  labored,  for  they  were  both  hard-workers, 
teaeliing,  preaching,  and  finishing  genci-ally  what  their 
creator  had  left  undone  in  their  little  world.  Togetlu'r 
at  A'ictoria  they  taught  the  first  school  in  the  colony, 
for  the  Hudson's  Bay  servants  were  seldom  without 
chiklren. 

".Vt  this  time  there  were  no  streets,"  continues  Mr 
Fiulayson;  "th(>  trafhc  out  up  the  thoroughfares  so 
that  every  one  l^i'sd  to  wear  sea-boots  to  wade  through 
the  mud  and  miro.     It  was  my  duty  to  receive  the 


f:  ill; 


m 


i 


1  ■",: 


r  If 


240 


TWO  ORIGINAL  CHARACTERS. 


clergyman,  wliich  I  did,  but  felt  ashamed  to  see  tlio 
lady  come  ashore.  W*'  had  to  lay  planks  through  t\\o 
nmd  in  order  to  get  them  safely  to  the  fort.  They 
looked  around  wonderingly  at  the  bare  walls  of  the 
building,  and  expressed  deep  surprise/  stating  that  tlio 
company  in  England  had  told  them  this  and  that,  and 
had  promised  them  such  and  such.  At  all  events  the 
rooms  were  fitted  up  as  best  could  be  done.  Mr  Staines 
had  been  guaranteed  £340  a  year  for  keeping  a  board- 
ing-school, and  £200  as  chaplain.  The  services  Mere 
carried  on  in  the  mess-room  of  the  fort,  which  was 
made  to  serve  for  almost  every  purpose.  Here  also 
was  erected  a  temporary  pulpit,  and  prayers  were  Iicld 
every  Sunday.  At  this  time  Staines  purchased  sonic 
land  on  the  same  conditions  as  others.  But  he  too 
became  much  dissatisfied  with  things,  with  Douglas 
and  his  administration  as  governor  of  the  colony."- 

Like  many  others  with  whom  the  company  liad 
to  deal  in  those  days,  and  by  whom  they  Mere  oftou 
severely  and  unjustly  censured,  Mr  Staines  was 
possessed  of  qualities  more  angular  than  aniia1)l(\ 
Undoubtedlv,  he  in  his  turn  had  much  to  trv  his 
patience;  all  pioneers  have.  He  would  not  Mholly 
ignore  the  powers  of  darkness,  nor  even  attempt  to 
overcome  them,  but  rather  on  occasion  allied  himself 
with  tliem,  glad  of  assistance  from  any  quarter. 

He  early  quarrelled  with  the  company,  accusing 
them  of  failure  to  keep  their  promises  with  him,  more 
particularly  in  the  matter  of  prices  of  goods,  which, 
lie  had  been  assured  before  leaving  London,  should  l)e 
furnished  him  at  servants'  rates,  that  is,  at  filly  per 
cent  on  cost,  instead  of  which,  he  was  in  reality  charged 
in  some  instances  two  thousa,nd  per  cent  profit.^  Hence 
Mr  Staines  found  it  hard  to  ask  a  blessing  on  their 

'Piously  swearing  at  Finlayson  in  their  hearts,  as  travellers  sometimes 
swear  at  a  way-side  innkeeper. 


■'  Fnd  ■!/so,r.'>  Hi./.  V.  /.,MS. 


-3;  Anclerfov'n  Hist.  NirrthtveU  Coanf,  MS., 


102:  Coo/irr'n  Mnr.  Ma'terx,  MS..  8. 

'  For  «'xani])le,  fifty  cents  lor  a  salmon  which  the  connAny  would  obtain 
fr»in\  the  Imliaiis  for  a  pennywcrtli  of  trinkets  out  of  tljcir  shop.  Cooi'i-r't 
Mtv.  Matters,  MS.,  8. 


'  ■  wn 


THE  CLERGYMAN'S  PIGS. 


241 


mercenary  souls;  and  although  obliged  to  do  so  twice 
or  thrice  every  week,  or  forfeit  his  pay,  inwardly  he 
cursed  them.  But  to  the  company  his  blessing  and 
his  curse  were  one.  It  was  out  of  regard  for  jiublic 
sentiment,  to  whicli  even  the  most  powerful  monopoly 
cannot  aftbrd  to  be  wholly  indifferent,  that  the  fur- 
traders  tolerated  gospel  ministers,  rather  than  in  the 
expectation  that  the  arm  of  omnipotence  would  be 
through  such  means  swayed  more  especially  in  their 
interests. 

At  an  early  day  Mr  Staines  joined  the  settlers' 
faction,  and  waged  open  war  upon  the  company,  still 
continuing,  however,  his  heavenly  ministrations.  But 
witli  his  own  people  he  was  not  always  at  perfect 
peace. 

Tliough  brought  hither  as  a  bird  of  paradise,  his 
plumage  was  never  wholly  unruffled.  His  learning, 
acquired  at  Cambridge  at  no  winall  cost  of  time  and 
money,  was  given  him  in  order  that  he  might  do 
good.  Now  to  the  fur-traders  ho  had  no  dis[)()sition 
to  do  good,  but  rather  evil;  the  settlers  were  not 
much  better,  but  he  must  begin  his  work  somewhere. 
The  savacjes  neodkul  cleansinu:  within  and  witliout  as 
niurh  as  any,  but  that  was  not  exactly  in  his  line; 
besides  they  were  so  like  swine. 

Ah!  swine — pigs — pork.  Here  was  an  idea.  There 
was  already  a  sutiicient  number  at  work  improving 
the  savages,  and  his  own  race  was  cultivated  too 
mucli  already;  every  white  man  he  met  there  carried 
too  keen  an  edge,  so  sharp,  indeed,  as  to  be  dangerous. 
Improved  hogs  might  tend  to  nullify  the  eli'eet  of 
human  greed. 

80  the  Reverend  Staines  affected  swine.  Throw- 
ing to  the  winds  all  scruple,  all  the  refined  .sensibility 
<»t'  which  he  so  lately  made  ]")arade,  ho  gathered  from 
every  quarter  the  finest  breed,  and  prided  himself  on 
liis  j)ig'4ory.  He  strove  t<t  interest  ship-masters  in 
pork,  and  brougiit  the  sul)j'--ct  to  the  attention  of  his 
IKU'ishioners.     Success  crowocid  hit*  efi*)rts.     In   less 


\ul  1 


:i'.\' 


llisi'.  Beit.  Coi..     10 


Ill 


r,. 


'  i*, 


TWO  ORIGINAL  CHARACTERS. 

than  two  years  the  Island  was  well  stocked  with  a  fine 
breed  of  pigs. 

But  as  riches  increased  so  also  did  the  good  man's 
troubles.  His  swine  would  stray  into  by-ways  and  for- 
bidden paths,  and  the  settlers  regarded  their  visits 
with  no  inward  displeasure.  They  rather  liked  the 
parson's  pork.  As  now  and  again  a  fat  favorite  dis- 
appeared, the  anger  of  the  chaplain  rose  within  him, 
for  he  knew  his  pigs  \^fere  sure  to  come  home  unless 
they  were  roasted. 

Procuring  from  a  neighboring  justice  a  lettre  de 
cachet,  he  saddled  his  Rosinante,  the  beast  on  which 
it  was  his  custom  to  make  his  round  of  visits,  and 
sallied  forth  armed  for  the  right.  Not  only  would  he 
gather  into  the  fold  his  stray  pigs,  but  he  would  pun- 
ish severely  tliose  whom  he  suspected  of  enticing  them 
from  paths  of  rectitude.  Endless  litigation  followed. 
On  one  occasion  the  parson  himself  narrowly  escaped 
prosecution  and  imprisonment  by  an  enraged  parish- 
ioner, whom  he  had  accused  of  stealing  his  pigs.'' 

Finally  matters  with  the  settlers  grow  daily  worse, 
and  it  was  resolved  to  send  Mr  Staines  to  England, 
to  remonstrate  with  imperial  powers  upon  the  injus- 
tice of  so  tyrannical  a  rule.  It  was  easier  to  obtain  a 
promise  from  the  reverend  gentleman  to  go  than  to 
get  him  started.  His  habit  of  procrastination  in  this 
instance  cost  him  dear,  not  to  mention  the  loss  to  the 
colonists  thereby. 

The  vessel  which  he  was  to  have  taken,  and  which 
would  have  carried  him  safely  to  San  Francisco,  sailed 
from  Soke  without  him,  as  his  pigs  were  not  yet  all 
provided  for.  A  lumber-laden  craft,  however,  left  the 
same  port  shortly  afterward,  and  on  this  Mr  Staines 
embarked.  But  scarcely  had  the  ship  left  the  strait, 
when  off  Cape  Flattery  a  storm  struck  her,  throwing 

*  This  character  ia  not  in  the  least  overdrawn.  These  facts  and  <ithcr» 
for  whicli  I  have  not  space  were  given  me  by  FinlaysoD  and  Anderson,  iunl  I'ar- 
t.icularly  by  Captain  Cooper,  who  linew  the  eccentric  parson  well,  having  >  urn- 
mand  of  the  ship  which  brouglit  him  to  this  country,  and  who  lived  near  liini 
on  tcnns  of  iatiinacy  during  his  stay  in  the  island. 


''  '  f}f 


DEATH  OF  STAINES. 


243 


her  on  lier  beam  ends.  Instantly  she  was  water- 
logged and  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves.  Most  of  the 
crew  were  at  once  swept  overboard.  Mr  Staines,  who 
was  below,  cut  his  way  through  the  side  of  the  ship. 
His  cabin  was  flooded,  and  without  was  the  wild  waste 
of  tumultuous  waters.  And  there  the  poor  man  re- 
mained, between  the  lowering  sky  and  the  lowering 
sea;  there  he  remained  till  he  died.  So  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  the  wreck  reported  when  rescued  by  a  passing 
ship,  and  then  himself  expired. 


Thus  much  for  the  unfortunate  divine;  the  doctor 
is  of  quite  another  species.  His  name  is  John  Sebas- 
tian Helmcken,  and  he  turns  up  first  among  the  coal- 
iiiiiiers  at  Fort  Rupert  in  1849.  He  differs  fnmi  his 
friend  the  Reverend  Staines  in  many  respects;  and 
first  of  all  he  can  in  no  sense  be  called  divine,  even  by 
the  widest  stretch  of  irony.  He  had  not  been  long 
upon  the  Island  before  he  found  his  bread  buttered 
on  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  side  of  the  disputes 
then  raging,  while  Staines  was  the  champion  of  the 
independent  settlers. 

In  body  no  less  than  in  mind  the  doctor  was  one  to 
command  attention.  Short  and  slightly  built,  with  a 
huge  head,  always  having  on  it  a  huge  hat,  balancing 
itself  upon  his  shoulders;  with  deep,  clear,  intelligent 
eyes,  in  which  there  was  self-confidence  and  critical 
discrimination,  but  no  malice;  with  a  wide-spreading 
and  well-projecting  mouth,  holding  in  it  the  ever- 
present  cigar,  and  given  to  much  laughter;  with  a 
vind  heart  that  gave  the  lie  to  many  of  his  words  and 
actions — there  has  never  been  a  man  in  British  Co- 
lumbia who,  with  an  exterior  so  impenetrable  by  a 
stranger,  has  for  so  many  years  maintained  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  the  community,  who  has  made  more 
friends,  or  performed  more  acts  of  unparaded  charity, 
than  John  Sebastian  Helmcken.  In  more  paths  than 
one — in  the  pursuit  of  politics  and  medicine,  in  the 
pursuit  of  wealth,  honor,  and  distinction — he  won  the 
success  he  so  richly  deserved. 


i 


;ii 


244 


TWO  ORIGINAL  CHARACTERS. 


i 


At  a  very  tender  appo  Ilelmekon  had  liarborcd  in 
liis  breast  political  aspirations.  In  boyhood  he  had 
thou<rht  of  himself  as  born  to  soniethinu:,  and  he  liad 
not  lone:  been  anion<:f  the  savuGfes  and  miners  of  Fort 
Kupert  before  he  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  he 
was  born  to  rule.  He  was  sure  he  could  rule,  for  if 
his  subjects  would  not  obey  him  he  would  punish 
them  with  physic.  In  such  society  he  surely  mii^lit 
aspire  to  shine  as  a  great  medicine;  in  a  government 
so  Utopian  as  to  have  an  office  for  every  citizen,  suruly 
he  might  obtain  one.  Time  with  him  was  no  object; 
he  had  little  to  do;  eight  coal-miners  thus  far  were  all 
who  could  be  legally  compelled  to  take  his  drugs,  and 
the  natives  had  no  confidence  in  him,  preferring  tlair 
own  physicians,  whom  they  might  righteously  kill 
when  they  failed  to  cure.  He  had  time  enough;  ho 
could  attend  to  the  affairs  of  her  Majesty's  govein- 
ment  in  those  parts  as  well  as  not,  and  he  thought  ho 
should  like  to  do  it. 

As  Helmcken,  unlike  Staines,  declined  to  leave  tlie 
Island  under  any  consideration,  as  ho  declined  to  <lio 
in  the  service  of  his  country  or  in  any  other  service, 
and  as  wc  shall  meet  him  occasionally  in  the  course 
of  this  narrative,  it  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  dispose 
of  him  finally  in  this  place.  We  shall  see  how  ho  be- 
haves in  office,  for  office  he  obtained — office,  the  delight 
of  his  heart.  The  tidings  of  his  first  appointment 
pleased  him  hugely.  His  commission  came  to  him  in 
the  form  of  a  letter  from  the  colonial  governor,  of 
which  he  immediately  broke  the  seal  and  read.  It 
was  enough  to  win  him  to  the  cause  of  the  corporation 
I'or  life.  Here,  indeed,  was  a  new  future  opening  up 
to  bin),  M'ith  endless  and  brilliant  possibilities,  the 
thoughts  of  which  engendered  high  aspirations,  and 
were  attended  with  such  thrilling  satisfaction  as  those 
oidy  can  appreciate  who  have  themselves  been  thrown 
U])()n  the  border-land  of  civilization,  and  have  seen  the 
light  of  liberation  thus  breaking  in  upon  them  through 
the  wilderness.  To  one  who  has  buried  himself  in  a 
iiLiW  cuuatry,  resolved  there  to  remain,  the  devclop- 


niont  of] 
developni 
to  him  w 
always  tc 
(if  thousa 
settlemeii 
lost  to  tl 
aiul  to  eti 
Now,  i 
Vancouvc 
sail  of  tlu 
was  not  e 
airinod  hi 

O 

and  more 
What  th( 
was  a  <xn£ 
uii]ileasini 
ing  of  ref 
iiig  the  lo 
aehitiving 
or  llabela 
him,  mak 
^vhat  lie  1 
nieiit  on  V 
Dew  tune 

All  th 
should  ]) 
neither  1; 
would  br 
^vith  tho 
conio.  L 
and  adm 
enough ; 
or  cured  1 
patients  1 

A  shor 
the  colon 
openly  fr 
f^itreet  an^ 
And  vola 


11 


JOHN  SEBASTIAN. 


24S 


' )~\\' 

■  j> 

iiiont  of  liimsclf  and  his  resources  depending  upon  the 
duvulopment  of  the  country,  it  is  a  great  satisfaction 
to  him  when  ho  is  first  made  aware  tiiat  he  is  not 
ahviiys  to  remain  buried.  Thousands  and  hundreds 
of  thousands,  during  the  pioneer  periods  of  American 
si'ttlement,  have  thus  gone  down  into  their  graves, 
lost  to  themselves  and  to  their  friends,  lost  to  time 
and  to  eternity. 

Now,  in  the  incipiency  of  colonial  government  on 
Vancouver  Island,  Helnicken  was  the  devoted  parti- 
san of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  And  though  he 
was  not  exactly  the  kind  of  a  man  that  they  had  im- 
agined him  to  be,  in  reality  ho  was  of  nmch  higher 
and  more  lasting  benefit  to  them  than  if  he  had  been. 
What  they  thought  they  wanted,  and  did  not  want, 
was  a  gnarled  knot  of  human  nature  of  so  coarse  and 
uiiploasing  a  texture  as  to  be  oppugnant  to  every  feel- 
ing of  refinement,  egotistical,  boorish,  never  suspcct- 
wj;  the  low  order  of  his  cunning,  affecting  irony,  but 
a('hii!ving  only  buffoonery,  fit  to  wait  on  Aristophanes 
or  Rabelais  though  Juvenal  or  Lucian  would  none  of 
him,  making  up  at  table  in  wine  and  loud  laughter 
^vhat  lie  lacked  in  wit — such  was  the  kind  of  instru- 
ment on  which  the  fur-traders  would  like  to  play  their 
new  tune  of  colonization. 

All  the  better  was  it  for  their  purpose  that  he 
should  practice  a  profession,  a  business  that  was 
neither  law,  divinity,  nor  commerce,  but  one  which 
would  bring  him  in  contact  with  people  everywhere, 
with  those  of  both  factions,  when  factions  should 
tome.  Luckily  for  them,  he  had  been  taught  to  mix 
and  administer  physic,  in  which  he  now  succeeded  well 
enough;  for,  having  no  competitor,  whether  he  killed 
or  cured  his  proceedings  were  deemed  regular,  and  his 
patients  lived  or  died  by  the  book. 

A  short  time  sufficed  to  show  him  that  office  under 
the  colonial  ejovernor  was  not  his  element.  ThoUi>-h 
o{)enly  friendly,  the  representatives  of  Fenchurch 
street  and  of  Downing  street  were  secretly  opposed. 
And  volatile  as  might  be  John  Sebastian  by  nature, 


:;■-  i' 


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(7!6)  872-4503 


2M 


TWO  ORIGINAL  CDARACTBBa 


he  could  not  serve  and  satisfy  these  two  masters. 
Love,  avarice,  and  ambition  all  beckoned  him  away 
from  imperial  affairs,  fleeting  and  fading  as  they  were. 
Therefore,  as  her  majesty's  presence  on  Vancouver 
Island  was  at  this  appearing  a  somewhat  shabby  affair, 
the  little  doctor  returned  to  his  original  allegiance, 
and  soon  turned  himself  out  of  office. 

.  It  so  happened,  as  we  have  seen,  that  both  of  these 
men,  the  doctor  and  the  divine,  were  brought  hither 
by  the  monopolv,  whose  servants  they  were;  only  the 
clergyman  would  not  wholly  renounce  his  master  in 
heaven,  would  not  at  all  renounce  himself  for  them,  he 
who  was  inferior  to  no  being  of  whatsoever  caste  or 
calibre  on  this  or  any  other  planet.  And  so  he  went 
his  way,  and  was  swallowed  by  great  waves  of  ad- 
versity. The  doctor,  on  the  other  hand,  after  a  brief 
departure  from  the  traditional  paths  of  fur-trad  ins,' 
rectitude,  returned  to  the  easier  pursuit,  and  to  his 
pursuit  proved  faithful  to  the  end,  receiving  to  wile 
a  governor's  daughter,  with  all  attendant  honors  and 
emoluments. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SETTLEMENT  OP  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 

1849-1857. 
What  ahk  Settlers? — Not  Fuk-tradeks — Nor  Coal-miners — Nor  yet 

THK  NOOTKA  DiJ'LOMATISTS— ThE  MAINLAND  NOT  INCLUDED  IN  THE  COL- 
ONIZATION Scheme — The  Mormons  Cast  an  Eye  upon  the  Island — 
Woman,  Red  and  White— The  Monopolists  Seize  McKkszik,  Skin- 
NKH,  McAuLEY,  AND  Parsons— Bona  Fide  SErrLEKs  Oblkied  to  Take 
What  They  can  Get— W.  Colquhoun  Orant — His  Seitlkment  at 
(Soke  Harbor — Lease  to  Thomas  Monroe — CIrant  Sells  Soke  to 
the  Muibs — James  Cooper,  Sailor,  Trader,  and  Aoruilturist — 
Builds  One  of  the  Many  First  Vessels — He  Takes  up  Land  at  Met- 
cuohin — Thomas Blenkhorn — The  '  Harpihineu,'  'Norman  Morrison,' 
AND  the  'Tor>  '  Brino  Settlers— The  Town  of  Viciokia  Laid  out — 
Wails  from  Fort  Vhtoria — James  Deans  Akrives — Baillie  and 
Lanoford — Prouress  of  Settlement. 


I'M  I 


The  first  white  men  in  British  Columbia  were  not 
si'ttlors.  To  win  the  favor  of  the  savages,  and  not  to 
exterminate  them,  was  their  object.  In  obtaining 
tlie  skins  of  fur-bearing  beasts  their  profit  lay;  and 
that  this  source  of  profit  might  continue,  it  was  to 
their  interest,  while  drawing  as  largely  from  the  for- 
ests as  possible,  to  preserve  the  country  in  a  state  of 
nature,  and  nurse  the  game  wlien  it  began  to  fail. 
Thus  the  fur-traders  were  diametrically  opposed  to 
settlement,  as  I  have  said  before. 

Nor  could  the  coal-miner.s  properly  bo  called  set- 
tlers. Their  purpose  was  solely  to  disembowel  the 
earth  of  its  wealth,  not  to  colonize  the  country.  It 
is  only  when  men  appropriate  to  themselves  a  portion 
of  the  soil  with  the  view  of  subduing,  improving,  and 
Iteruianently  cultivating  it  for  the  benefit  of  themselves 

(247) 


ilTf  I 


"1  i 


1  ff.  I 


I   I 


MS 


SETTrjSMENT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISL.\ND. 


I!'?! 


aiul  their  successors,  that  settlenieiit  in  the  true  siir 
nificatioii  ci  the  term  be<Tin8. 

There  was  thought  of  colonization  at  Nootka,  hut 
it  was  transient.  Aator  entei"tained  visions  of  settle- 
niont  at  the  nioutli  of  the  Columbia,  keeping  the  sur- 
rmncliiig  country  meanwhile  as  a  hunting-ground, 
Wyeth  thought  to  settle,  trade,  and  build  a  lity, 
beginning  operations  by  establishing  Fort  William  (»u 
Sauve  Island.  The  originators  of  these  and  other 
like  schemes  were  doomed  to  disappointment.  The 
hour  of  permanent  occupation  had  not  yet  conx'. 
The  opposers  of  settlement  were  too  strt)ng  for  sucii 
efforts.  It  was  only  when  the  stomach  of  the  gnat 
monopoly  began  to  feel  cravings  for  something  elsu 
than  purely  animal  food,  began  to  see  profit  in  feed- 
ing their  fur-hunting  brethren  of  Russian  America, 
that  they  allowed  their  hunting-fields  to  be  in  any 
degree  marred,  and  their  servants  to  reclaim  a  few 
fertile  patches  of  ground  for  their  own  more  propi  r 
feeding.  Thus  settlement  was  permitted  to  begin  in 
a  small  and  primitive  way  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mv- 
eral  forts,  and  by  the  French  Canadian  servants  of 
the  company  in  the  Willamette,  Columbia,  and  Cow- 
litz valleys. 

Nor,  from  their  own,  and  from  a  commercial  staiid- 
j)oint,  were  the  fur-traders  wrong  in  opposing  to  the 
latest  possible  moment  the  inroads  of  agriculture  ujion 
their  fur-bearing  d(miain.  Their  protestations  of  in- 
difference, in  political  circles,  as  to  the  progress  <»f 
settlement,  their  denials  of  harboring  any  desire  to 
retard  the  permanent  occupation  of  the  country^  nii;j,ht 
bo  taken  at  their  worth.  Years  before  the  consumiiia- 
tion  of  their  fears  they  saw  that  their  traffic  on  the 
lower  (\)lumbia,  and  south  of  it,  was  doomed.  And 
when  finally  by  the  infiux  int(>  Oregon  of  emigrants 
from  the  United  States  they  were  driven  back  beyond 
the  49th  parallel,  only  what  they  had  long  known  to 
be  the  inevitable  was  upon  them. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  with  the  removal  of 


head -qua 
Muinlam 
River,  fi 
aiul  then 
Caledoi'.i 
the  same 
white  nu 
andria,  s; 
some  tim 
solemnly 

As  cai 

Vaneouv 
their  obj( 
ships  of  a 
upward, 
tioii  whic 
by  connn 
matters  i 
Loutjhliii 
open  adi 
l)ctticoat 
Loughliii 
gc-lHiig  t: 
lor  past 
to  his  wi 
times  ov( 

And  a 
this  dar 
lustre,  af 
monopol 
love  unsa 
must  nov 
nubial  pi 
blood  of 
pent  and 
their  day 
wives  slu 

From 


EUROPEAN  MARITAL  FASHIONS.  840 

licad-quarters  to  Fort  Victoria  the  transport  for  the 
Mainland  interior  was  estabhshcd  by  way  of  Frascr 
Kiver,  furs  being  brought  on  horses  down  to  Hope, 
aiitl  thence  by  boat  to  Fort  Victoria.  Outfits  for  New 
Caledonia  and  the  other  interior  districts  went  out  by 
the  same  route.  Yet  in  1847  there  was  not  a  single 
white  man  on  the  Fraser  between  Langley  and  Alex- 
andria, save  at  the  salmon  fishery  below  Hope.  For 
some  time  yet  the  Mainland  was  destined  to  be  kept 
sulemnly  aooriginal. 

As  early  as  1845  the  Mormons  had  their  eyes  on 
Vancouver  Island  as  a  haven  of  rest,  Nootka  being 
their  objective  point.  Even  before  the  homely  hard- 
ships of  agricultural  ventures,  the  Island  began  to  look 
upward,  began  to  put  off  that  conventional  prostitu- 
tion which  had  so  long  been  pronounced  respectable 
by  connnercial  considerations,  and  to  array  marital 
matters  in  the  white  robes  of  Christian  purity.  Mc- 
Longhlin  had  been  reviled  by  Beaver  for  living  in 
open  adultery.  Mrs  Beaver  would  not  permit  her 
jicttiooats  to  come  in  contact  with  those  '  f  Mrs  Mc- 
Loughlin  for  fear  of  defilement;  so  after  soundly  cud- 
balling  the  clergyman  for  his  impudence,  to  make  up 
ior  past  defects  the  chief  factor  had  himself  married 
to  his  wife;  was,  in  fact,  married  to  her  two  or  three 
times  over. 

And  as  the  light  of  parliament  now  dawned  upon 
this  dark  western  wilderness  with  ever  increasing 
lustre,  at  the  heels  of  many  another  oflScer  of  the  fur 
monopoly  dangled  the  tawdry  vestments  of  aboriginal 
love  unsanctified  by  any  European  formula.  All  this 
must  now  be  changed,  and  the  Island  must  put  on  con- 
nubial purity.  Those  who  had  incased  the  polluted 
hlood  of  their  offspring  in  dusky  coverings  must  re- 
Jtent  and  be  baptized,  then  sit  in  social  sackcloth  all 
tliL'ir  days.  But  for  those  who  had  overcome,  white 
wives  should  be  the  reward. 

From  the  Hawaiian  Islands  in  1848  came  Mrs  Gov- 


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280 


SETTLEMENT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


ington,  of  blood  pure  and  etiolated  skin,  the  aurora 
borealis  of  feminity,  who  reigned  resplendent  for  forty 
years  and  more.  Others  from  England  followed ;  there 
were  the  Langfords,  the  Skinners,  Mrs  Staines,  and 
Mrs  McKcnzie;  and  so  aboriginul  wife-taking  went 
out  of  fashion  forever.  Miss  Burnie,  Anderson's 
wife's  aunt,  arrived  from  Scotland  in  1851.^ 

Among  the  first  acts  of  the  company  w^as  to  work 
out  for  themselves  a  tract  of  land  comprising  ten 
square  miles'  round  Fort  Victoria,  and  to  have  it  sur- 
veyed. The  whole  Island  had  been  granted  them,  but 
for  purposes  of  sale  and  colonization.  This  ten-milo 
tract  they  desired  to  reserve;  this  they  would  hold 
and  not  sell. 

Not  that  the  company  entertained  the  purpose  of 
paying  at  once  into  the  colonial  exchequer  the  pound 
per  acre  to  make  good  their  title,  unless  it  should  bo- 
come  necessary  for  them  to  do  so,  and  unless  tlioy 
should  clearly  see  profit  in  it  at  that  price.  However 
it  should  turn  out  in  the  end,  they  had  the  power  at 
this  time  to  hold  it,  and  to  refuse  to  sell  it  at  any 
price;.  And  this  they  did.  When  Mr  Blanshard 
returned  to  England  in  1851  there  were  two  or  three 
of  the  company  s  former  servants  located  within  the 
tract;  not  more. 

Great  indeed  were  the  monopolists  in  whatsoever 
direction  greatness  was  the  fashion;  if  in  fur-trading', 
half  the  world  was  too  small  for  them;  if  in  farming, 
they  would  la  the  largest  farmers  in  British  Colum- 
bia.    All  the  Island  and  Mainland  were  theirs,  and 

I  'Rev  Mr  Staines,  who  was  also  school-master  as  well  as  chaplain  ti)  the 
company,  arrived  at  Fort  Victoria  from  England  about  1849,  anil  remained 
until  aliout  1853.  Mrs  Staines,  his  wife,  was  probably  the  first  English  laily 
who  landed  on  Vancouver  Island.'  Anderson's  Jlint.  yorthwett  (.'ooft,  MS., 
102.  'Mrs  Covington,  now  in  Victoria,  was  the  first  white  lady  horc'  /ii«' 
laysoii's  IlinL,  V.  I.,  M.S.,  96.  Grant,  Land.  Geog.  Sue,  Jour.,  xxvii.  'JSl, 
says  that  Mr  and  Mrs  Staines  were  there  in  1854.  'Mrs  Annie  Mtiir,  wife 
of  John  Muir  of  Soke,  died  Feb.  18,  187u,  aged  73  years.  She  came  to  tliis 
country  in  1848,  being  the  second  white  woman  who  landed  in  the  province 
of  Hritish  Columbia.'  Olympia  Transcript,  March  6,  1875. 

•Tliis  according  to  Blanshard,  /louse  Commons  Itepl.,  set.  com.,  1857,  -"". 
Grant  including  the  Puget  iSuund  Company  makes  the  quantity  much  larger. 


THE  PUrJET  SOUND  COMrANyS  TRACTS 


an 


all  the  power;  were  they  idiots  that  they  shouhl  not 
have  a  door-yard  to  Victoria  Harbor  and  fort?  hy 
no  means.'''  On  the  njoHt  fertile  six)ts  the  two  great 
toiiij)anies  planted  farms,  one  at  Craigflower,  one  at 
Lake  Hill,  and  so  on,  and  brought  out  men  from 
Eiii^lund  to  work  tiiem.  In  1853  the  Puget  Sound 
Company  had  under  cultivation  and  in  charge  of  tliree 
hailifls,  twenty-five  acres  of  their  open  j)atch  of  two 
liuiulred  acres  lying  bt^tween  Victoria  and  Esquimalt. 

Skinner's  farm,  McKenzie's  farm  at  Craij^flower, 
McAuley's  farm,  and  Langford'w,  were  settlements 
iiiiido  under  the  auspices  of  the  Puget  Sound  Com- 
l»aiiy.  I^arsons'  bridge  was  built,  and  there  a  saw 
and  grist  mill  was  erected  for  the  company.  Parsons 
superintending  the  saw-mill  part  of  the  structure,  and 
(Jtorge  ;\[cKenzie  the  grist-mill  part.*  The  remains 
of  the  mill  were  visible  in  1878;  bv  the  freshet  of 
18.')4-5  the  wheel  was  washed  out.  and  the  j)roperty 
was  otherwise  badly  damaged.  Two  or  three  liunilics 
l)(si(l( 's  several  single  men  lived  at  Parsons'  Bridge. 

And  because  the  com})any  was  great,  if  for  no  other 
reason,  the  settlers  early  threw  themselves  into  an 
attitude  of  antag(inism.  They  seemed  to  understand 
hoia  the  first  that  they  had  the  monopoly  to  figlit, 
and  if  no  wrongs  had  already  been  committed,  they 
would  do  battle  for  those  which  were  sure  sooner  or 
latn-  to  be  perpetrated. 

Their  standard  complaints  were  the  original  terms 

' '  On  my  arrival  in  the  Island  all  the  land  in  the  neighborliood  of  Victoria 
ami  Ks(iuiiiialt,  whicli  coiuprisud  some  40  isi(uaru  inileit,  and  contained  nearly 
all  Uiu  availalile  land  then  known,  was  reserved  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  and 
I'liKit  Sound  companies.'  Ormit,  in  Ao/«/.  Oeoij.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxvii.  273. 
Writing  to  Lonl  (Jrey,  the  15th  of  June  1850,  Oovernor  Blansliard  says:  'The 
Hinlsdii's  B{iy  Company  have  commenced  a  survey  of  the  land  reserved  to 
tliiiM.^ilves,  which  is  hounded  by  a  line  drawn  nearly  tlue  north  from  the  head 
"I  Viitoria  Harbour  to  a  hill  marked  on  the  chart  as  Cedar  Hill  or  Mount 
l>ougl,is,  and  thence  running  due  east  to  the  Canal  do  Arro.  The  extent  is 
Mtiiiiiited  at  about  ten  miles  square.  A  tract  adjoining  of  similar  extent  is 
lusi'ivcd  for  the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural  Association.  .  .This  last  contjiins 
tilt!  li;iiliour  of  Esquimalt. .  .Tliere  is  no  water  near;  the  water  required  for 
till'  srrvaiits  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  ('ompany  is  brought  from  a  distance  of  two 
iiiilos,  and  during  summer  and  autumn  they  are  kept  on  allowance  as  at  sea.' 
/'/■'/I -/,.(;•-/'»  DeMjnteheM,  2. 

*  I>Mm'  HtUlemeiU  V.  I.,  MS.,  19;  liril.  Col.  Sketches,  MS.,  25. 


m 


\m 


232 


SETTLEMENT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


of  colonization,  tho  grasping  disposition  of  the  ITud- 
Bun's  Bay  and  Pugct  Sound  companies  in  appropiiat- 
ing  all  the  best  lands,  tho  foar  of  the  Indians,  the 
ai)scnce  of  properly  constituted  courts,  tho  witlicriii;,' 
inlluenco  of  monopoly  on  colonization,  and  the  failure 
to  have  been  admitted  into  the  Canadian  reciprocity 
treaty.  These  were  the  permanent  troubles,  besidrs 
which  was  a  multitude  of  near  and  transient  woes 
which  well  nigh  overshadowed  all  tho  rest.  They  ob- 
jected to  tho  "truck  system"  as  they  stigmatized  the 
coni{)any's  time-honored  mode  of  barter;  laborers  or 
any  who  had  dealings  with  tho  monopolists  being 
obliged  to  receive  pay  in  goods  in  lieu  of  money, 
and  at  whatever  prices  the  company  should  choose 
to  fix.* 

There  was  one  vessel  belonging  to  the  company 
which  made  voyages  between  Victoria  and  the  lla- 
Maiian  Islands  several  times  a  year.  This  ship  would 
take  freight  from  Victoria  hence,  but  would  not  as 
a  rule  bring  goods  for  settlers  from  abroad  to  Vic- 
toria. The  open  land  was  first  appropriated,  whore 
neither  milling  nor  shipping  facilities  were  required, 
this  being  less  expensive  to  prepare  for  cultivation 
than  timber  land.  The  open  land  was  usually  fert  ilo, 
and  capable  of  producing  fiom  twenty-five  to  forty 
bushels  of  wheat  to  the  acre.  Wheat  was  sown  in 
October,  and  among  the  best  fields  in  185G  were  Old 
Bay  Farm  and  the  farm  of  Mr  Ross.  The  price  of 
wheat  depended  on  the  will  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company.  They  might  give  for  it  a  shilling  a  bushel, 
or  ten  shillings  if  they  pleased,  or  they  might  not  take 
it  at  all." 

Tho  first  and  only  honajide  settlement  for  several 
years  under  the  crown  grant,  and  independent  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  or  not  an  offshoot  from  it, 

»/)ea»w'  Settlement,  V.  I.,  MS.,  3. 

•  Mr  Orogan  asked  what  was  done  with  the  wheat  in  case  tho  company  re- 
fused to  buy  it.  'A  great  deal  of  it  is  in  stacks  to  this  day,'  Mr  Cooper  replied, 
' there  being  uo  market  for  it.'  House  t'omtnoits  liepl.,  203. 


II 


GRANT  AT  SOKE  HARBOR. 


253 


was  made  in  1849  by  W.  C.  Grant.'  Hearing  of  the 
new  colonization  project,  ho  sold  his  commission  as 
captain  in  an  English  cavalry  regiment,  and  fitting 
out  a  small  colony  consisting  of  eight  persons,  ho 
placed  them  with  all  his  effects  on  board  the  ship 
Ihivjtooner  for  "Vancouver  Island,  by  way  of  Capo 
IIoiii,  coming  out  himself  by  way  of  Panamd.  The 
JIarjMoner  arrived  in  Juno  1849,"  and  the  eight  agri- 
cultuiists  and  colonists  with  all  their  belongings  were 
brought  wholly  at  Grant's  expense.  After  a  careful 
exauiination  of  the  country  in  the  vicinity,  he  choso 
what  ho  regarded  as  the  most  favorable  spot  avail- 
al)lo,  which  was  at  Soke  Harbor,  at  the  head  of  Soke 
Iiikt,  distant  from  Fort  Victoria,  south-westerly,  some 
twenty  miles.' 

(jl lant  would  have  preferred  settling  nearer  the  fort, 
wliero  his  little  colony  would  have  been  less  isolated, 
less  open  to  attack  from  the  savages,  and  nearer  the 
source  of  supplies;   but  by  the  outspreading  of  the 

MV.  Colqiihonn  Grant  was  a  captain  of  the  Scots  Greys,  2<1  Dragoon 
Guards,  niul  lieutcnant-coloncI  of  Turkish  cavalry  contingent,  IIo  was  a 
man  of  no  ordinary  natural  ability,  to  which  were  added  high  intellectual  at- 
taiiinuiits,  as  is  clearly  shown  by  a  Description  r>f  Vancouver  Inland,  written 
ill  IN.V!,  read  before  the  London  Geographical  Society  the  2'2d  of  Juno  18o7, 
ami  I'ri.itedin  vol.  xxvii.  of  the  society's  ./oHr/zfi/,  208-320.  This  article,  which 
is  acuitinpanied  by  an  excellent  map,  I  have  often  had  occasion  to  quote  iu 
tills  liistory.  As  I  have  before  remarked,  it  covers  the  whole  Held  of  gent.'ra- 
pliy,  t:eology,  ethnology,  and  natural  history,  with  a  masterly  applicatic  ii  of 
science  to  an  entirely  ucw  domain.  In  describing  a  trip  around  the  Island, 
he  gives  particulars  of  the  prominent  features  coming  under  his  observation, 
(iescriliing  the  harbors,  their  natural  advantages,  the  amount  of  available 
land,  with  statistics  touching  climate,  resources,  and  coal  and  trado  prospects, 
aiuliiii  account  of  the  natives.  This  statement  of  Grant,  printed  by  so  re- 
spectiililu  a  body  as  the  Geographical  Society,  carried  great  weight  in  Ihigland, 
and  iiiliiienced  in  no  small  degree  the  subsequent  investigations  of  parliament. 

'  I'iiilayson,  Hist.,  V,  I.,  MS.,  48,  says  that  the  lirst  colonists  arrived  iu 
1851,  hut  he  makes  the  statement  erroneously  from  memory.  (!rant  makes  it 
indisputable  when  ho  states,  Loiul.  Gco'j.  Sor.,  Jour.,  xxvii.  273:  'In  June 
IM',1,  tlio  lirst  batch  of  colonists  under  this  system  arrived,  and  they  consisted 
ofeiL^lit  men  brought  out  by  myself;  and  friim  that  day  to  this' — lie  was 
wriiiiii;  in  18o4 — 'not  a  single  other  independent  colonist  lina  come  out  from 
tlie  iild  country  to  settle  iii  the  Island;  all  the  other  individuals  who  have 
taken  up  land  having  been  in  the  employ  of  the  company,  and  brought  out 
to  tin;  country  at  its  expense.' 

"<!riiiit's  distances  were  greater  than  those  of  later  measurers.  He  says, 
Limlmi  Ueog.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxvii.  273,  that  'Matchousin,  distant  eleven  miles 
tVoni  \ietoria,  was  pointed  out  to  me  as  the  nearest  unclaimed  spot  on  w  Inch 
1  <"uid  settle;  not  approving  of  which,  as  there  was  neither  a  harbour  nor 
uii..  power  there,  I  was  recommended  to  proceed  to  Soke,  distant  '2U  miles.' 


ill 


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S64  SE'lTLEMENT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 

Hkirts  of  tlio  fur  monopoly,  and  of  those  of  its  slsti  r 
association  wliilom  of  Puget  Sound,  he  was  obliifcd 
to  betake  himself  to  the  wilderness  beyond  tlicir 
sacred  i)rccinct8. 

Soke  Harbor  was  large,  larger  than  either  Vieto.  ia 
or  Es(juimalt  harbor.  It  was  well  sheltered;  and 
though  the  entrance  was  intricate,  vessels  could  wjii|» 
in  and  out,  or  having  a  south-west  wind  they  could 
enter  without  difficulty.^"  The  soil  was  good,  <';i|>ali]e 
of  producing  anything  grown  in  England  or  Scotljind, 
and  the  aboriginal  occupants,  sixty  male  adults  in 
number,  were  peaceful.  On  the  whole  it  was  the  best 
he  could  do.  Accordingly  he  selected  there  a  tract  of 
land,  built  farm-houses  and  bam,  and  erected  a  saw- 
mill at  the  mouth  of  a  small  stream  flowin<x  into  the 
harbor  from  the  north-east.  Thirty-five  acres  wrw 
soon  under  cultivation,  and  a  small  stock  of  cattle, 
horses,  pigs,  and  poultry  rejoiced  over  that  act  of  tlio 
British  parliament  which  resulted  in  giving  tlioni  so 
much  to  eat  with  so  little  effort  in  obtaininj;  it. 

There  for  two  years  resided  the  retired  captain,  a 
solitary  colonist;  he  who  lately  figured  so  ccmspicuously 
in  the  drawing-room  and  on  parade,  now  reduced  to 
the  abject  rulership  in  a  solitary  wilderness  ot  ei.;lit 
farm-hands  with  their  attendant  pigs  and  poultiv. 
"Being  a  patriotic  Highlander,"  says  Finlaysoii,  "he 
had  formed  the  idea  of  establishing  a  Scotch  colony, 
and  intended  bringing  out  a  Gaelic  school-master  and 
a  Scotch  piper."  Becoming  tired  of  such  a  lite,  in 
1851  he  leased  his  farm  to  some  of  his  men,  Tlionias 
Munroe  and  others,  and  took  his  departure  from  tlie 
Island.  The  laborers  left  to  themselves  speedily  I'C- 
came  demoralized,  so  that  returning  after  a  time  to 
find  his  farm  neglected,  the  land  lying  uncultivatrd, 
and   most  of  the   property  destroyed,  the  disgusted 

"The  ship  Lord  Wegtem,  drawing  nineteen  feet  of  water,  loa<led  tliiTc  in 
the  HUmmer  of  1853,  before  Grant's  article  waa  written.  This  vessel  wm 
wrecked  shortly  afterward  at  Achoaat  a  little  north  of  Clayoquot. 


THE  MUIRS,  MtKAY,  AND  (  OOPER. 


("A 


[>tain  sold  the  establishment  for  what  he  could  get, 
and  abandoned  the  country." 

The  purchasers  of  Grant's  establishments  at  Soke 
were  tlio  Muirs,  Michel  Muir  being  still  there  when 
I  visited  Vancouver  Island  in  1878,  at  which  time 
tlie  original  sixty  natives  had  been  reduced  by  civili- 
zjition,  disease,  and  lum,  to  five." 

During  the  summer  of  1830,  Joseph  W.  McKay 
was  ci>mmissi(med  to  explore  that  j)art  of  the  island 
lying  between  Victoria  and  the  newly  discovered  coal- 
mines at  Nanaimo,  with  a  view  of  opening  the  country 
to  settlers.  Several  tracts  were  designated;  but  if 
the  monopolists  could  not  occupy  a  single  point  on 
Island  or  Mamiand  without  the  protection  of  i)alisadeM 
and  armed  bastions,  how  was  the  solitarv  aj^riculturist 
t(»  jilough  his  field  and  defend  his  family? 

James  Cooper,"  in  1851,  brought  out  from  England 
in  sections  a  small  iron  vessel,  which,  on  arrival,  he 
put  together  in  Victoria.  Many  call  this  the  first 
vessel  in  any  manner  constructed  or  launched  from 


"Siimiiel  Hancock,  Thirteen  Years'  Residence  on  the  NortliiixHt  Comit,  MS., 
217-IH,  who,  liy  stress  of  weather,  wiis  thrown  upon  Orant  in  hiit  licrniitagu 
lietiirt'  Ills  departure  in  18r)l,  reports  him  'a.  most  generous  gentleman.... 
having  around  him  three  or  four  scrvauts,  and  aniUHing  himself  as  hest  lie 
c'oiilil.'  In  IS.'iO,  besules  Fort  Victoria,  there  was  but  one  small  settlement 
at  Sckf.  i/miMe  Commons  Rrjit.  SeL  Com.,  1857,  204. 

'■■'Sooke  was  the  first  place  from  which  piles  an<l  spars  were  exported. 
Sail  I-'raiicisco,  Shanghai,  Australia,  Hong  Kong,  Sandwich  Islands,  Soutli 
Aiiifriiu,  and  England,  were  points  of  exportation.'  Michel  Muir,  in  Jiril. 
Col.  ,S'/-./.7,M,  M.S.,  '24. 

'^Mr  Cooper  entered  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  1844, 
as  in.mttT  in  command  of  a  vessel  sailing  between  London  and  Fort  Vancou- 
ver. In  1840  lie  was  captain  of  the  bark  Coliimhiu.  At  the  time  1  met  him 
in  ISTiS,  bo  impressed  me  as  a  pleasant  English  gentlemen,  with  a  mind  more 
than  ordinarily  suljject  to  the  warp  of  fortune;  ccmsistent  in  his  dislikes, 
wiiic  li  wiTe  lasting,  iiarboring  from  year  to  year  his  hatred  of  the  Hudson's 
Biiy  C.iinpauy  with  tmwavering  persistency.  Ho  soon  left  tlie  service  of  '  .  ' 
C(>in|iany  and  liecauie  a  settler  on  V'ancouver  Island.  V^isitiiig  England  in 
16.')7  he  gave  evidence  against  the  company  )>efore  the  liouse  of  commons' 
8tU(t  committee.  'Notwithstanding  over  twenty-five  years  have  passed,'  he 
saiil  to  me,  'aiul  any  harsh  feeling  on  my  part  may  fairly  be  consiilered  to 
havf  vanished,  I  state  with  all  candor  that  difTiculties  experienced  by  myself 
ill  tlic  early  struggles  of  settlement  in  this  country  may  bo  attributed  to  the 
iiiDnopdly  and  ailverse  interests  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.'  A  plain 
man.  ( 'aptain  Cooper  tolil  me  a  plain,  unvarnished  tale,  but  his  amanuensis, 
a  Vdiing  person  of  more  pretensions  than  jiarts,  so  clouded  it  with  high-sound- 
iug  wuriia  as  greatly  to  obscure  the  blunt  old  sailor's  meaning. 


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M  ^l 


SETTLEMENT  OF  VAXCOl'VER  ISLAXP. 


the  Island,  but  thoy  f(>rf,'ot  Nootka."  Tt  was  emnloycd 
durin*;  tho  Hoasoii  of  l.sj-  in  trade  at  Frosor  Kiv(  r, 
whore  the  owner  hou^^ht  cranljerries  and  jiotatocs 
f'ronj  tho  natives  for  the  San  Francisco  market.  Tliu 
Indians  gathered  ci'auherries,  which  grew  in  lar;,'(! 
quantities  on  the  delta  at  tlie  mouth  of  tho  Fraser 
Kiver,  supplying  the  vessel  at  tho  rate  of  sevcnt\-livo 
cents  a  barrel.  Those  berries  wore  sold  in  San  Fnin- 
cisco  at  a  dollar  a  gallon. 

It  was  a  now  industry,  and  was  not  regarded  with 
any  degree  of  favor  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
which  still  held  a  license  of  exclusive  trade  with  the 
Indians  on  the  Mainland.  It  is  true  that  this  license 
referred  more  particularly  to  the  peltry  traffic,  lait 
the  company  wore  jeuious  of  any  interference  in  tliat 
quarter,  and  threw  every  obstacle  in  the  way  of  any 
kind  of  commercial  intercourse  with  the  natives  nf 
the  Mainland."  Soon  after  Captain  Cooper  had  oijcncd 
this  traffic,  Douglas  sent  instructions  to  the  officer  iu 
charge  at  Fort  Langley,  to  buy  all  the  cranberries  tlits 
Indians  could  gather,  and  pay  such  a  price  for  thtiii 
as  would  keep  other  traders  away. 

Cooper  took  up  land  at  Metchosin,  seven  miles 
from  the  fort,  and  became  a  settler  under  the  crown 
grant,  being  the  first  defection  from  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company's  service  in  that  direction.  Ho  fanned 
three  hundred  acr    ,  and  called  himself  a  colonist  from 


'♦  The  owner,  indeed,  says  it  was  tho  firat  on  tho  Pacific  coast.  Coofr's 
Mar.  MnltrrK,  MS.,  .'5.  l!ut  we  may  surely  count  lialf  a  dozen  l)i.foro  tliis,  its 
at  Neali  Itay,  Astoria,  and  clsewiiiTc  on  the  Columbia,  and  on  tho  nortli  tuast. 
It  is  unsafe  to  call  a  thing  first  unless  one  is  sure  that  nothing  was  hcfdic  it, 

"  '  To  show  how  entirely  dependent  settlers  were  upon  the  Hudson's)  Buy 
Company:  I  found  it  necessiiry  to  apply  to  tho  company  for  tho  puiehaso  o! 
haiTels,  originally  intended  as  salmon -iMirrcls,  for  tho  purpose  of  holding  llio 
cranbciTios  traded  for  on  the  Frascr  Kiver.  Should  i  fail  to  secure  such  bani'ls 
the  time,  labor,  and  expense  I  had  been  put  to,  to  collect  such  cargo,  «i'ulil 
be  lost.  1  had  no  thought,  however,  that  a  refusal  would  be  niailo,  cdiisiilir- 
ing  that  to  speak  within  bounils,  tho  company  ha<l  at  that  time  at  \vnft  a 
thousand  barrels  on  hand,  the  prime  cost  of  which  to  them  woulil  not  cer- 
tainly exceed  thirty  cmts  each. . .  .No  barrels  could  l>o  bouglit  elsewhcto — 
1  tlierefore  applied  to  the  conijiany  to  sell  nie  one  hundred  IkxitcIs.  .  .wlu'n, 
after  much  apparent  ooncession,  the  favor  was  accorded  to  me  of  lieiug  all""i'd 
to  purchase  one  hundred  barrels  at  three  dollars  each  cash.'  Cooper':!  M'lr. 
MiUlcrs,  MS.,  a-0. 


GRANT  AND  BLENKIIORN. 


257 


1851  to  1857,  by  which  latter  date  lio  had  arrived  at 
tho  conclusion  that  the  term  si'^iiifiod  Httlo.  lligii  as 
ran  his  expectations,  ho  was  aootnod  to  disappoint- 
ment as  an  agriculturist.  Unhko  Grant,  he  did 
not  run  away  and  rail,  but  railed  and  remained,  and 
when  last  I  saw  him  was  still  reviling  the  monopolists 
who  had  tricked  him  in  the  cranberry  trade,  and  had, 
by  their  baneful  breath,  stifled  his  attempts  at  Met- 
chosin," 

Cooper's  partner  at  Mctchosin  an  well  aa  ,*  the 
Frascr  Delta  was  Thomas  Blenkhorn,  pronoun*. «.  J  by 
Fitzwilliam  before  the  select  committee  to  bo  one 
of  the  most  energetic  settlers  on  the  Islp  ••  .  Before 
ooniing  hither  he  had  been  up  and  down  the  v.-orld 
soiiio\.  i  ci  ,  had  lived  some  timn  in  Australia,  posto  "sed 
"  mind  of  wide  Ainge,  and  well  tried  by  o\|)OTicncc. 
iilcnkhorn  also  carried  on  a  lumoer  trade  with  San 
Francisco,  and  was  in  most  ways  an  cstimal)le  man. 

I^csidcs  Grant's  agriculturists,  the  Ilarpooner, 
which  arrived  in  June  1849,  brought  out  eight  coal- 
ininers  to  work  the  company's  property  at  Foit 
Rupert.  There  were  also  on  board  two  laborers  for 
the  fort  farm.  In  1850  the  bark  Norman  Morrison 
arrived,  bringing  eighty  immigrants;  in  June  1851, 
the  Tor}/  came  into  port  with  one  hundred  and  twenty 
hired  laborers,  about  one  quarter  of  whom,  with  some 
coal  mining  machinery  the  vessel  brought,  wore  sent 
to  Fort  Kupert."  The  Tonj  returned  by  way  of 
Honolulu  and  Shanghai,  carrj'ing  tea  to  England. 

^Ir  Blanshard,  the  first  governor,  states  that  when 

'"After Grant cameCooper/ says Finlnyson.  Ifisl.,  r./.,MS.,  48.  'Hetoo 
liail  8,'iiiguino  liopes. .  .These  two  settlers  wlio  might  1)0  saitl  to  have  coniplieil 
vhh  tiic  lirst  conditions,  spent  all  their  means,  and  the  venture  provcil  rii- 
tircly  unsuccessful.'  See  also  Cooper,  in  I  louse  CommoiiK  ni'pl.  »<'L  com.  II.  II, 
Afmri>,  18.'>7,  190.  Fitzwilliam,  in  ib.,  119,  states  tliat  he  purchased  the  laud 
from  tlio  Hudson's  IJay  Company. 

''  '  Some  have  already  been  sent  to  Oreaon,  rnd  some  to  other  posts  of  the 
company.  No  preparation  had  been  maJo  heri  !or  tiieir  reception,  beyoml 
ircctin^  a  couple  of  log-houses,  or  rather  sheds.  In  these  the  remainder  aro 
ImdJlcd  togetlier  like  cattle,  as  I  have  seen  myself,  to  tlio  uu'<ibei-  of  thirty 
or  thirty-five  in  each  shed,  men  and  women,  married  and  single,  without  any 
ItiuJ  uf  screen  or  partition  to  separate  them.'  Ulaiishard's  XJespcUchtii,  12. 
Hin.  Dnrr.  Col.    17 


I  I 

I, 


!    .i 


■  ■''m.W.  \     i    ;  ■  !■ 


m^''' 


2M 


SETTLEMENT  OF  VANC0U\1;R  ISLAND. 


he  returnod  to  England  in  1851,  besides  the  officers 
and  servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  there 
were  about  thirty  settlers  on  tlie  Island.  Of  thcsf, 
some  had  formerly  been  in  the  service  of  the  com- 
pany, but  had  withdrawn  their  connection,  bouj^lit 
land,  and  had  become  agriculturists  or  stock-raisers. 
James  Deans  says  that  in  1852  there  were  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Victoria  but  seven  independent  set- 
tlers, three  of  whom  had  formerly  been  in  the  coni- 
I)any's  service." 

The  town  of  Victoria  was  laid  out  in  streets  in 
1852,  the  western  boundary  being  the  harbor,  tlw 
eastern,  the  present  Government  street,  the  soutluMn 
the  fort,  and  the  northern,  the  present  Johnston 
street.^^  Two  trails  led  from  the  fort;  one  to  tlie 
Songhies'  camp,  and  on  to  McAuley  Point,  and 
through  McKenzie  Plains  to  Craigllower  and  Colwood, 
the  other  connecting  with  the  town  and  also  with  Col- 
wood, but  passing  round  the  north  sides  of  Victoria 
and  Esquhnalt  arms,  and  crossing  the  former  at  Qua- 
massin,  that  is  to  say,  Seatangle,  at  the  present  bridge. 
When  James  Deans  arrived,  early  the  following  yvnv, 
where  the  city  now  stands  was  thick  brush,  with 
intervening  cultivated  patches,  l^esides  the  fort  there 
were  but  twelve  houses  within  the  [)resent  city  limits. 

Again,  on  the  16th  of  January,  1853,  appeared  the 
Norman  Morrison,  with  two  hundred  additional  colo- 
nists, who  had  engaged  themselves  to  the  company  for 
five  years,  the  reward  for  such  service  being  land  to 
the  regal  extent  of  twenty-five  acres  to  laborers,  anil 
fifty  acres  to  tradesmen,  payable  at  the  expiration  ot 
the  term.     It  was  a  noble  enterpri.se,  well  worthy  the 

'* Their  names  were  James  Yates,  James  Cooijcr,  R.  Anderson,  K.  Scdtt, 
James  M.  Reid,  W.  Tlioinp.snn,  and  (leorge  I)c<ius.  Deniii'  Si'UL'itioit,  \  ■  /., 
M.S.,  4.  See  also  Brit.  CdI.  Ski'tchfn,  M.S.,  2.  Bu8ide.4  thealxne,  we  lliid  .sIl  ' ' 
to  a  settlers'  petition  to  (lovernor  tilanshard  tlie  names  of  the  Muirs,  at  Soki.', 
Miehel,  Archibalil,  Andrew,  Robert,  and  John,  senior  end  junior;  Tlii'iiiiw 
Blcnkhorn,  Metchosin;  Thomas  Miinroe,  James  Saiin-fter,  R.  J.  Stalnrs, 
William  Fra,ser,  John  Mdrregor,  and  William  MeDonalil.  In  his  estiniatr  nf 
tliirty,  Rlanshanl  was  as  usual  vague  and  undecided,  though  there  may  h.ive 
been  laborers  enough  to  make  up  the  number. 

^"^ F'.idaygoii'a  LMera,  MS.,  18th  Oct.  1879. 


conccptio 
of  parliai 
ling  the 
should  ta 
which  th( 
Amonf 
tioncd,  wJ 


i/'Kin  (/(•  Fun 


service  m 
farm  at  C 
serving  tl 
Hill  static 
T.  F.  ]\ 
in  compa: 
Island,  w 


JAMES  DEANS.  859 

conception  of  honest  merchants  and  the  management 
of  parliament,  this  seizing  lands  without  pay,  expel- 
ling the  natives,  then  putting  men  to  subdue  it  who 
should  take  as  pay  an  infinitesimal  part  of  the  land 
which  their  own  hands  had  made  of  value. 

Among  these  arrivals  was  James  Deans,  before  men- 
tioned, who  came  out  as  laborer,  and  after  a  few  weeks' 


j'Hin  (((■  /■'lieu  atr.'y 


South  End  op  Vancouver  Island,  1853. 

service  in  th  3  company's  store  was  set  to  work  on  their 
farm  at  Craigflower,  where  he  remained  half  his  term, 
serving  the  remainder  among  the  sheep  at  the  Lake 
Hill  station. 

T.  F.  McElroy  visiting  Victoria  in  September  1853 
in  company  with  Captain  Reid  and  daughter,  of  the 
Island,  was  met  on  landing  by  Andrew  Muir,  who 


■.•"' 

^l¥h^H 

if 

' ;  -f 

i-'r 

'      V-V 

^  'f 

* 

^ 

tku' 

■  -m 

% 

■  ■! 

i 

# 


M  }     <! 


!     -i) 


1^1 


::  ii 

t!      ll 

'>      ll 


SETTLEMENT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


in  ^  'J  ■ 


H 


introduced  him  to  Mr  Fiiilayson  and  William  Atkin- 
Hon,  after  which  he  proceeded  to  Esquimalt,  where 
the  United  States  surveying  steamer  Active,  Captain 
Alden,  was  anchored.  ^IcElroy  states  that  Janus 
C/Oopor  was  residing  there  at  the  time,  though  Michel 
Muir  affirms  that  there  were  no  settlers  at  Esquimalt 
in  1855,  and  that  the  first  houses  were  built  where  the 
navy-yard  was  subsequently  placed.  McElroy,  an 
American,  was  delighted  with  Staines,  who  scour|i;t  d 
his  own  countrymen  more  thoroughly  than  any  I'or- 
cigner  could  have  done.  Next,  the  colonial  acadeniy, 
conducted  by  Robert  Barr,  was  visited;  af'terwiud 
Thomas  Baillic,  whose  residence  was  five  miles  fnjia 
the  fort. 

At  the  end  of  1853,  besides  the  17,000  natives™ 
there  were  on  the  Island,  men,  women,  and  children, 
white  and  mixed,  450  persona,  300  of  whom  were  at 
and  between  Victoria  and  Soke,  125  at  Xanaimo,  and 
the  rest  at  Fort  Rupert.  Up  to  this  time,  in  all,  19,807 
acres  and  16  perches  of  land  had  been  a]ii»lie(1  for 
under  the  grant,  10,172  acres  being  claimed  by  tlio 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  2,374  acres  by  the  Puntt 
Sound  Company,  and  the  remainder  by  private;  |u  r- 
sons.*^  At  first  a  deposit  of  only  one  dollar  an  aero 
was  required  from  purchasers,  but  that  system  was 
soon  abolished,  and  settlers  were  required  to  pay  tlx; 
full  price  of  the  land,  one  pound  per  acre,  btluro 
occupying.  At  the  beginning  of  1854  not  more  than 
500  acres  in  all  were  under  cultivation;  and  of  tliis 
all  but  30  acres  at  Soke  and  10  acres  at  Metchosin 
was  worked  by  the  monopolists."  Three  miU'S  distant 
from  the  fort,  Baillie  farmed  for  the  Hudson's  J  Jay 
Company,  while  the  lands  of  the  Puget  Sound  Cuin- 

"A(loi»ting  Grant's  estimate.     See  also  RaUrmjH  V.  I.,  8. 

'■"  iSixtuon  settlers  occupied  l.COti  acres,  two  rooda,  ami  sixteen  jirrclic'i; 
5)73  unoccupied  acres  were  claimed  by  ab.senteus.  '  Altoi^ollior,'  says  (iiint, 
'  including  tlio  fur  aud  farming  numopoliKts,  there  aro  Ti.'}  difl'orent  elaiiii  iiilij 
of  land,  aiMMit  30  of  whom  may  be  said  to  be  bona  jii/e,  occupying  uml  i"i- 
proviiii;  tliuir  laud.' 

''This  is  ( I  rant's  atat«ment,  and  reduces  to  iuaiguitiuauco  the  cfi'urU  of 
Coopjr  witli  hia  30J  acres  claimed. 


pany  wei 
])any  had 
in  1858  > 

Langf( 
ford  Lai 
Avhilom  I 
to  enlist 
son's  Ba^ 
some  kir 
money  or 
such  thin 
lor  them 
his  infinil 
Puget  Sc 
huts  of  o; 
the  other 

A  peti 
house  of 
Jojni    Pa 
signed  by 
his  place 
taincd  no 
jiart  of 
Alter  re 
stated  til 
about  to 
was  held, 
tarded  pr 
liauient  1 
whether 
Island  w 
intention 
fi  inn  of  g 
^Ir  Peel 
terminate 
remove  i 

"SoCapt 
^/'"V/i,  18o7 
intntcii  but  1 


CAPTAIN  LANGFORD. 


261 


pany  were  worked  under  four  bailiffs.  The  fur  com- 
pany had  upon  the  Island  2,000  sheep,  1,700  of  which 
in  1858  were  at  Lake  Hill  farm.^ 

Langford,  after  whom  Langford  Plains  and  Lang- 
ford  Lake  were  named,  was  a  Kentish  farmer  and 
whilom  English  army  officer,  who  had  been  induced 
to  enlist  as  he  supposed  in  the  service  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company,  which  treated  its  servants  with 
some  kind  of  decency,  and  besides  was  reliable  in 
money  or  rather  trafficking  matters,  for  there  was  no 
such  thing  there  as  money.  He  was  to  open  a  farm 
lor  them  on  Vancouver  Island;"  but  on  arrival,  to 
liis  infinite  disgust,  he  found  himself  a  servant  of  the 
Pugct  Sound  Company,  and  for  his  quarters  two  log- 
huts  of  one  room  each,  one  for  himself  and  family,  and 
the  other  for  his  men. 

A  petition  from  the  settlers  was  presented  in  the 
house  of  commons,  the  9th  of  March  1854,  by  Sir 
John  Packington,  who  stated  that  the  same  was 
signed  by  residents  of  the  Island,  each  of  whom  gave 
his  place  of  abode  and  professioa,  and  that  he  enter- 
tained no  doubt  that  it  had  issued  from  the  greater 
part  of  the  respectable  inhabitants  of  the  Island. 
Alter  reciting  the  contents  of  the  petition,  which 
stated  that  the  five-years'  grant  to  the  fur-traders  was 
ahout  to  expire,  that  the  high  price  at  which  land 
was  held,  and  the  unsettled  form  of  government,  re- 
tarded progress,  and  which  concluded  by  praying  par- 
lianient  to  provide  a  remedy,  Mr  Packington  asked 
whether  the  connection  of  the  company  with  the 
Island  was  about  to  cease,  and  whether  it  was  the 
intention  of  her  Majesty's  ministers  to  establish  a  new 
form  of  government  for  Vancouver  Island.  To  this 
^Ir  Peel  replied  that  the  connection  was  not  about  to 
terminate,  and  that  the  government  had  no  power  to 
remove  the  company  unless  it  could  be  shown  that 

''Dmm'  SeUlerMvt,  V.  I.,  MS.,  24. 

"  .So  Captain  Langford  asserted,  Ihute  Commoi^  Rept.  set.  com.  II.  B.  Co. 
Ajhtirs,  18o7,  296-7;  l>ut  it  would  seem  that  such  stupidity  on  his  part 
iiiciitud  but  little  better  treatment  than  ho  received. 


H  it 


n*'-\\ 


''f'm^ 


I 


'4 


i-i 


r- '  ir 


ill' 


ill 


r 

! 


I' 


i 


908  SETTLEMKNT  OF  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 

no  settlement  was  establislicd  on  the  Island,  wliicli 
h}'pothesis  the  petition  itself  disproved.  The  com- 
pany were  simply  proprietors  of  the  Island  in  ^''Ust 
for  the  settlers,  and  there  need  not  necessarily  be  any 
connection  between  the  company  and  the  governor  of 
the  Island.  It  was  true  that  the  commission  of  gov- 
ernor was  now  held  by  an  agent  of  the  company,  hut 
it  was  open  to  the  imperial  government  to  appoint  an 
officer  independent  of  the  company,  at  any  time  thiy 
should  so  please. 

Earl  Fitzwilliam  urged  the  same  measure  in  tlio 
house  of  lords  on  the  !2th  of  June.  The  Duke  of 
Newcastle  said  that  the  government  would  bear  it  iu 
mind,  and  advanced  the  now  somewhat  stale  arL,ni- 
ment  that  it  was  the  gold  excitement  iu  California 
which  had  prevented  speedier  settlement;  and  so  tin; 
petition  was  laid  on  the  table. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

GOVERNMENT  ESTABLISHED. 

1850-1852. 

James  Douot^s  Nominated  bt  Sir  Jouk  Pellt  for  Governor — Earl  Gret 
Refuses  to  Appoint  Him — Ricuard  Blanshard  Chosen — His  Arrival 

AT  ViCTORLA — ReaDS  HIS  COMMISSION — VISITS  FoRT  RuPERT — RELATIVE 

Attitudes  of  tuk  Governor  and  the  Fur  Company — Rcler  of  the 
Queen's  Wilderness— Settlers  and  Subjects— No  Material  for  a 
Council  —  Nomination  of  Council  Postponed  —  John  Sebastian 
Helmcken  Appointed  Magistrate  at  Fort  Ripert— The  Murdered 
Deserters— Character  of  Blanshard— His  Unpleasant  Position — 
Heavy  Expenses  and  Il:,-health— What  the  Settlers  Think  of  it — 
Blanshard  Appoints  a  Council,  Resigns,  Shakes  the  Dust  from  his 
Feet,  and  Departs  from  tub  Island — James  Douglas  Appointed 
Governor. 

While  yet  the  granting  of  Vancouver  Island  to  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  for  the  purposes  of  coloniza- 
tion was  in  progress,  six  months  and  more  prior  to  the 
consummation  of  the  act,  the  draft  of  a  governor's 
commission  with  instructions  was  made  out,  the  only 
things  lacking  for  a  fresh  departure  in  the  much-loved 
lin«^  of  domineering  being  a  governor  and  a  govern- 

Ollt. 

In  a  letter  to  Sir  John  Pelly,  doted  the  31st  of 
July  1848,  Earl  Grey  intimated  th.".t  the  chief  officer 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  might  now,  were  he  so 
disposed,  express  his  opinion  as  to  the  proper  jiersou 
to  he  rcconmiended  for  the  office  of  governor  which  was 
Ills  privilege  under  the  grant.  Sir  John  did  not  hcsi- 
tcito  to  avail  himself  of  his  lordshii)'s  permission,  and 
nominated  for  that  office  James  Douglas,  whose  name 
u[)pcared  in  a  late  report  among  certain  papers  laid 

(3C3I 


m 

f 

■■;!:' 

'.     '•:! 

i 

^     -J 

■1 

1 

i  1; 

'■■\ 

.It, 


864 


GOVEIINMENT  ESTABLISHED. 


before  parliament,  relative  to  the  Island.  The  reasons 
jifiven  by  Peily  for  noniinatinj^  Douglas  were  that  lii' 
was  a  man  of  property,  a  chief  factor  of  the  fur  com- 
pany, and  a  member  of  the  board  at  Fort  Vancouver 
for  the  management  of  the  company's  affairs  west  of 
tlie  Rocky  Mountains,  This  appointment  Sir  Jolm 
did  not  intend  should  be  permanent,  but  merely  an 
expedient  to  bridge  the  time  until  the  colony  couid 
afford  to  pay  a  governor  not  connected  with  the  com- 
pany. Meanwhile  the  writer  availed  lumself  of  the 
opportunity  to  submit  to  his  lordship  the  nami-s  of 
certain  persons  qualified  to  hold  commissions  of  tlie 
peace  under  act  1  and  2  George  IV.,  cap.  GG.  His 
list  comprised  about  all  the  officers  of  the  company 
there  at  that  time.' 

In  reply  to  this  letter,  Earl  Grey  saw  no  objection 
to  the  appointment  of  a  chief  factor  of  the  company 
to  act  as  governor  as  a  temporary  arrangement,  al- 
though he  apprehended  that  the  issuing  of  a  teiu- 
]>orary  commission  would  be  attended  with  additional 
expense. 

This  idea  of  Earl  Grey,  like  others  of  colonization 
conceptions,  was,  to  say  the  least,  singular.  A  nuui 
upon  the  ground,  with  no  additional  expenses,  no  es- 
tablishment to  keep  up,  would,  according  to  his  economy, 
cost  more  than  would  suffice  to  send  out  and  sup])ort 
one  specially  appointed  for  that  purpose.  And  if  there 
should  be  additional  expense,  it  would  not  fall  upon 
the  crown,  but  upon  the  fur  company.  The  fact  is, 
Earl  Grey  never  for  a  moment  intended  that  Douglas 
should  then  be  made  governor.  He  had  other  ends 
in  view.  It  suited  his  purpose,  however,  to  give  this 
answer.  As  regarded  the  names  proposed  for  com- 
missions of  the  peace,  he  had  no  objections  to  them, 
and  promist;d  to  take  the  necessary  steps  for  their  ap- 
pointment. 

'  Their  names  were  A.  C.  Anderson,  John  Tod,  W.  F.  Tolmie,  John  Work, 
James  Douclas,  R.  J.  Staines,  P.  S.  Ogden,  A.  McKinlay,  J.  M.  Yale.  Rielianl 
(irant,  Douaid  Mansou,  G.  T.  Allan,  John  Kennodj',  and  Dugald  McTavisli. 


niii^'ht. 


liiiving 


RICHARD  BLANSHARU. 


966 


It  was  a  most  politic  provision  on  the  part  of  the 
t'oinpany,  their  ri^flit  under  the  new  charter  or  grant 
to  nominate  the  governor,  leaving  it  with  the  imperial 
Li'Ncrnnient  only  to  accept  or  to  rt^ect  their  choice. 
Xaturally  the  first  consideration  in  such  selection  was 
a  willing  instrument,  not  too  wise,  nor  yet  wholly  a 
tool,  for  souie  fools  are  exceedingly  stubborn. 

Earl  (irey  certainly  did  well  to  decline  Douglas;  it 
u'ould  have  been  a  most  impolitic  mea.sure,  and  one 
by  means  of  which  his  enemies  might  have  made  him 
iiiuch  trouble.  What  then  should  be  the  next  move? 
The  earl  at  lengtli  intimated  to  his  friends  of  Fen- 
cliurch  street  that,  as  there  were  many  members  of 
j)arliament  opposed  to  the  grant,  and  who  would  do 
all  in  their  power  to  frustrate  the  harmonious  work- 
iii<;s  of  colonial  affairs  under  the  fur  company,  it  might 
1)0  as  well  in  this  instance  for  the  crown  to  nominate 
as  Well  as  to  appoint;  at  all  events,  the  company  would 
lose  nothing  in  the  end  by  waiving  their  right  under 
tlic  grant,  in  this  first  instance. 

The  fur  magnates  expressed  their  unbounded  confi- 
dence in  the  good  judgment  and  fair  intention  of  their 
noble  friend  of  the  government  office,  as  well  they 
might.  If  they  could  not  have  Douglas,  if  some  noodle 
was  required  for  a  figure-head — for  they  knew  that 
no  very  able  or  sensible  man  would  assume  the  offive 
uiulor  the  circumstances— they  could  easily,  even  under 
the  cloak  of  courteous  consideration,  make  it  so  uncom- 
i'ortiible  fer  him  that  he  would  not  long  remain.  80, 
when  the  name  of  Richard  Blanshard  was  suggested 
by  Earl  Grey,  never  having  heard  ill  of  him,  never 
having  heard  of  him  at  all,  Sir  John  Pelly  offered 
no  ol)jection.  The  friends  of  his  lordship's  friends 
knew  him,  and  thai  was  sufficient. 

In  his  subsequent  intercourse  with  the  fur-traders, 
Blansiiard  was  very  precise  on  this  point;  he  gave 
them  constantly  to  understand  that  he  did  not  belong 
to  them,  but  to  England.  To  her  majesty  alone  he 
owed  his  appointment,  and  to  her  he  should  do  his 


i('.|; 
;;l;-i 


mm 


i  ,-.;»i    <l 


I 


'!li^ 


\: 


I  f 

Ml 


see 


GOVEllNMENT  ESTABUSHED. 


duty.  His  relations  with  the  fur  company  differed  in 
no  wise  t'rom  his  relations  with  any  other  inliahitants 
of  the  Inland ;  he  had  no  special  relations  with  thoui. 

Governor  Blanshard  arrived  at  Victoria  on  the  10th 
of  ^March  1850.  Frt)ni  Panainil,  tlie  Decemhtr  \)iv- 
vious,  he  had  written  Earl  Grey  of  his  arrival  at  that 
port,  of  the  non-appearance  of  Admiral  Hornhy,  com- 
mander of  the  Pacific  squadron,  and  of  the  absence 
of  any  means  of  conveyance  in  his  long  coastwiso 
jvturney.  And  now  having  reached  hisdestinatifjn,  ]h) 
might  as  well  have  never  come.  Except  the  pali.stukd 
K(iuare,  which  shut  out  more  welcome  than  it  enclosid, 
there  was  little  to  govern  but  seals  and  savages, 
abundantly  able  these  many  centuries  to  manage  their 
affairs  without  the  aid  of  her  majesty's  deputy. 

But  faithful  to  his  trust,  Blanshard  would  do  what 
he  could.  He  had  been  sent  thither  to  rule,  and  the 
rocks  and  the  sea  or  w^hatsoever  had  ears  should  hear 
from  him. 

Landing,  he  read  his  commission  and  proclamation. 
And  that  he  might  not  be  wholly  dependent  ujiou  the 
almost  tenantless  isle  for  an  audience,  he  begged  Joliii- 
son,  captain  of  the  government  vessel  Driver,  which 
had  carried  him  tlicre,  to  listen  to  him.  The  captain 
kindly  consented;  likewise  Gordon  of  the  CorDwratit, 
with  his  officers  in  full  uniform;  the  officers  and  ser- 
vants of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  also  lent  their 
presence.  The  reading  was  in  the  mess-hall  of  tlie 
fort;  and  the  sterile  ceremony  over,  those  present  gave 
three  cheers.  The  newly  installed  governor  of  this 
wilderness  then  returned  to  the  vessel,  there  being  no 
government  house,  inn,  or  other  lodgings  upon  the 
land  to  receive  him.  Douglas  was  on  the  ground, 
ready  to  nullify  with  his  superior  powers  any  unfiivor- 
able  influence  arising  from  the  antagonism  of  Lord 
(xrey's  governor. 

For  some  time  thereafter  the  government  hoaeh 
quarters  of  Vancouver  Island  were  migratory.    B(  ing 


A  FLOATING  GOVERNMENT. 


267 


(HI  board  the  Driver,  wherever  that  vessel  went  the 
government  was  obliged  to  go.  The  Driver  set  out 
to  coast  the  Island,  to  visit  Fort  Rupert  and  many 
other  points  of  interest.  Thereupon  the  government 
concluded  that  its  first  duty  was  to  survey  its  domain 
and  minister  to  the  benighted  of  distant  parts  accord- 
ing to  their  new  necessities.  At  Beaver  Harbor  the 
governor  looked  into  the  working  of  coal,  which  was 
then  attracting  the  attention  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  but  ho  seems  to  have  entertained  no  very 
high  opinion  as  to  the  quantity  or  quality.  He  insti- 
tuted a  searching  examination  into  the  condition  and 
wants  of  his  subjects  at  this  point,  who,  besides  the 
savages  and  the  eight  miners,  consisted  of  the  oddity 
doctor  and  the  mine-manager.  Then  he  returned  to 
his  capital.    And  yet  he  was  not  happy. 

Blanshard  was  to  serve  without  pay.  Had  Doug- 
las been  confirmed,  no  expense  would  have  been  laid 
on  the  government;  and  this  was  used  as  an  argu- 
ment why  another  should  so  serve.  This  of  itself 
shows  that  neither  Blanshard  nor  any  one  else  enter- 
tained a  very  high  opinion  of  Blanshard's  worth,  else  he 
would  never  have  been  asked  to  serve  his  country  for 
nothing,  or  if  so  askcJ  ho  would  certainly  have  de- 
thned.  A  thousand  acres  of  land  had  been  promised 
him  before  leaving  London,  which  promise  the  com- 
pany construed  into  the  use  of  a  thousand  acres,  and 
not  a  full  title  in  fee-simple.  Now  we  all  of  us  know  of 
what  value  the  use  of  a  tract  of  wild  land  in  a  far-off 
out-of-the-way  region  might  be  to  a  penniless  poli- 
tician, and  who  would  be  eventually  the  gainer  were 
lie  (SO  foolish  as  to  attempt  to  improve  such  land. 
Such  recompense  was  worse  than  no  pay  at  all. 

His  peregrinations  over,  the  governor  deigned  to 
accept  a  bunk  in  the  fort  while  a  small  house,  offices, 
and  garden  were  being  prepared  for  him  outside  the 
pahsades.^     Then  he  desired  to  know  where  were  his 

' '  Tho  piece  of  ground  whereon  now  stand  the  buildings  known  as  the 
Bank  of  Britiali  North  America,  Barnard's  Express  office,  the  Adclphi  saloon, 


i  1 

f^^Blj 

I           1 
(lis 

. ..  i 

1  I 


1. 


i 


',  I 


i-li 


!'  '^M 


i    ! 


fli^ 


fi'l! 


l.r. 


m 


I 


t 


.lifNiti 


S68 


GOVERNMENT  ESTABLISHED. 


thousjind  acres  of  land;  whereupon  a  rocky  eminence' 
two  or  tlireo  miles  away  was  pointed  out  to  him,  whnt; 
a  traet  had  been  set  aiJai-t  for  government  use  in  tlmt 
vicinity  where  the  governnent  house  now  stands. 
Thousands  of  pounds  would  be  necessary  to  make  tlic 
place  respectably  habitable,  and  it  was  no  wonder  tlic 
governor's  heart  should  quail,  or  that  a  huge  disgust 
should  tak(?  possession  of  him. 

In  April  1851,  the  governor  was  notified  by  the 
luiuuigers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  Puget  Sound 
companies,  that  they  were  about  to  occupy  some  laiul 
on  the  Island,  and  that  the  sum  of  four  thousand 
pounds  sterling  was  to  be  expended  on  public  build- 
ings under  the  governor's  direction,  but  subject  to  the 
a[)proval  of  the  monopoly  management.  The  build- 
ings were  to  be  erected  near  the  fort.  "Unless  the 
colony  is  intended  to  bo  merely  an  enlarged  depot  ot 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,"  writes  the  governor, 
"which  I  do  not  conceive  was  the  intention  of  her 
majesty's  government  in  making  the  grant  of  the 
Island,  it  will  be  a  waste  of  public  money  toexj)en(l  it 
in  the  way  they  indicate,  as  the  buildings  will  then 
be  surrounded  by  their  reserves,  which  they  are  neither 
prepared  to  use  nor  sell," 

The  governor  recognized  no  relation  to  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company  other  than  that  usually  existiiii^ 
between  ruler  and  subject.  That  the  company  held 
the  contract  for  colonization,  together  with  a  monopoly 
of  the  soil,  was  nothing  to  him  politically.  It  might 
affect  appointments  and  freedom  of  legislation,  but  it 
could  not  change  the  natural  attitudes  of  crown  gvjv- 
ernor,  crown  colony,  and  fur  corporation. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  company  cared  nothing  for 
the  governor.  As  their  noble  friend  Lord  Grey  had 
taken  the  trouble  to  appoint  him,  and  the  appointee 

and  the  Cohnutt  oflBce  became  the  site  of  the  government  Iniilding.s.  'J'lio 
well  in  front  of  the  Colonist  office  is  still  known  as  Governor  Blanshard'H  well, 
having  been  dug  for  hia  excellency's  accommodation.  Brit.  Colonist,  Aug.  ^, 
1877. 


THAT  THOUSAND  ACRES.  S80 

had  taken  the  trouble  to  come  so  far  over  the  two 
^rcat  oceans,  they  would  treat  him  politely,  that  is  if 
ho  would  be  humble  and  behave  himself;  but  as  for 
his  governing  them,  that  was  simply  ridiculous.  He 
iniglit  issue  all  the  mandates  he  pleased,  but  he  would 
give  little  force  to  his  authority  without  appeal  to  the 
chief  factor,  to  Douglas,  to  the  very  man  who  had 
opposed  him  for  the  office,  and  who  even  now  was  in 
fact,  if  not  in  name,  governor  of  the  Island. 

Great  indeed  must  have  been  his  desire  of  ruling 
tliis  wild  island  of  the  north-west  when  he  was  willing 
to  accept  the  commission  as  governor,  without  salary, 
and  pay  his  own  expenses.  True,  there  was  the  prom- 
ise <jf  Sir  John  Pelly,  of  a  thousand  acres  of  land, 
such  as  he  should  anywhere  select.  This,  at  a  pound 
a'>  acre,  was  a  thousand  pounds  to  begin  with,  and 
\vh  n  settlers  should  flock  thither,  as  he  was  sure  they 
wouk!,  and  a  civil  list  should  bo  formed,  and  fat  colo- 
nial revenue  should  roll  in  from  land  sales  and  royal- 
ties on  coal,  then  the  whilom  liberalityand  disinterested 
services  of  the  first  governor  would  be  remembered ^ 
and  a  comfortable  consideration  would  be  awarded 
him,  and  he  would  be  the  father  of  his  country  for 
many  years  to  come.  Moreover,  his  thousand  acres 
of  land,  from  one  thousand  pounds  in  value,  niiglit 
increase  to  twenty  thousand.  Then  who  should  say 
that  honor  was  not  profitable? 

But  alas !  for  human  hopes.  Sir  John  Pelly  was 
governor  only  of  the  London  part  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  Mr  Douglas,  who  acted  as  agent  for 
the  sale  of  the  land  on  Vancouver  Island,  knew  noth- 
ing of  Sir  John's  promise,  which  Mr  Blanshard  had 
failed  to  secure  in  writing,  knew  nothing  of  thousand- 
acre  gifts,  and  referred  the  simple-minded  governor 
to  England  for  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise.  Mr 
Blanshard  then  begged  one  hundred  of  the  promised 
thousand  acres, that  he  might  occupy  them  as  a  settler, 
if  they  should  not  be  given  him  as  governor.  But  no. 
The  promised  thousand  acres,  he  was  finally  told,  were 


il; 


It 


/■;il' 


4i  "^il 
'm  If-. I 


'I 


'f- 


"M 


i   tt 


^ 


ii!" '!" 


',i< 


270 


GOVERNMENT  ESTABUSHED. 


iiitondcd  for  the  uao  of  the  governor  only  while  ho 
was  upon  the  Island.  Ho  might  select,  subdue,  and 
beautify  the  tract  for  his  successor,  should  he  so 
please,  but  he  could  not  sell  nor  pocket  any  of  the 
proceeds  of  it. 

This  is  Mr  Blanshard's  side  of  the  story.  The  gov- 
ernor might  easily  have  misunderstood  Sir  John,  or 
the  latter  may  wilfully  have  deceived  him.  However 
that  may  have  been,  the  company  assuredly  had  no 
right  to  give  land  to  the  governor,  or  to  any  one 
else,  unless  they  chose  to  pay  for  it  themselves,  and 
that  in  this  instance  they  were  not  likely  to  do,  us 
Blanshard  was  not  their  choice  for  the  office,  and  they 
were  evidently  not  disposed  to  go  far  out  of  their  way 
to  make  his  stay  in  their  isle  pleasant. 

This  we  shall  see  amply  demonstrated  as  we  pro- 
ceed. The  governor's  passage  out  cost  him  Ihivo 
hundred  pounds.  Of  this  the  company  paid  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  pounds;  and  this  was  all  he 
ever  received  from  them.  When  he  returned,  a  Brit- 
ish sloop  of  war  carried  him  to  San  Francisco,  and 
thence  he  paid  his  own  passage  to  London.  Duriiiij 
the  time  he  spent  upon  the  Island  his  living  cost  him 
eleven  hundred  pounds  a  year,  and  for  such  articles  as 
ho  was  obliged  to  purchase  from  the  company  ho  paid 
what  was  called  the  cash  price,  which  was  the  price 
charged  to  strangers,  and  about  three  hundred  per 
cent  ovor  London  cost.' 

Is  T  did  the  governor's  troubles  end  here.  In- 
deed^  hey  had  only  just  begun.  He  had  been  in- 
structs before  sailing  for  this  region,  upon  his  arrival 
to  nomi.    te  a  council.     But  whom  should  he  nomi- 

* '  The  pric  of  everything  was  regiUated  by  that  in  California;  and  as  tlie 
gold  fever  was  then  at  its  hcimht,  living  there  was  of  course  extremely  expen- 
sive. .  .They  had  three  severiu  prices  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  stores 
at  tliat  time,  one  for  the  superior  officers  of  the  company,  another  for  tlic  ser- 
vants, and  a  third,  which  they  called  their  cash  price,  at  which  they  sold  tlio 
goods  to  settlers. .  .The  officers  received  their  ^oods  at  thirty-three  per  cent 
increase  upon  the  cost  price;  the  servants  and  inferior  oflicers,  varying  from 
Kfty  to  one  hundred.'  lilanshard,  in  JJouse  Commona  Jlept.,  2SS. 


l! 


AT  BEAVER  HARBOR. 


271 


natel  At  Beaver  Harbor  MeNeill  had  informed  him 
thiit  there  were  ten  thousand  natives  thereabout,  who 
wi  re  fast  disappearing,  notwithstanding  the  sale  of 
spirituous  hquors  had  been  prohibited,  and  the  pro- 
hibition for  some  time  past  enforced.  These  might 
flo,  for  lack  of  better  material,  as  subjects,  but  they 
were  hardly  fit  to  take  part  \n  regulating  the  affairs 
of  a  highly  civilized  colony.  The  council  should  be 
selected  from  settlers,  but  as  yet  there  were  no  set- 
tlers there.  Few  of  the  fur-hunting  fraternity  pos- 
sessed the  landed  property  qualification  necessary  to 
entitle  ihem  to  vote  for  members  of  assembly;  and 
even  had  they  possessed  the  requisite  qualifications, 
the  council  so  chosen  must  have  been  wholly  drawn 
fioin  the  ranks  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  whom 
it  was  the  governor's  determined  purpose  to  control, 
instead  of  being  controlled  by  them. 

His  position  was  certainly  anomalous.  Made  gov- 
ernor of  a  colony  which  was  no  colony,  ho  was  sent 
to  a  wilderness  to  control  settlers  not  yet  arrived, 
and  who,  should  they  ever  be  so  unfortunate  as  to 
reach  that  shore,  would,  in  his  opinion,  find  pre- 
carious subsistence.*  Nor  was  an  immediate  arrival 
of  settlors  at  all  likely.  In  his  dilemma  he  concluded 
to  ask  further  instructions  of  his  government.  The 
material  interests  of  his  empire  would  scarcely  suffer 
in  the  mean  time. 

For  the  colliers  at  Beaver  Harbor,  who  had  mani- 
fested a  bias  toward  lawlessness,  the  governor  thought 
best  to  appoint  a  magistrate,  and,  as  there  was  no  one 
else  available,  he  named  for  that  ofBce  John  Sebastian 
lichncken,  the  newly  arrived  doctor,  to  whom  I  have 
taken  occasion  to  allude  before,  then  domiciled  at  Fori 
Rupert. 

In  vain  the  governor  had  hoped  that  one  coming 

*  'The  quantity  of  arable  land,  or  land  that  can  bo  made  arable,'  he  writes  to 
Earl  (Ircy,  the  8th  of  April  I80O,  'is,  so  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  exceedingly 
limitid  throughout  the  Island,  which  consists  almost  entirely  of  broken  ranges 
of  i(x  ky  hills  intersected  by  ravines  and  valleys  so  narow  as  to  rendor  thuin 
useless  for  cultivation.'  DlamlianVs  Despulchea,  2. 


mK  I 


'H 


'(ill 


ill  i !", 


♦  1 . 


I 


H .  fi 


H-  t| 


ir 


it 


Mfiil 


^.i 


272 


GOVERNMENT  ESTABLISHED. 


fresh  frcm  the  mother-country,  "a  .stranger,"  as  ho 
expresses  it,  "to  the  petty  brawls  that  liave  occurred 
and  the  ill-ft^ehngs  they  have  occasiftned  between  tlie 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  and  their  servants,"  would 
be  free  from  the  contaminating  influences  of  selfish 
interests.^  But  this  was,  perhaps,  too  much  to  expert 
of  any  man.  In  the  evolution  of  civilization,  even- 
handed  justice  never  flies  west.  At  all  events,  the 
governor  soon  repented  of  his  choice.  He  had  made 
the  appointnu^nt  contrary  to  his  better  judgment,  beiiio- 
impelled  tliereto  by  the  necessities  of  the  case.^ 

Meanwhile,  time  hung  heavily  on  Blanshard's  hands. 
Set  down  upon  the  bare  rocl<s  of  this  mist-enveloped 
isle,  with  the  only  white  j)eople  on  it,  those  on  whom 
he  was  dependent  for  everything,  for  subjects,  for 
society,  and  for  creature  comforts,  opj)osed  to  his  rule 
in  all  their  interests,  he  felt  himself  to  be  utterly 
powerless  and  forlorn,  and  could  scarcdy  realize  that 
he  was  governor  except  by  taking  out  his  commission 
and  reading  it  to  himself  occasionally. 

During  the  summer  of  1850,  a  case  occurred  at 
Fort  Rupert,  while  yet  John  Sebastian  \voro  ermine, 
which  casts  dark  reproach,  both  upon  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  and  the  officers  of  the  imperial  gov- 
ernment, and  which  tended  in  no  wise  to  reconcile 
Blanshard  to  his  anomalous  position. 

*The  gnvomor  promptly  acknowledged  his  mistake.  Writina;  of  luiii 
from  Fort  Rui)jrt,  on  tlie  lOth  of  OctolicT  IS.'J,  he  says:  'Tlicoiily  caiijis 
are  liotweeii  tli.i  lliulsou's  Kiiy  Company  ami  their  .iei'vants;  anil,  asl)ein:;ii 
paid  servant  of  tlie  former,  he  cannot  he  considered  an  iniiiartial  persim. ' 
Again,  on  the  L!!)th  of  Marcli  18.")1,  behig  tlan  at  Victoria,  'le  states  tliat  Mr 
Helmcken  having  hicn  called  upon  since  liis  arrival  liere,  'to  give  up,  (ir 
furnish  copies  of,  JiisotHcial  corresp<mdence  while  magistrate,  to  tlie  Hudson's 
]J:iy  CoiMiiany's  agent,  who  thus  used  his  authority  over  Mr  Helmckeii  u.s 
chief  factor  in  tlie  company's  service,  has  quite  confirmed  mem  my  opiiii"H 
of  tlie  impropriety  of  making  appointments  among  the  company's  servants, ' 
Jiiiiii'flt'irtl'a  l)<x]'iifr!ieii,  4,  9, 

*  '  At  tiiero  are  no  independent  settlers,  all  cases  that  can  occur  requiring 
magisterial  interference  are  disi)ute3  hetwi'L-n  the  representatives  of  the  11  ml- 
Bo:i  s  IJay  Company  and  their  servants.  To  appoint  the  former  magistrates, 
wouhl  l)e  to  make  them  juilges  in  their  own  causes,  and  to  ar;n  tliem  with 
ailditional  jiower,  which  few  of  tiiein  M'oul.l  exert  discreetly.'  Bkiituhnid n 
DesjKite/ti.s,  3. 


CALIFORNIA  GOLD. 


273 


The  ship  Enrjland,  on  her  way  from  the  southern 
coast  to  Fort  liupert  for  coals,  stopped  at  Victoria  for 
sailors,  the  vessel  being  short  of  hatids.  The  Cali- 
fornia gold  excitement  was  everywhere  raging,  and 
sailors  willingly  risked  their  lives  to  free  themselves 
from  service.  From  one  of  the  company's  vessels 
then  lying  at  Victoria,  three  men  deserted  to  the  Eng- 
land, which  then  continued  her  way  to  Fort  Rupert, 
^lean while  notice  was  sent  to  Rupert  of  the  deserters, 
who  thceupon  became  frightened,  left  the  Emjland, 
and  took  to  the  woods,  intending  to  join  the  vessel 
at  another  port.  Indians  were  sent  in  pursuit  with 
orders  from  Blenkinsop,  then  acting  for  the  company 
at  Fort  Rupert,  to  bring  in  the  deserters  dead  or 
alive.  Four  days  afterward  the  Indians  returned  and 
claimed  the  reward,  saying  that  they  had  killed  them 
all.  It  was  true.  The  sailors  had  been  sliot  down  in 
the  forest  by  savages  set  upon  them  by  an  officer  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.^  Blenkinsop  gave  direc- 
tions to  have  buried  the  bodies  of  the  murdered  men 
where  they  lay,  and  let  the  matter  be  hushed,  but 
Muir  insisted  that  they  should  be  interred  at  the 
fort,  and  it  was  done.  Very  naturally  the  colliers 
were  f  irious.  They  did  not  hesitate  to  charge  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  with  having  instigated  the 
iiiurder,  and  they  refused  any  obedience  to  tiie  officers 
of  the  company  or  to  Ilelmcken  as  magistrate.  The 
governor  had  no  force  whatevor  with  which  to  appre- 
hend the  umrderers,  and  no  people  from  whom  to  draw 
a  i'orce.  Says  Blansliard,  'the  only  safeguard  of 
the  colony,"  by  which  term  the  governor  dignifies  the 
revolted  colliers — for  of  a  surety  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  were  always  their  own  safeguard — "consists 
in  the  occasional  visits  of  the  cruisers  of  the  Paciiic 


V. 

11 


!;  ,  .-  ■  t\ 


'  'Two  conflicting  stories  were  in  circulation  at  once,  which,  heiiig  traceil 
to  the  same  source,  raised  sr.Hpicions  of  foul  play,  and  causiul  the  rcjiort  that 
Iliavi' previously  mentioned,  viz.:  that  the  unfortunate  men  had  heen  mur- 
ileii'il  liy  order  of  the  iiudson's  Bay  Company.'  Letter.,  Guvvnior  lllaimltiinl  to 
Ijiii  Criij,  10th  Oct.  1850.  Michel  Muir,  who  was  at  lort  Rupert  at  tho 
liiue,  (.'oulirms  what  Oovernor  Bloushard  said,  liril.  Vol.  Sketc/ies,  MS.,  1 J,  10.. 
niBi.  liiuT.  Col.    18 


f 

j 

/    ■> 

' 

11' Ml 

■li 

i 

""  •«! 

m 

mi 

I' 


274 


GOVERNMENT   ESTABUSHED. 


squadron,  which  only  occur  at  rare  intervals,  and  for 
short  calls." 

Fortunately  for  the  governor's  desires,  on  the  22d 
of  September  1850,  about  a  month  after  the  murderous 
affair,  H.  M.  S.  Dtedalus,  Captain  Wellesley,  arrived 
at  Victoria,  when  the  governor  went  on  board  and 
proceeded  at  once  to  Rupert. 

Now  mark  the  course  of  justice  pursued  by  the 
officers  of  the  imperial  government.     Instead  of  pro- 
ceeding against   the   instigators  of  the  murder,  and 
arresting  the  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Compruiy, 
as  they  should  have  done,  they  direct  the  full  force 
«jf  their  vengeance  against  the  natives.     Helm okoii, 
the  newly  fledged  magistrate,  cognizant  of  the  wliolo 
affiiir,  and  well  knowing  who  were  the  guilty  persons, 
and  what  hand  he  himself  had  had  in  it,  goes  to  the 
Newittee  camp,  twelve  miles  distant,  and  loudly  de- 
mands the  surrender  of  the  murderers.     The  savages 
acknowledge  the  murder,  but  plead  that  they  were 
only  executing  orders.     Truer  to  themselves  and  to 
the  right  than  were  the  white  men,  they  refused  to 
give  up  the  perpetrators  of  the  deed,  but  offered  to  give 
up  the  property  paid  them  by  the  white  men  for  the 
commission   of  the  crime.     This  did  not  satisfy  tlie 
European  justice-dealers.     Servants  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  had  been  slain  by  order  of  the  otheeis 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.     Some  one  must  Ite 
punished;  and  as  they  did  not  wish  to  hang  themselves, 
they  must  find  victims  ariong  their  instruments.     As 
the  magistrate  was  unable  to  accomplish  their  purpose, 
Wellesley  sent  a  force  under  Lieutenant  Burton,  in 
three  boats  of  tlie   Dii'dalus,  a«''ainst  the   Newittees. 
Finding  their  camp  deserted.  Burton  destroyed  the 
village,  and  made  a  bonfire  of  all  the  property  he  could 
find.     The  following  summer  H.  M.  S.  Dajyhne,  Cap- 
tain  Fanshawe,  arrived.     Meanwhile   the   Newittees 
had   rebuilt  their  village,   supposing  the  white  iiien 
satisfied  with  the  injury  already  inflicted.     One  day 
while  holding  a  potlach,  and  being  at  peace,  as  thiy 


■I, 


ji 


DISMAL  GUBERNATORIAL  PROSPECTS. 


275 


Ixlicved,  with  the  white  inon,  the  Daphnes  boats, 
uiulcr  Lieutenant  Lacy,  crept  into  their  harbor,  and 
announced  their  arrival  by  a  discharge  of  musketry. 
Men,  women,  and  cliildren  were  mercilessly  cut  down, 
persons  innocent  of  any  thouglit  of  wrong  against 
their  murderers,  and  their  village  again  destroyed. 
Then  the  Daphne  sailed  away.  Justice  was  satisfied  : 
and  Blenkinsop  and  the  rest  of  them  went  about  their 
work  as  usual. 

By  this  time  the  reader  can  judge  pretty  well  the 
chaiacter  of  the  colonial  governor.  First  \^o  cannot 
l»ut  regard  him  as  a  good,  lionest  man,  but  assuredly 
not  a  very  shrewd  one.  In  fact  he  did  not  claim  worldly 
wisdom  or  any  special  clearness  of  intellect.  Name 
and  position  were  primary  considerations  with  him. 
If  siiolter  and  food  came  with  them,  well;  if  not,  there 
would  still  bo  oreatness  to  feed  on.  Before  the  house 
of  commons  select  committee,  five  years  after  his 
return  from  the  Northwest  Coast,  the  ex-governor 
could  not  tell  whether  the  grant  of  the  Island  had 
heen  made  in  1848  or  in  1841),  he  tluught  during  the 
former  year.  On  his  way  out  he  lost  his  commission 
I)a[)ers  in  the  Chagres  River,  and  seemed  every  way 
the  son  of  misfortune. 

Yet  he  was  ver}'^  nmch  of  a  gentleman,  and  a  strictly 
conscientious  man.  His  position  at  Vanc(>uver  Island 
was  a  most  trying  one.  The  ill-feeling  of  the  com- 
pany toward  him,  added  to  ill-health  and  lack  of  funds, 
Hti'i[)ped  his  position  of  its  dignity,  and  degraded  him 
to  the  level  of  a  common  practitioner  in  arbitrating 
the  disputes  brought  before  him.  As  he  had  b(>en 
called  to  the  bar,  he  was  cognizant  of  the  law  and 
famihar  with  the  practice.  As  there  were  no  means 
of  paying  a  recorder,  he  was  obliged  to  administer 
justice  himself,  and  when  he  wanted  a  constable  he 
swore  one  in. 

Now  he  could  but  ask  himself  why  he  had  accepted 
this  miserable  post.     He  had  had  experience  a^  a  colo- 


(' 

s 

1 

;  i 

hi 

J 
1 

1 
I 

h  1 

i 

1 
I 

i 

1 

1    ; 

1 

' 

■kh  1 

;   i  1! 

■ 

t 

,!          i  'i 

.    1 

•  ■:  j 

1: 

1 

I        I 


276 


(JOVERNMENT  ESTABLISHED. 


nizer  in  the  West  India  Islands,  ni  British  Honduras, 
and  in  India,  and  he  saw  no  reason  why  he  should  not 
succeed  in  the  newly  granted  isle.  But  he  soon  leariit'd 
to  his  cost  and  sorrow  that  he  was  not  wanted,  A 
governor  was  sadly  out  of  place  there  at  that  time, 
worse  than  a  supernumerary.  There  was  nothing  tor 
liini  to  do  but  to  act  as  ordinary  magistrate,  and  de- 
cide disj^utes  between  tiie  company  and  their  servants. 

This  was  exactly  wliat  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
did  not  desire.  Of  all  things  they  abhorred  intcrfVi'- 
ence.  Thov  were  not  accustomed  to  it.  Al)solute 
obedience  on  the  part  of  subordinates  had  been  the 
basis  of  their  internal  economy  for  the  })ast  century  or 
two,  and  to  have  now  a  magistrate  come  between 
them  and  their  servants,  who  seemed  suddenly  to  find 
themselves  surrounded  by  discomforts,  and  tlie  vir- 
tinis  of  alleged  impositions  which  they  had  never  Ik - 
fore  thought  of,  was  unendurable.** 

Hitherto  he  had  rei^arded  himself  as  a  man  of  .some 
pretensions,  and  under  ordinary  circumstances  would 
not  be  likely  to  forget  himself  or  his  mission.  'W)  he 
governor  of  a  crown  colony,  though  his  domain  weic 
barren  rocks  and  tenantless,  was  to  snufi"  the  atmos- 
phere of  royalty,  and  dwell  beneath  the  sliadow  ol' 
the  crown.  It  is  sweet  to  rule,  to  dominate  our 
fellows,  to  walk  as  gods  among  men,  to  sit  the  ohjtct 
of  even  the  hollow  forms  we  know  tlieir  adoration  to 
be,  and  our  governor  was  by  no  means  alntve  the 
average  man  in  this  respect.  He  had  come  far  fioin 
home  and  friends  for  the  ])oor  privilege  of  being  called 
ruler  of  this  wilderness;  but  never  in  his  lift^  wa>  his 
presence  so  insignificant,  or  his  influence  less  f(  It.  He 
was  here  a  nonentity,  and  of  all  his  liege  subjects  the 
least. 

It  was  the  irony  of  delegated  rule,  this  [>lantuig  of 


Blau; 
tent 


"Were  there  many  of  those  (lisiiutes?'  askcil  Viscount  (io.lorioh  <il  Mr 
ilauMhanl.  'A  great  many,' was  the- reply.  '0:i  \vh:it  ground''  '  I)i:;riiii- 
jnt  among  the  servants.'  'At  being  ill-treated  l>y  the  ednipany '^'  "'liny 
considered  themselves  ill-treated;  that  they  Iiad  been  hrou'^lit  out  l!ii'rL' 
under  a  dcdusion,  and  had  hecn  promised  many  things  which  were  nut  ful- 
fill ju."  Dl-nnhard,  iii  Howie  Commons  Hcpt.,  289. 


a  ]ioor  r 

uith  do 

fjrt^atest 

tlie  sev( 

whence  : 

was  leas 

Yet  ir 

as  the  h 

tliat  wht 

was  like 

vailed  li( 

and  hear 

heon  his, 

was  absr 

a  sensibh 

There  wi 

situation. 

rived,  no 

been  four 

of  stoam< 

and  tlie  ( 

iiication  i 

most  mcj 

tlie  gove 

(liseovore 

(■Very  ind 

ITS  would 

out  a  soli 

Allhou 
coiitiimall 
thero  was 
lioad  of  t 
tating  cir 
speaks  \\t 

The  cir 
ins?  of  as! 
ap["'ars  t( 
Co)iij»anv, 


«ili 


li        M'!i 


AWFUL  IRREfiULARITY. 


27T 


a  poor  man  upon  these  distant  and  inhospitable  rocks, 
Avith  dominion  over  them.  Though  backed  by  the 
jrroatest  nation  on  earth,  he  was  more  helpless  than 
the  seventh  wife  of  a  savage.  Xature  was  there, 
whence  man  draws  all  his  arts  of  governing,  but  he 
■was  least  of  nature's  subjects. 

Yet  in  all  things  Blansliard  was  as  straightforward 
as  tl.e  historiograplier  Yu,  of  whom  Confucius  wrote 
that  when  good  government  prevailed  in  his  state  he 
was  like  an  arrow,  and  when  bad  government  pre- 
vaihd  he  was  like  an  arrow.  The  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart  he  might  have  displayed  had  opportunity 
been  his,  it  is  useless  for  us  to  speculate  upon.  There 
was  absolutely  nothing  here  for  hijn  to  do,  and  like 
a  sensible  man  he  saw  it  and  determined  to  resign. 
There  was  no  glory  to  be  obtained  in  so  inglorious  a 
situation.  The  months  passed  by  and  no  settlers  ar- 
rived, no  sales  of  land  were  effected,  and  no  coal  had 
been  found  whic^h  promised  profitable  returns.  A  line 
of  steamers  had  been  put  on  between  San  Francisco 
and  tlie  Oregon  country,  else  the  facilities  for  conmiu- 
iiicatiou  with  home  and  tlie  busy  world  were  of  the 
iiiDst  meagre  and  unreliable  description.  To  add  to 
tlic  governor's  unhappy  forebodings,  gold  had  been 
discovered  on  the  Spokane  liiver,  and  there  was  novv 
every  indication  that  the  Scotch  colliers  and  fur-hunt- 
ers would  hasten  thither  en  masse,  leaving  him  with- 
out a  solitary  subject. 

Allhough  tne  temper  of  tne  governor  was  kept 
coiitiimally  stirred  by  petty  slights  and  innuentloes, 
thore  was  but  one  open  rupture  between  him  and  tlie 
lioad  of  the  fur  company,  which,  considering  the  irri- 
tating circumstances  under  which  they  were  placed, 
f^pt'aks  well  for  both  these  gentlemen. 

The  circumstance  I  allude  to  was  the  illefjal  si''n- 
iHGf  of  a  ship-register  upon  a  change  of  masters.  It 
<ip[>"ars  to  have  been  the  custom  of  the  Hudson's  T^ay 
Company,  and  admitted  under  the  navigation  act,  iu 


ii 


H\ 


■'■  'tl 


'■    1 


278 


fJOVERNMENT  ESTABUSHED. 


the  absence  of  a  crown  officer,  for  tho  cluof  factor  to 
sign  the  registers  of  sea-going  vessels. 

One  day  the  newly  appointed  master  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company's  scliooner  Cadhoro  brought  Blaii- 
shard  the  register  of  the  vessel,  remarking  that  lie 
was  not  at  all  satisfied  with  some  alterations  which 
had  been  made,  and  asked  if  the  company's  servants 
possessed  the  right  to  make  such  alterations.  The 
governor  re})lied  that  they  did  not,  at  the  same  time 
telling  him  that  if  he  would  bring  him  the  register  he 
would  sign  it. 

Next  day  the  Cadhoro  put  to  sea,  the  master  not 
having  again  seen  the  governor,  and  the  register  hav- 
ing been  signed  by  Douglar  On  the  return  of  the 
schooner  the  governor  summoned  the  master  and 
Douglas  into  his  presence.  Both  promptly  appeared. 
The  master  was  then  ordered  to  produce  the  register, 
which  he  did,  whereupon  the  governor  pointed  out  to 
him  that  it  had  been  illegally  signed.  With  this  ad- 
monition the  governor  bound  them  in  their  own  ]«  r- 
.sonal  security  to  appear  again  if  called  upon,  and  then 
discharged  them.  As  Blanshard  left  the  island  shortly 
afterward,  this  was  the  last  of  the  affair. 

On  tlie  18th  of  November,  1850,  Blanshard  wrote 
Earl  Grey  two  letters,  in  the  first  of  which  he  asked 
leave  to  visit  England  to  attend  to  private  alfairs;  in 
the  second  he  tendered  his  resignation,  and  solicited 
an  immediate  recall  From  tho  colony,  on  the  ground 
of  continued  attacks  of  ague,  remarking,  also,  that  las 
private  fortune  was  "utterly  insufficient  for  the  mere 
cost  of  living  here,  so  high  have  prices  been  run  np 
by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  as  there  arc  no 
independent  settlers,  every  requisite  must  be  obtained 
from  them." 

His  next  despatch,  under  date  February  3,  1;  ,11, 
embodies  a  re])ort  of  occurrences  on  the  island  since 
liis  arrival.  The  only  real  land  sale  was  that  to  (Iraiit 
at  Soke,  and  he  had  assigned  his  title  to  the  Hudsen  s 
Bay  Company.     Tod,  a  servant  of  the  company,  Ji:ul 


i<   A 


Ifl 


'  !?y 


BLANSHARD  RESIGNS. 


279 


'if  It 


:in 


factor  to 

le  Hud- 
ht  Blaii- 

tliat  lie 
lis  which 

servants 
tis.  The 
ime  time 
glster  lie 

aster  not 
ster  hav- 
rn  of  the 
ster  and 
ippearid. 
register, 
ed  out  to 
1  this  ad- 
own  ]»  r- 
aud  tin  11 
id  shortly 

ird  wrote 
he  asked 
.ffairs;  in 

solicit! 'd 
le  ground 
i,  that  liis 
the  iiu're 
1.  run  up 
•e  are  no 

obtained 

3,  lojl, 

and  since 

to  (J rant 

Hu(1m  Ill's 

)aiiv,  Ii:h1 


jdoughed  a  few  acres  near  the  fort,  but  fearful  lest 
his  title,  ludd  only  by  verbal  agreement  with  Douglas, 
should  never  be  secured  to  him,  he  became  alarmed, 
and  ceased  operations,  leaving  unfinished  a  house  that 
lie  was  building.  "With  the  exception  of  a  Canadian 
wlio  has  squatted  near  Rocky  Point,  there  is  not 
another  cultivator  on  the  Island."  He  had  written 
Sir  John  Pelly  recjuesting  information  concerning 
the  Puget  Sound  Company  reserve,  but  had  received 
no  reidy.' 

In  his  despatch  of  the  12th  of  February,  he  re- 
ports on  an  account  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  (V)mpany 
against  the  colony  presented  for  his  approval,  and 
which  he  signed  with  a  protest.^"     The  public  seal 

• '  This  tract  contains,  I  am  informed,  nearly  thirty  square  miles  of  the  beat 
p:irt  of  tlie  Islauil,  and  tliuy  are  already  atteni^jtiug  to  sell  sinuU  lots  to  tlieir 
own  servants  at  greatly  advanced  rates.  I  consider  this  an  extremely  unfair 
pniceeding.  Tlio  terms  of  tlie  grant  of  the  Island  expressly  state  tliat  "all 
Willis  sIkiU  be  sold  excejit  such  as  are  reserved  for  public  purposes,"  and  in 
(.(iiisideration  of  the  trouble  and  expense  they  may  incur,  the  Hudson's  Bay 
C'ciiiipany  are  allowed  the  very  handsome  remuneration  of  ten  per  cent  on  all 
sales  they  may  efl'eet,  and  on  all  royalties.  Not  satisfied  with  this,  they  a:j 
grasping  at  the  whole  jjrice  of  the  land,  by  monopolizing  this  Viist  district, 
iii.iluiig  it  a  free  gift  to  themselves,  and  then  selling  it  for  their  own  jirotit,  as 
tluy  are  attempting  to  do.  In  proof  of  this,  I  may  mention  that  an  Englisli- 
iiiaii  of  tiic  name  of  Chancellor  arrived  here  from  California  a  few  weeks  ago, 
Mitli  the  iutention  of  settling.  The  agent  offered  to  sell  Iiini  land  on  tlio 
''('iiiiiiiany's  reserve,"  which  he  declined,  as  he  preferred  anotlier  jiait  of  tiie 
Island,  but  found  so  many  dill'culties  tlirown  in  the  way  that  he  at  last  pro- 
iiiiiiicid  the  purchiwe  impracticable,  and  is  leaving  the  colony  in  disgust.  .  He 
tiiM  1110  tliat  he  was  the  forerunner  of  a  party  of  several  British  subjects 
at  jiiesent  in  California,  wlio  were  merely  waiting  for  his  report  to  decide 
whether  tiiey  would  settle  in  Vancouver  Island  or  the  United  States.'  Bkin- 
fldir't'.i  Di'sjiiitr/ien,  7-8. 

'"  "The  account  asserts  that  they  have'expended  §2,736,  of  which  §2, 1 30  are 
fir  goods  paid  to  Indians  to  extinguish  their  title  to  the  land  about  Victoria 
aiiil  Soke  harbours,  the  remainder  also  for  goods  paid  to  Indians  for  work 
iliiiir  tor  tlie  colony,  provisions  and  ammunition  for  tlie  same  Indiiins.  The 
I'l'iiijits  uinount  to  i!l,48!),  from  wliicli  ten  per  cent  is  to  be  deducted,  accord- 
i;i,ir  to  the  cliarter  of  grant  to  the  Huilson's  Bay  Company,  and  consists  en- 
liri;ly  of  royalties  on  coal  for  the  last  two  years;  land  sales  tiieroare  none,  as 
1  have  previously  informed  your  lordship.  On  examining  the  account,  I  found 
that  tor  tlio  goods  paid  to  the  Iiidi  ma  a  price  was  charged  three  tiiius  as  great 
iw  wiiat  tiiey  are  in  the  habit  of  paying  them  at  for  their  own  work;  respect- 
ing this,  ami  some  inaccuracies  I  detected  in  the  account,  I  addressed  a  letter 
to  the  agent;  ho  corrected  the  errors,  but  made  no  alteration  in  the  prices, 
aiiil  ill  tlie  course  of  tiie  conversation  gave  me  to  understand  that  tlieyitiil  not 
expiit  the  charter  of  grant  to  be  renewed  at  the  expiration  of  tlie  live  years, 
•laiiiiary  1834,  and  that  they  would  be  entitled  to  a  reimbursement  of  their  ex- 
li'inliture.  At  this  rate,  they  may  continue  for  the  next  three  years,  paying 
aw:iy  a  few  goods  to  Indians  to  cxtinguioh  their  claima  to  the  soil,  ani  by  at- 


'ill, 


;    I 


i 


ii 


■.■\    ii- 
1  '  ^'i^ 


280 


GO\'ERNMENT  ESTABLISHED. 


of  tho  colony  of  Vancouver  Island,  and  her  majesty 
warrant  and  sign-manual  authorizing  and  directing 
its  use,  were  transmitted  by  Earl  Grey  to  Governor 
lilanshard,  arriving  in  midsummer  1851. 

Before  sending  in  his  resignation,  Blanshard  recom- 
mended the  home  government  to  impose  duty  on  the 
importation  and  manufacture  of  ardent  spirits,  the 
dangerous  tendency  of  whoso  introduction  was  just 
then  freshly  appearing  in  the  demoralization  of  the 
natives  about  Fort  Rupert,  and  the  riotous  tendencies 
of  the  colliers  at  Beaver  Harbor.  This  liquor  was 
not  supplied  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  which 
treated  the  natives  with  every  consideration,  better, 
some  said,  than  their  own  servants.  But  being  brought 
thither  by  merchant  vessels  visiting  the  coast,  it  was 
impossible  to  prevent  the  inhabitants  of  the  Island 
from  obtaining  it.  Nor,  indeed,  could  the  government 
have  prevented  it  had  the  suggestion  of  the  governor 
been  promptly  acted  upon. 

Blanshard  had  suffered  much  from  ill -health,  as 
well  as  from  poverty;  else,  perhaps,  he  might  have 
fought  his  fate  longer,  if  he  had  thought  the  place 
worth  fighting  for.  There  had  never  been  the  slight- 
est chance  for  him  from  the  day  of  his  appointment. 
Being  strong  in  London,  being  absolute  upon  the 
Island,  the  monopolists  were  sure  to  prevail.  And 
they  knew  it  from  the  first.  Earl  Grey  might  pre- 
tend to  drive,  and  Blanshard  might  amuse  himself  at 
playing  governor,  but  all  this  time  the  fur-traders 
were  manoeuvring  for  their  man,  and  before  Blanshard 
had  resigned,  although  Douglas  had  not  then  his  ap- 
pointment, yet  he  had  received  a  letter  from  the  Lon- 
don office  stating  that  he  had  been  recommended,  and 
would  undoubtedly  receive  the  appointment. 

On  the  3d  of  April  1851,  Earl  Grey  wrote  Gov- 
ernor Blanshard,  saying  that  her  Majesty  had  been 

taching  an  itleal  value  to  their  goods,  they  will  at  the  end  of  that  time  appear 
as  creditors  of  the  colony  to  an  overwhelming  amount,  so  that  the  foumlation 
will  be  laid  of  a  colonial  debt,  which  will  forever  prove  a  burden. '  JilaiuslMrWn 
Despalchen,  8. 


r 


:  i 


PROVISIONAL  COUNCIL. 


sn 


jrr.aclously  ploaacd  to  accept  his  rc8i^natioii  as  j?ov- 
vnun'  of  the  colony  of  Vancouver  Island.  Whereat 
Uliuisliard  was  also  graciously  pleased,  and  the  now 
thoroughly  fagged  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
wuny  were  most  of  fill  graciously  pleased. 

]^lansliard  received  this  welcome  intelligence  in 
August.  His  successor  had  not  yet  been  ajipointed, 
but  it  was  now  well  understood  that  Douglas  would 
l)c  tlie  next  governor.  As  he  deemed  it  n(>cessary  to 
leave  the  little  authority  he  had  swayed  in  official 
liaiids,  on  the  2'.''th  of  August  Blanshard  nominated 
a  jiiovisional  council,  subject  to  the  confirmation  ot 
the  imperial  govermnent,  consisting  of  three  members, 
Janu'S  Douglas,  James  Cooper,  and  John  Tod,  t»> 
wliom  ho  administered  the  usual  oath.  Tlien  in  the 
sliip  Tkiphiie,  on  the  1st  of  September  1851,  he  turned 
Ills  back  forever  on  what  had  proved  to  him  a  most 
unfortunate  isle." 


I'M 


•.M 


■\:]\ 

;  ■  f- 

;  1; 


A 


:JW 


"  Wlic'ii  the  settlora  learned  what  had  been  done,  they  directed  the  foUow- 
i:i!;  idiiiMiuuication  tt>  tlie  governor: 
'7'')/('<  E.rrellinrii  liirliard  Bliim/ianl,  Enquire,  Goiminr  of  Vaucmiivr  Iilnnd. 

'  M.iy  it  please  ymir  excellency:  We,  the  undursiijaed,  iiiliahitaiits  of 
Vancouver's  Island,  having  luarned  with  regret  that  your  excellency  has  rc- 
sigiKcl  tliu  government  of  this  colony,  and  understanding  that  tlie  govcrn- 
iiiciit  has  liceii  committed  to  a  chief  factor  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
cuiridt  lint  express  our  unfeigned  surprise  and  deep  coucorn  at  such  an  ap- 
liiiiiitmuiit.  The  Hudson's  Jiiy  Couipany  being  as  it  is  a  great  trading 
'"1  ;y,  iMUst  necessarily  have  interests  clashing  with  those  of  iadupendcnt 
CDlcinists.  Most  matters  of  a  political  nature  will  cause  a  contest  between 
t!it'  a;j(nts  of  the  company  and  the  colonists.  Many  matters  of  a  juilicial 
lutuii'  alio  will  undoubtedly  arise,  in  which  the  colonists  and  the  company 
I  r  it-i  sorvant.s  will  be  conteiuling  parties,  or  the  ujjpur  servants  and  the  lower 
i-  Tvants  of  the  company  will  be  arrayed  against  each  otlior.  We  beg  to  ex- 
I'liss  in  the  most  emiihatical  ami  plainest  manner  our  cossurauco  that  impar- 
ted ilioisions  cannot  he  expected  from  a  governor  who  is  not  only  a  ineiidier 
f'l  till'  (.iiiiipanj',  sharing  its  profits,  liis  share  of  sticli  jirotits  rising  and  falling 
■M  tliry  ri  ic  and  fall,  but  is  also  charged  as  their  chief  agent  with  the  sole 
lejirescntation  of  their  trading  interests  in  this  Island  and  the  adjacent 
coasts. 

'  Kurthermore,  thus  situated,  the  colony  will  have  no  security  that  its 
imlilie  luiiils  will  be  duly  disposed  of  solely  for  the  benefit  of  the  colony  in 
t  iieral,  and  not  turned  iiside  in  any  degree  to  be  api)lied  to  the  private  [nir- 
licms  (if  the  company,  by  disprojwrtionate  suins  being  devoted  to  the  i!n- 
jiriiveinent  of  that  tract  of  laiul  held  by  them,  or  otherwise  unduly  employed. 
I  iiikr  these  circumstances,  we  beg  to  acquaint  your  excellency  with  our  deep 
siiisc  lit  the  absidute  necessity  there  is,  for  the  real  good  and  welfare  of  the 
ciiliiny,  that  a  council  should  be  immediately  appointed,  in  order  to  provide 
»u;a^-  security  that  the  interests  of  the  Hudson 'd  Bay  Com]jauy  shall  not  be 


i     .  s 


if  ,! 


■t  ; 


'm 


.■-    I»4i'( 


i  •  ;■  i 

i ' 


M    i 


L   >l       ! 


Wift 


282 


GOVKKNMENT  ESTABLISHKD. 


For  twenty  years  subsequent  to  1824,  Jolia  Mc- 
Loughlin,  as  chief  factor  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany, residing  at  Fort  Vancouver  on  the  Colunihia 
River,  was  sole  doniinator  of  the  Northwest  Coast. 
Then,  as  I  have  elsewhere  said,  because  of  his  hunuiii- 
ity  toward  distressed  emigrants,  or  as  the  London 
management  might  express  it,  because  of  his  undue 
familiarity  with   United  States  settlers,  and  in  order 

llowed  to  outweigli  ami  ruin  those  of  the  colony  in  genera.l  We,  who  join 
1  expressing  those  sentiments  to  your  excellency,  are  uufortunatuly  Ittit  a 
ery  small  number,  but  we  respectfully  bog  your  excellency  to  consider  that 
we,  and  we  alone,  represLut  tlie  interests  of  the  Island  as  a  free  and  inde- 
pendent British  colony,  for  we  constitute  the  wliolo  body  of  tlie  indopenduiit 
settlers,  all  the  otlier  inliabitants  being  in  some  way  or  other  so  oimnoctcd 
with  and  controlled  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  as  to  be  dejjrivod  of  tioc- 
dom  of  action  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  public  affairs  of  the  colony,  snim; 
indeed  by  their  own  confession,  as  may  be  proved  if  necessary.  And  wc  itir- 
ther  allege  our  firm  persuasion,  that  the  untoward  intluences  to  wliicli  we 
liave  adverted  above  are  likely,  if  entirely  unguarded  against  not  only  to 
prevent  any  increase  of  free  an(l  indejiende,  t  colonists  in  tlie  Island,  but  jios- 
itivcly  to  diminish  their  present  numbers. 

'  We  therefore  humbly  request  your  excellency  to  tai^e  into  your  graciims 
consideration  the  propriety  of  appointing  a  council  before  your  exci llnuy  s 
departure;  such  being  the  most  anxious  and  earnest  desire  of  your  excellency  it 
moat  obedient  and  humble  servants,  and  her  majesty's  most  devoted  and  Inviil 
subjects. 

'  James  Yates,  Robert  John  Staines,  James  Cooper,  Thomas  Monroe,  Wil- 
liam McDonald,  James  Sangster, 'John  Muir,  senior,  William  Frasir,  Andrew 
Muir,  John  Mc(lregor,  Johr.  Muir  junior,  Michel  Muir,  Kobert  Muir,  Arilii- 
bald  Muir,  Thomas  Blenkhoru.' 

The  commander  of  the  Ldphne,  in  return  for  the  hospitality  extended  luin 
at  Fort  Victoria,  charged  tlie  company,  an  behalf  of  the  imperial  goviTiinient, 
with  Blanshard's  passage  to  Panama,  the  governor,  as  before  stateil,  piiyiiij.' 
out  of  his  own  pocket  his  expenses  from  that  point  to  England.  A  liiU 
amounting  to  £47  15s.  had  likewise  been  presented  to  Blanshanl  for  tlio  ix- 
jienses  of  the  Dadalus  in  lier  trip  to  Fort  Rupert. 

Cooper,  Mar.  Matters,  M.S.,  4,  states  that  Blanshard  remained  on  tlie 
Island  eighteen  or  twenty  months.  Grant,  Loud.  Oiw/.  Hoc,  Jour.,  xxvii.  .'iilU, 
says  he  remained  'little  more  than  a  year.'  Blanshard  himself  calls  it,  //o«.-'' 
Commons  Rejtt.,  If.  B.  Co.  Affairs,  1857,  'nearly  two  years.'  It  is  safe  eiiciugh 
to  date  his  dejiarture  about  Septem'.^er  or  October  IS.'il ;  liis  last  letter  written 
Earl  Ctrey  from  the  Island  was  dated  the  30th  of  August.  Fiiditij-son'i  Hid. 
V.  I.,  MS.,  47  et  passim.  Fiiilayson  was  on  the  ground  during  the  entire  resi- 
dence of  Governor  Blanshard  in  the  Island.  Cooper,  Mar.  MittUrs,  MS.,  4, 
8:iy3  'the  expense  of  living  was  so  enormously  in  excess  of  the  Hudson  s  Bay 
Company's  representations,  and  every  possible  difficulty  being  thrown  in  his 
way, .  .  .he  was  forced  to  resign.'  The  settlers  naturally  sympathized  witli  tliu 
disconiKted  governor.  Says  (Jrant,  Loud.  Geo;/.  ,Sor..,  Jour.,  xxvii.  IWO.  'His 
loss  was  very  much  to  be  regretted,  as  he  was  a  gentleman  in  every  way 
qualified  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  his  position  with  credit  to  himself,  and  witli 
prosperous  residts  to  the  country.'  The  Despatches  oJ'Oownior  Blaiishnnl  to 
the  Secretary  of  Slate,  2(;th  December  1849  to  30th  August  1851,  sub-seciuently 
printed  at  the  government  office.  New  Westminster,  contains  all  the  letters 
sent  to  Earl  Grey  by  the  governor  during  his  stay  upon  the  Island. 


IH)U(;LAS  APPOINTKU  OOVKIlNOR 


283 


t;»  W(>L;kou  him  in  his  position  and  pavo  tlio  way  toward 
1.'.  i  final  ovortlirow,  the  supreme  power  on  the  Pacific 
was  vested  in  a  board  of  manai^ement,  oonsistini^  of 
( l.itf  factors  McLou^ldin,  Douglas,  and  Oijfden.  After 
the  retirement  of  McLou«i^hlin.  Douglas  and  Ogden 
continued  to  manage  matters  as  a  board,  with  their 
lica(l-(|uarters  still  at  Fort  Vancouver,  Fiidayson, 
nil  .mwhile,  remaining  in  charge  at  Fort  Victoria. 

In  midsunnner  1849,  nine  months  jirior  to  the  ar- 
riv;il  of  Governor  Blanshard,  Douglas  comjjleted  the 
rcniovid  of  the  company's  head-quarters  to  Fort  Vic- 
t  )ri,i,  and  took  up  his  permanent  residence  on  tlie 
I.iland.'^  Subsequently,  he  erected  for  his  family  a  com- 
modious dwelling  on  the  south  side  of  JanuiS  Bay. 
1  )ugald  McTavisli  wasleft  in  charge  at  Fort  Vancouver, 
L'inlayson  assumed  the  position  of  chief  accountant  at 
Fort  Victoria,  and  the  affairs  of  the  company  still 
continued  to  be  administered  by  chief  factors  Douglas 
and  Ogden,  who  constituted  the  board  of  management 
on  the  Pacific.'^ 

Thus,  under  this  mighty  pressure  of  gnat-straining 
a;.d  camel-swallowing  passed  the  first  two  years  of 
iittenipts  at  colonial  rule  on  A'^ancouver  Island,  In 
Tu  pteinber  1851  James  Douglas  was  made  governor 
of  tlie  colony,  and  took  the  oath  of  office  the  fol- 
luwini;  Xovember.  Thus  at  last  were  united  in  one 
per;-i)n  the  authority  and  interests  of  the  Hudson's 
]>;;y  Company,  and  tlio  authority  and  interests  of  the 
Ciiionial  p-overnment.  Wiser  in  his  day  than  Blan- 
shard,  Doujdas  succeeded  in  securing  to  himself  a 
salary  of  eight  hundred  pounds  a  year  as  governor  of 
tlie  colony,  in  addition  to  his  emoluments  as  chief  fac- 


:         |fll 

m 


i 

i 

i  1 1 

n 

', 


m 


'-'  Ic  was  almut  tlie  luiddlo  of  June  that  I)imglaa  with  liis  family  roinovid 
to  Victiiria.  An  obituary  notice  in  tiie  BrdiKli  ColoniM  of  8th  Aug.  liS77, 
jil.K  rs  the  (late  of  his  arrival  'a  few  months  after  'that  of  (Jovcrnor  IJlanshanl, 
a.nl  (itliors  give  other  dates.  But  Michel  Muir,  wlio  landed  in  June  liS49, 
static  tliat  Doughis  came  from  Fort  Vancouver  with  hia  family  four  days 
uftir  his  arrival.   Brit.  Col.  SkHche^,  MS.,  21. 

y<'i-«lc,  in  ir.  li.  Co.  Ev.,  II.  B.  Co.  Chiiiis,  107-1);  Finhvixonn  I  list.  V.  /., 
Ms.,  ;},'!;  Brit.  Coloniit,  Aug.  8,  iyJ7;  McKinkiij's  Xnr.,  M.j.,  8. 


M^  ■ 


1  1  ;  V\ 


y 


2S4 


OOVKUNMKMT  ESTAULISIIKn. 


tor  of  tlu>  ITudson's  l^ay  Coninany.     From  this  t;i:ic 
iij)  to  IHf)'.)  lie  c'oritinut'tl  to  fill  both  positions. 

And  Tiow  all  is  si^vnoa^ain  throuufliout  this  rcijfidn. 
Till!  <'ur-tratlors  have  triiiiiijdied.  They  havo  ohtuiui  d 
not  only  a  crown  jj^rant,  l)ut  a  crown  Efovcrnnient.  (  )m 
Vancouver  Island  they  arc  tlie  crown;  and  until  tin 
settlers  shall  become  stronj^er  than  the  company,  thcii 
absolutism  is  assured. '  The  next  cha[)ter  I  devote  t(t 
the  life  and  character  of  James  Douglas. 


1  i-. 


i:;l»' 


■1 

^ll,l 

m 

(   Nil 

■  1 

'  i<\ 

1  •  ^'  1 

■   '. 

1,  ,;>  ,f 
1 . 

CHAPTER  XVII. 


JAMES  I>01J(JLAS. 


Biiirii  AND  FniTATioN-— Entkiis  tiik  Skuvick  of  thk  NoRTirwEsr  Comtan  v 
—  FuiKNUsiiip  i>v-  McLi)i'tiiii.iN — Oi-rourfNirv  —  What  Hk  siioi  i.;i 
Know — His  Like  in  NkwCai.kdosia — Ovkkiome  r.v  T.ove — Meets  am> 
Makkies  Xei.:a  (.'oxnolly — Kstablishes  W.ni  I'onndllv — His  Airr.:.- 
Tuis  TO  Bu'wiSExs  AND  HIS  Stkict  Ohedience — Bfcomes  Chief  Tuaueu 
— TiiE>r  C  iiiKF  Faciou — Visns  Cai.ikoknia — Accoi'NTASr  and  (Ien- 

EHAI.    Sri'KRINTENltENT    OK    FoKTS — AcTIVE    IN    THE    EsTAllLISIIlNd    OK 

FouT  Vk-i'oria — His  Coldness  towaud  Emiukants — Quarkeus  with 
McLoi'diiLiN — Removes  to  Victoria  —  Is  Made  Oovernor  —  And 
Kniohted — Visits   Euhoi'k    - i'liysigcr.  and  Character  —  1>olulam 

AND  McLoUaULlN  COMI'AKED. 


ill 


James  Douglas  was  born  in  1803  at  Jamaica.  His 
fatliiT  M'as  a  descendant  of  the  earl  of  Anj^us,  the 
Jiiiick  Douglas  of  Scottish  history;  his  mother  "svjs  a 
Creole.  At  an  early  ago  he  was  taken  hy  his  fatlicr 
to  Jjanark,  Scotland,  where  he  was  educated.  He 
was  -carci'ly  seventeen  years  old^  when  he  entered 
the  St  rvice  of  the  Xorthwost  Company  as  apprenticed 
tievk,  and  was  sent  to  Fort  William,  on  Lake  Supe- 
rioi',  where  McLoughlin  was  then  stationed. 

L  poll  the  coalition  the  following  year,  Douglas  was 
about  to  retire  to  Scotland  in  company  with  two  dis- 
satisfied brothers  then  leaving  the  ser\  icu ;  but  he  was 
l)ersuuded  by  McLoughlin,  who  had  taken  a  fancy  to 
liim,  to  remain. 


i! 


'Tins  according  to  Mrs  Han'cy,  Li/e  ^^(•Lnuf)^tlin,  MS.,  37.  WadJingtoii, 
Fi-iM  I-  Mini't,  35,  says  ho  waa  only  fourteori  years  of  age  when  lie  left  J'-iij,'- 
hiiiil,  ;,ut  this  authority  is  not  reliable.  Aiming  the  many  notices  and  tcsti- 
nmiii.ds  «!xtant  of  locid  writora  and  speakers,  one  -would  exjicct  to  ti;id 
iimiitliinf^  concerning  the  early  career  of  such  a  man;  even  t!io  family  arcliivea 
are  singularly  silent  in  this  regard. 

<28o"> 


,  ■ 

.|; 

.i 

if 

t, 

t-  if 


28G 


JAMES    DOU(JLA.S, 


"Stay  with  nie,  my  lad,"  he  said,  ''and  you  shall  Iio 
to  me  as  a  son." 

So  when  McLoughlin  was  appointed  to  what  was 
then  termed  the  Colmnbia  Department,  he  wrote  the 
directory  requesting  that  Douglas  might  accompany 
hiin,  wliich  request  was  granted,^  and  young  Dou<rlay 
made  ready  to  cross  his  Alps. 

Here,  indeed,  was  opportunity.  Look  at  it.  Nine- 
teen years  of  age,  full  of  youthful  vigor  and  enthusiasm, 
the  friend  and  companion  of  the  chief  factor  in  com- 
mand upon  the  Northwest  Coast.  In  such  a  country, 
at  such  an  age,  and  under  such  conditions,  we  shall  see 
in  due  time  how  he  availed  himself  of  them. 

McLoughlin  was  determined  his  protege  should  en- 
joy every  advantage,  consistent  with  his  duty  to  the 
service,  which  might  tend  to  his  advancement.  And 
this  might  best  be  accomplished,  not  by  confining  the 
young  man  too  closely  to  office  and  warehouse  work, 
or  to  one  particular  or  permanent  thing;  but  by  givini; 
liim  a  succession  of  duties  which  should  finally  make 
liim  proficient  in  all. 

He  was  already  a  good  accountant,  one  of  the  best 
in  the  service,  and  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
French  Canadian  idiom.  It  was  now  for  him  to  lie- 
come  familiar,  in  all  its  minutest  detail,  with  the  pon- 
derous and  most  perfect  machinery  of  the  united 
companies.  He  should  know  not  only  the  kinds  and 
cost  of  trading  goods  and  fort  supplies  in  London,  and 
tlie  expenses  of  transportation  to  the  distributing  post 
on  tlie  Columbia,  and  thence  to  the  several  interior 
stations,  the  kinds,  and  qualities,  and  prices  of  furs; 
the  rules  of  the  company  in  regard  to  traffic,  presents, 
and  credit  with  the  natives;  the  wages  and  duties  of 
the  nicn,  and  the  allowances  due  them;  but  he  should 
become  familiar  with  the  vast  country  over  which  his 

'My  very  good  friend  John  Tod,  New  Calcdonui,  MS.,  40-7,  who  tolil  "if 
all  he  knew,  and  somewhat  more,  respeoting  his  former  aasociiite  and  cliuf, 
brings  Douglas  to  America  in  or  hefore  1811,  at  which  time  he  was  riglit 
yoirs  old;  and  tliis  assertion  he  backs  by  the  remark,  '  Mr  Doiighis  reniiiincil 
east  of  the  mountains  at  Fort  Kcla,  Athabasca  District,  for  Jive  or  six  years,' 
bringing  him  across  the  mountains  in  1824. 


CONNOLLY'S  DAUGHTER. 


287 


cliief  held  sovereign  sway;  he  should  know  itsconfig- 
iimtion  and  climate;  its  mountains,  plains,  and  valleys; 
its  forests  and  prairies:  its  lakes  and  rivers;  its  fruits 
and  animals,  and  plants,  and  all  its  possibilities.  Most 
of  all,  he  should  study  well  the  aborigines,  with  whom 
his  predecessors  and  superiors  had  taken  so  much 
trouble  to  establish  commercial  intercourse.  Some- 
thing of  their  languages  he  should  know,  that  lie 
niiglit  personally  converse  with  them.  Of  the  bent 
of  tlieir  minds  and  passions,  their  present  wants  and 
future  hones,  their  intellectual  endowments,  and,  so  far 
as  ])ossible,  of  their  several  idiosyncrasies,  he  should 
make  careful  analysis. 

To  this  end  it  was  expedient  he  should  spend  sev- 
eral seasons  in  the  field;  and  first  of  all  in  New 
Caledonia,  then  the  Siberia  of  the  company,  and  the 
most  distant  department  of  McLoughlin's  dominion, 
tlie  north-coast  establishments  not  having  yet  been 
founded.  Therefore,  iiistead  of  taking  him  at  once 
to  1  lead -quarters  at  Astoria,  he  gave  him  in  charge 
of  James  Connolly,  a  jolly  Irishman,  who  with  his 
family  and  twenty-four  men  crossed  the  mountains 
from  York  Factory  in  the  autunm  of  1824,  with 
supplies  for  New  Caledonia.  Mr  Connolly  succeeded 
John  Stuart  in  these  parts. 

Tlie  young  Scot  was  by  no  means  averse  to  this 
arrangement;  for  while  studying  life  under  new  con- 
ditions, he  might  study  love,  which  was  likewise  new 
to  liiin,  and  exceodingly  comforting.  James  Con- 
nolly had  a  daughter,  a  blushing  half-breed  beauty, 
then  some  fifteen  voars  of  a<je.^  How  should  a  Ixdd, 
higli-spirited,  hamlsome  young  man  but  find  favor  in 
luT  tyes;  how  should  a  warm-liearted,  lovely,  and 
modest  maiden  but  find  favor  in  his?  Her  presence 
wcotened  toil;  his  presence  made  smooth  to  her  the 
ruj,'i4<'dest  mountain-trail.      How  many  thousands  of 

'Tlicac,  partioulura  I  get  from  Mr  Tod,  AVw  Caledoiiin,  MS,,  passim,  wlio, 
if  ins  iiu'fnoiy  |irovea  not  treacherous — for  lie  w;is  v<tv  oM  wlien  he  gave  me 
liis  ilictation — may  be  counted  correct,  for  lie  was  there  at  the  time,  and  re- 
I'ltril  only  what  came  under  hia  own  observation. 


•H' 


:'  :.^'i'^' 


i  : 


11. 


■I 


288 


JAMES  DOUGLAS 


volumes  of  unwritten  romance  are  there  in  tlie  early 
doings  upon  this  western  slope;  tales  of  lovo  us  deep 
and  true  as  ever  mailed  knight  carried  beneath  his 
armor,  true  tales  of  daring  venture,  with  mingkd 
failure  and  success,  more  thrilling,  more  -  .)ble,  moru 
difficult  and  self-sacrificing,  than  any  fiction  cudgelkd 
from  prolific  brain.'* 

John  Tod  was  then  at  McLood  Lake,  liavins; 
crossed  t!io  mountains  in  1823,  and  was  in  charge  of 
McLeod  Fort  for  a  period  of  nine  years.  Connolly 
and  Douglas  went  first  to  Fort  St  James  on  Stuait 
Lake,  and  the  following  year  the  latter  v/aT.  \-/'^  >u\ 
a  time  in  charge  of  the  post.  It  was  her',  iiim 
this  time,  that  Douglas  played  his  first  bloody  u'»A'e'!y 
in  which  tlie  victim  was  the  nmrderer  of  certain  of 
Yale's  men,  young  Connolly  and  Douglas  the  execu- 
tioners, the  latter  finishing  the  performance  by  lu'- 
coming  i)risoner — all  of  which  I  liave  fully  given  in  a 
pre^-ious  volume.'^  The  courage  and  coolness  displayed 
ia  this  encounter  with  the  savages  brouglit  the  youp.g 
man  fame  and  favor,  not  oidy  among  his  associates, 
but  among  the  natives  themselves. 

Connolly  as  well  as  Douglas  had  much  to  learn 
about  the  natives:  first  of  all,  that  there  was  as  nuuh 
difference  in  their  individual  and  tribal  cliaract(>r  as 
is  foui;d  among  the  civilized  nations  of  Europe ;  and 
next,  that  environment  affected  man  here  as  well  as 
elsewhere.  There  was  a  vast  diiference  bcttveiu 
mountaineers  and  the  dwellers  upon  the  sea-shon', 
between  hunters  and  diggers,  boatmen  and  ho"rsev,i(>n, 
fish-eaters  and  beast-eaters.  It  happened  on  one 
occasion,  as  Connolly  was  descending  the  Coluniliia 
with  eight  bateaux,  the  proud  and  cliivalrous  X<'X 
Perces  gave  him  a  lesson.  On  rc^aching  the  Dalles, 
his  boats  being  lightly  manned,  he  engaged  the  lui- 

*To(l,  Nor  Cnlnloniii,  MS.,  28-:)2,  gives  a  graphic  pk'turc  of  what  ho  cal! 
Robinson  Crusoe  life  ill  this  region  at  tlic  time.     'J"he  skiu.s  of  elii  or  otl' 


animals  served  as  elotllt^'^,  and  tiieir  meat  for  food; 


if  oUi 


;r  .souri 


tiiey  did  not  hesit.'vtu  to  sacrifice  the  (hig.s  that  drew  their  winter  sledges. 
'See  Jli.st.ori/  Nortfiirc'^l  i'oant. 


AMONG  THE  NEZ  PERCES. 


280 


tivos,  for  so  much  tobacco,  to  assist  him  at  the  port- 
a«4X'.  Their  work  being  well  and  promptly  done,  they 
hastily  came  fbrwaid  in  a  body  for  their  pay — so 
hastily  and  in  such  numbers,  in  fact,  that  Connolly 
was  frightened,  and  dropping  the  promised  tobacco 
oil  the  rocks,  beat  a  rapid  retreat  to  his  boats.  The 
savayes  paused,  and  cast  toward  the  flying  trader  a 
look  of  ineliable  disdain. 

"Are  white  men  thieves  and  murderers  that  thoy 
think  all  others  so  r'  exclaimed  the  chief,  swelling  in 
diyiiity  and  stature  as  he  spoke.  "Go!  we  scorn 
you,  and  will  not  touch  your  trash  I" 

Saying  which,  the  Nez  Perces  turned  loftily  away, 
k'aving  the  tobacco  on  the  rocks.  Upon  seeing  this, 
certain  Palouses,  fisliing  in  the  river  near  by,  did  not 
wruple  with  hot  haste  to  sweep  the  stones  of  the 
pncious  weed  to  the  last  shred. 

Under  such  develojiing  environment  the  course  of 
tnit'  love  ran  rapidly  and  smoothly.  There  were  no 
taitlous  influences  at  work  in  form  of  oppugnant  father, 
sul)tly  scheming  mother,  rival  lover,  or  lieavy  villain, 
s(t  essential  to  tlie  orthodox  love-story.  James  Doug- 
las was  glad  to  win  the  love  of  Xelia  Connolly,  and 
sl'.c  was  equally  glad  to  give  it  him.  When  he  asked 
hi]  to  be  his  wife,  she  had  not  the  remotest  idea  t)f 
u  iliiiing,  nor  had  her  father.  So  they  were  counted 
uiai.  and  wife,  and  began  the  half-century  of  serene 
'lai'jiii'ess  which  followed  in  the  rugged  region  of 
\t  \'  <''aledonia.  When  Beaver,  freshly  bleached  by 
f^t  J*eter's  successor,  arrived  at  Fort  Vancouver  with 
adiuich-bound  wife,  the  aboriginal  marriage  ceremony 
was  denounced  as  devilish,  and  beside  this  innnaeu- 
latc  pair  all  wives  there  were  oidy  concubines,  aiid 
th(  ir  jirogeny  bastards,  with  whom  it  were  disgraceful 
to  associate.  And  so  for  the  sake  of  peace,  l3ouglas, 
aiiKMig  others,  was  remarried  by  Beaver  in  1837  or 
I8:i,s« 


' ilnlicrts,  Rcrollir/innK.  MS.,  ,57,   says  1839;  but  in  this  iiistanco  he  does 
iii't  irinllcct  corriH'tly. 

Hist.  Hkit.  Col.    19 


i   -Jf 


<.     41 


1 
I 

! 

f 

t.             i 

t 

\ 

- 

f 

,     ... 

f 

1'. 

1- 

V,' 

Jl 

'  ■■■  • 


ago 


JAMES  DOUGLAS. 


Near  the  western  limit  of  New  Caledonia  in  1826, 
Douglas  built  a  post  which  he  called,  in  honor  of  his 
wife's  father,  Fort  Connolly,  on  Bear  Lake,  some- 
times 'tailed  Lake  Connolly  at  the  head  of  a  branch 
of  Skeena  River. 

After  several  years  of  this  kind  of  service,  many 
incidents  of  which  I  have  detailed  elsewhere,  and  in 
which  persistent  fidelity  to  business  and  temperate 
conduct  toward  the  natives  were  ever  manifest, 
"•Douglas  was  called  to  Fort  Vancouver,  where  he 
roceeded  with  his  family  in  1828,  there  to  render 
nis  friend  and  patron  the  more  immediate  assistance 
which  the  increasing  requirements  of  the  service 
seemed  to  demand.  There  he  rose  rapidly,  and  soon 
stood  second  only  to  his  chief  in  all  the  Northwest 
Coast,  if  not  at  once  in  name,  yet  in  power  and  im- 
portance almost  immediately. 

There  was  an  abundance  of  time  and  opportunity, 
however,  to  become  proficient  in  all  the  minutest  de- 
tails of  the  service,  and  this  not  in  theory  alone  but 
in  practice.  He  revised  and  greatly  improved  the 
system  of  accounts  which  required  all  the  posts  of 
the  Pacific  to  make  annual  returns  to  Fort  Vancouver. 
Several  times  he  took  charge  of  the  York  Factory 
express,  which  duty  was  by  no  means  unaccompanied 
with  difficulties  and  dangers.^ 

In  1830  he  was  made  chief  trader,  and  two  years 
after,  chief  factor.^  Much  of  his  time  was  now  era- 
ployed  in  selecting  sites  and  superintending  the  es- 
tablishing of  posts.    Annual  visits  of  inspection  were 

"Sir  James  used  to  be  one  of  the  clerks  who  went  across  with  letters.  ^Ir 
Anderson  went  once;  Dr  Tolmie  went  once,  but  he  went  to  England  to  visit 
his  country.  They  used  to  have  a  little  difficulty  with  the  Indians,  but  not 
much.'  Harvey's  L\fe  of  MeLowjhlin,  MS.,  4. 

*  I  take  this  date  from  McKinlay,  Narrntive,  MS.,  8,  and  Finlayson,  IM. 
V.  I.,  MS.,  30,  who  agree.  Anderson,  NorthiOfxt  Coaxt,  MS.,  25,  says  that 
it  was  in  1835  he  was  made  chief  trader.  But  the  time  is  not  at  all  essential, 
Toimie,  Ptifjct  Sound,  MS.,  2,  saw  him  in  1833,  when  'he  was  second  in  com- 
mand at  Fort  Vancouver,  where  he  acted  as  accountant.'  He  was  now  fast 
becoming  famous  for  his  geographic.Tl  and  practical  knowledge.  In  Rflkl 
U.  S.  to  II.  li.  aM.  Treaty  of  WanhiiKjton ,  21,  he  is  pronounced  'one  of  tlie  most 
enterprising  and  inquisitive  of  men,  famous  for  his  intimate  acquaintancu  with 
every  crevice  ou  the  coast;'  a  high  compliment  from  such  a  Bource. 


A  NOBLE  DEED. 


291 


nuulc  to  the  several  stations,  both  of  the  interior  and 
of  the  seaboard.  In  the  summer  of  1840  he  was  up 
the  coast  on  important  business;  in  the  winter  of 
1841  2  he  visited  Cahfornia,  a  full  and  interesting 
accdunt  of  which  is  given  in  his  journal. 

Tliere  is  something  sublime  in  that  quality  inherent 
in  noble  natures  which  cannot  overlook  a  duty,  even 
though  its  performance  leads  toward  death. 

In  fording  the  Nisqually  River,  while  en  route 
northward  m  April  1840  to  take  possession  of  the 
territory  leased  from  the  Russians,  and  to  build  Fort 
Tako,  Lassertes,  leading  man  of  the  party  under 
Douglas,  was  swept  away  and  carried  some  distance 
down  the  river.  Just  before  reaching  a  drift  of  logs 
and  debris,  under  and  through  which  the  furious 
water  was  surging,  threatening  instant  destruction  to 
any  on  whom  it  might  once  lay  its  grasp,  he  caught 
the  end  of  a  fallen  tree  and  held  to  it  as  his  only  hope 
ofhfc. 

Even  to  those  accustomed  to  daily  dangers,  and  to 
prompt  unflinching  action  whenever  a  comrade  needed 
help,  the  position  of  Lassertes  was  so  perilous,  the 
destruction  of  whomsoever  should  attempt  his  rescue 
so  ])robable,  that  the  bravest  of  these  brave  men 
drew  back  appalled.  The  air  and  water  were  icy 
cold,  so  that  the  limbs  would  be  quickly  benumbed, 
tending  to  render  efl()rt  powerless.  Fear  fell  upon 
the  (onipany  Lassertes  was  growing  every  moment 
weakeT ;  he  was  apparently  a  doomed  man.  **  The 
contagion  weighed  upon  my  own  mind,"  says  Doug- 
las, "  and  I  confess  with  shame  tliat  I  felt  not  that 
cheerful  alacrity  in  rushing  to  the  rescue  as  at  other 
times." 

Douglas  soon  saw  that  if  he  did  not  make  the  at- 
tempt no  one  would.  It  were  easy  enough  to  hold 
baek,  to  dally,  to  seek  for  means  less  venturesome  than 
such  extreme  personal  peril,  that  man's  life  was  not 
Worth  half  as  much  as  his  own;  no  blame  could  by 
any  })ossibiiity  ever  be  attached  to  him;  let  him  go. 


( \n 


\'i\ 


1 


n 


,(i'' 


292  JAMES  DOUGLAS. 

Ho  could  not  do  it.  His  nature  was  not  made  of 
such  stuff.  "Even  then,"  he  writes  in  his  journal,  '[ 
could  not  allow  a  fellow-creature  to  perish  without  an 
effcjrt  to  save  him,  while  the  inactivity  of  all  prcsint 
was  an  additional  incentive  to  retlouble  my  own  cxi  r- 
tions.  With  a  sensation  of  dread,  and  almost  lidpi'- 
less  of  success,  I  pushed  my  horse  hy  spur  and  wliip 
nearly  across  the  river,  sprung  into  the  water,  and 
rushed  towards  the  spot  where  the  nearly  exliaustcd 
sufferer  was  clinging,  with  his  head  above  water,  to 
the  end  of  a  tree  that  had  fallen  into  the  river.  V\H)n 
its  trunk  I  dragged  myself  out  on  all  fours;  and  gi(  at 
was  our  mutual  joy  when  I  seized  him  firmly  hy  the 
collar,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  canoe  that  arrived  soon 
after,  landed  him  safely  on  the  bank,  where  a  bla/iii'4 
fire  soon  restored  warmth  to  both.  And  to  my  latent 
breath  may  I  cherish  the  remembrance  of  Lasscrtc  .s' 
providential  rescue  from  a  watery  grave,  as  I  cduM 
never  otherwise  have  enjoyed  tranquillity  of  niiiid.'"' 
Which  sentiment,  supplementhig  such  an  action,  to 
me  is  frajjrant  with  the  highest  nobleness  of  soul. 

During  the  early  part  of  his  career  he  was  rigid  in 
his  obedience  to  the  orders  of  his  superiors,  and  in 
manifestations  of  respect  toward  them;  and  in  laUr 
years  wlien  he  began  to  rule,  he  demanded  the  same 
respect  and  obedience  from  others.^ 


10 


^ Doui/his'  Journal,  MS.,  4,  5. 

'-•As  well  to  atl'oril  the  plainest  insight  into  the  character  of  tliis  rt'inaika- 
Me  man  as  to  clear  myself  from  any  possible  charge  of  captious  critiri-  i  in 
regard  to  him,  I  give  tlie  following  extract  from  the  bookot  Matthew  .M;iLiii', 
a  personal  ac(piaiutance  antl  countryman  of  Douglas: 

'  There  is  a  resident  in  the  country  who,  in  consideration  of  his  jiast  otliiial 
relation  to  it  as  first  governor  of  British  Columbia,  deserves  passing  luitici!  in 
this  place.  I  refer  to  Sir  James  Douglas.  This  gentleman  is  coniplcti  ly  un- 
known in  England,  exe-pt  at  the  colonial  otiice  and  to  a  few  directors  nl  tlif 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  But  Ijcing  a  local  celeljrity,  the  reader  may  iint  cili- 
je(;t  to  bo  introduced  to  so  interesting  a  character.  In  stature  lie  exicnNsix 
feet.  His  countenance,  by  its  weather-beaten  appearance,  still  tells  oi  many 
years  spent  in  fur-trapping  adventure  in  the  wilds  of  tlie  interior.  liiUn- 
duced  at  the  age  of  fifteen  or  sixteen  from  the  West  Indies,  the  npiitcil  iilai'O 
of  hi-i  l)irth,  into  the  service  of  the  company,  and  deprived,  during  llic  ijrciti'i' 
part  of  his  life,  of  the  advantages  of  society,  except  that  of  Indians,  linb  Imi  rd'', 
and  persons  like  himself  occupying  huniblo  situations  in  the  em;il<>v  nf  tlf 
compa.iy,  every  praise  is  due  to  him  for  not  being  iiidifi'ereiit  to  meiil.d  cul- 


r.oth  b( 
choosing  a 
thi'  hoard  ( 
u;il!y  to  re 
tmy  to  hi 
Ix'fove  th( 
[lany's  ,ser 
f-i^'ncd  by 
thr  latter 
WW  troul 

tiiri'  in  tliose  i 
]ii."Cil.  Tiio  s 
M-iiiu.s,  and  Ids  l 
limv  vastly  mor 
thiL'nci!  cif  his  cl 
( itjiiu  and  inti 
iKsfrilics  tlie  \v 
Miin  r-igiiifying 
Till'  apiilicatioi: 
]iri'tiiitio\is  dej 
;iu:.'n.it,  were  h 
LiiviTiu'd,  nuni 
i;.i,'laM(l.  Wh 
lii'iisi",  his  Quix 
priiniptrd  him 
liis  ilfspatches. 
1.1. Ill,  the  lilaiK 
all  these  stitf  ■' 
Ji  ateil  by  him, 
an!  a  perfect  I 
]''.vssiiin  tliat  ti 
ii:.'  wliiile  beari 
My  Imw  aninsii 
tur-tia[iper. 

'His  attitu( 
lire  and  distan 
■■^rrvfil  lii'tweei 
li  ivr  lirard  la] 
li-ii  i;iiitlfman 
tliat  the  niaclii 
m.iiiiU,  witli  he 
lit  mir,.  bitrayt 
i:i  tin-  sirect  w: 
"1  Ills  rxlravag 
wlatlur  takinj 
|'i''ii'ily,  duly  a 
^  ulniia,  (.lie  te 
«as  ii'i-i  >istible 
''.■'.••■Inp,  ,|  f,.,)MI 
tilt:  luibaiis  ai' 
a;iy  suiipliant 
wlii'li,  ,it  the  ( 
hv»nh  plaimi 
v>J.<tiM\liau,st 


JOJXT  MANAGEMENT. 


203 


Doth  before  and  after  1843,  Dousjlas  was  active  in 
cliodsiiii'  a  site  and  establisliinjj  Fort  Victoria.  When 
tlic  hoard  of  niana<jfenu'nt  was  organized  in  order  grad- 
ually to  reheve  John  McLoughlin  of  his  rule  prepara- 
tmy  to  his  final  discharge,  Uouglas  was  a  meniher. 
Befovo  the  retirement  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
jiany's  service  of  ]\[cLoughlin  in  1845,  papers  were 
^iLiiit'd  by  himself  and  Douglas  jointly,  showing  tliat 
tin'  latter  was  si'raduallv  coniiiMr  to  the  front.  These 
\\\iv  troublous  times  for  IMcLoughlin,  and  they  were 

tiiro  in  those  mountain  solituilos  in  wliicli  the  flower  of  hia  manhood  wiis 
]ri"f.l.  The  stEitoliness  of  I'.i.s  person,  of  wliioh  lie  always  seems  proudly  con- 
Mioii.s,  ;iud  his  natural  foree  of  character,  suggest  the  reflection  to  au  ohserver, 
linw  vastly  more  agrecahle  woidd  liave  lieen  his  address,  and  powerfiil  the  iii- 
ihiuiicu  (if  ids  ciiaraetcr  and  at)ilities,  had  he  enjoyed  in  early  life  a  liberal  edu- 
(itiiiii  luiil  intercourse  witli  persons  of  retinemeut  and  culture.  De  Quinuey 
ilisoriljcs  the  well-known  ]>r  I'arr  as  the  Birnuugliam  Dr  Johnson,  an  expres- 
Moii  signifying  that  the  former  was  hut  an  electro-plated  imitation  of  the  latter. 
Tiic  application  of  this  remark  may  be  left  to  the  reader  iu  reference  to  tho 
jiritintious  deportmoit  of  Sir  James.  His  efforts  to  appear  grand,  and  even 
ii'.iL'ust,  were  ludicrously  out  of  proportion  to  the  iiisiguificant  population  he 
pivi  Tiu'd,  nund)ering  less  than  the  inhabitants  of  many  a  country  town  in 
i;  i.'land.  When  he  spoke  to  any  one  within  the  precincts  of  the  government 
li'iiisc,  his  Quixotic  notions  of  his  oiKce,  which  he  evidently  thought  splendid, 
lii''iiii[itiil  him  to  make  choice  of  the  sesquipedalian  diction  ho  employed  iu 
ills  ilis]iatehes.  The  angle  of  his  head,  the  official  tone,  the  extension  of  the 
1.1. Ill,  the  bland  smile  which  never  reached  beycmd  the  corners  of  his  mouth, 
all  tlu'se  stiff  and  artificial  arrangements  were  carefully  got  up  and  daily  re- 
p  utod  iiy  him,  under  the  delusion  that  the  public  imagined  him  to  be  natural 
aal  a  perfect  lirummell  in  politeness.  Uis  manners  always  gave  one  the  im- 
jirossiiin  tliat  to  make  up  for  early  disadvantages  ho  hftd  religiously  adjusted 
li:.<  whole  bearing  to  the  standard  of  Lord  Cliestertield,  and  it  is  nee<lless  to 
MV  liu\v  amusing  was  tho  combination  of  his  lordship  and  this  dignilied  old 
fur-tiaiiper. 

'His  attitude  toward  the  officials  serving  under  his  government  was  aus- 
tiio  ami  distant.  This  he  hail  acipiired  under  the  sort  of  military  rfijiiiu'.  ob- 
M'lviil  between  the  officers  and  .sei-vants  of  the  Hudson's  ]?ay  Company.  I 
liivi'  luard  lagistrates  addressed  by  him  in  a  pompous  manner  that  no  Kng- 
li'h  m  ntlcman  would  assume  toward  his  pdrti-r.  15ut  .Sir  ■lames  solemnly  felt 
tliat  the  niaehine  of  state  could  only  be  kept  in  motion  by  his  delivering  eoni- 
iiiaail<.  with  head  erect,  and  witli  that  rotund  and  peremptory  utterance  which 
ill  "uri!  betrayed  and  excused  vul;.'arity.  He  was  rarely  visible  at  his  desk  or 
i:i  the  street  without  being  arrayed  in  semi-military  uniform;  but  the  elim:ux 
111  Ills  extravagance  was  prol)ably  capped  l)y  his  being  followed  perpetually, 
Mlictlu  r  taking  an  airing  iu  the  country  or  going  to  visit,  by  an  imp.ising 
orli'riy,  duly  armed  and  in  uniform.  In  so  small  and  practical  a  town  as 
^  iclni  i  I,  liie  tinuptatiou  of  tlie  local  wits  to  satirize  so  preposterous  a  spectacle 
Was  irresistilile.  Petty  diplomacy  was  a  passion  with  Sir  James,  doubtless 
i!>  Veil. 1 11 1 1  from  his  youth,  iu  tlie  wheedling  mode  of  transacting  business  with 
tii:  biilinis  adopted  by  the  company  in  the  interior.  Ho  never  sent  away 
'W  sn|iiiliant  for  governniental  favours  without  holding  out  some  hope, 
w!i!ili,  at  the  same  nioment,  he  in  many  eases  deterinineil  to  frustrate  A 
i.iviiiiii  plan  of  his  with  any  whom  he  thus  sought  to  keep  in  good  humor 
v^as  til  exhaust  their  patience  by  expedient  und  indefinite  postponement  of 


1 

,  i 

1  I 

r  j 

'.',' 

*         i    \ 

''■'W 

I- 


i' 


V  !\i 


liti 


294 


JAMES  DOUGLAa 


the  darkest  in  the  memory  of  Douglas;  for  It  was 
then  ho  first  deemed  it  his  duty  to  present  himself  as 
a  barrier  to  the  hberal  dealings  of  JNIcLoughlin,  tuid 
a  supporter  of  the  more  merciless  policy  of  his  com- 
pany. Wlien  McLoughlin  had  fairly  left  Fort  Van- 
couver, however,  and  Douglas  was  fully  installed 
as  his  successor,  he  returned  to  the  old  and  wise 
ways  which  had  been  characteristic  of  Nortliwtst 
Coast  management  since  1824,  which  increasi.-s  tlio 
suspicion   that    Douglas   was    not  just   then  wholly 


the  object  desired.'  If  I  might  be  allowed  a  Yankee's  random  guess  I  slidiild 
say  tliat  Mr  Macfie  himself  was  one  of  those  disappointed  ofRce-seekers  upou 
whom  Sir  James  so  unprotitably  smiled. 

After  Douglas  had  assumed  tiio  duties  of  governor  of  Vancouver  Isliiml, 
the  Americans  across  the  border  used  to  ridicule,  not  always  with  the  ll»^st  "f 
taste,  what  they  regarded  in  liini  as  unwarranted  pomposity.  I  liuiuwitli 
extract  the  following  from  the  Olymyia  Club  (.'onvcrstizione,  Mri.,  9-11!,  vliicli 
thougli  exaggerated  to  the  border  of  the  burlesque,  nevertheless  conUiiis  a 
tincture  of  truth: 

'Mr  Evans — The  old  governor  used  to  walk  the  streets  of  Victoria  jiro- 
ceded,  about  as  far  as  from  here  to  tliat  door,  by  a  big  Scotchman  witli  a 
drawn  sword.     You  have  seen  that,  haven't  you  ? 

'  Mr  Billings — Yes  [laughing]. 

'  Mr  p]vans — I  have  seen  that.  I  saw  it  the  very  first  time  I  went  to 
Victoria. 

'  Mr  Billings — It  was  Lieutenant  Bowden,  now  chief  of  police. 

'  Mr  Evans — I  went  one  time  into  Hibben  &  Carswell  s  bookstore,  iiiul 
Douglas  auil  tliis  man  came  in  after  me.     The  next  <lay,  about  the  siiiuo  time, 

I  went  to  the  photograph  saloon  on  a  little  alley  that  turns  oif  froiii  (niverii- 
ment  street,  and  tlicre  lie  went  into  the  lower  story  as  I  went  upntaii-s.  I 
nuide  some  remark  about  it,  and  a  man  told  me  that  that  was  always  tli« 
case  with  the  governor  when  lie  went  out  about  five  or  six  o'clock. 

'  Mr  Billings — That  is  what  Mason  tells  me,  Lieutenant  Bowilcn  wjw  tlio 
head  of  his  body-guard.     He  was  a  large  man,  weighing  2()l)  pounds. 

'  ^Ir  Evans — I  have  talked  with  Douglas  when  lie  was  governor  under  the 
appointment  of  Queen  Victoria,  and  governor  by  virtue  of  his  being  eliiit 
factor  in  charge  of  tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  ali'airs.  Tiie  last  time  I  was 
tiiore,  when  he  was  chief  factor  in  charge,  was  when  the  Russian  ollieeri 
taken  from  Petropavlovsk  had  a  reception  given  tlieni.  Captain  Tease,  ol  tin; 
revenue  cutter  Jeff  Davin,  had  a  reception,  and  tliese  officers  liad  a  reeeiitiou. 

'  Mr  Tarbell — After  he  was  appointed  governor  under  the  queen,  lie  liail 
a  paid  servant.  Tliis  man  Bowden  was  brought  out,  and  Sir  James  took  liim 
as  his  servant;  but  I  never  saw  him  going  with  a  broadsword. 

'  Air  Evans — He  was  a  great  big  fellow,  and  walked  live  or  six  fett  iiheail 
of  liini.  I  have  seen  it  as  many  as  four  or  live  times.  He  was  tliere  walking 
ahead,  in  uniform. 

'  Mr  Tarbell — This  man  came  out  with  Mooily,  and  was  detailed  fnnii 
that  service.  He  was  a  servant  of  Sir  James  Douglas,  after  he  was  gem  lunr, 
and  after  he  was  knighted. 

'  Mr  Evans — I  was  a  groat  admirer  of  Douglas,  and  I  thought  tliat  tbis  was 

II  good  deal  too  much  humbuggery.  So  I  made  fun  of  it  in  my  way.  It  win 
remarked  tliat  that  was  the  usual  way;  that  the  governor  never  weiil  mit 
otherwise.     My  recollection  in  regai'd  to  the  mattjr  is,  that  when  Ik;  wai 


SUPERSEDES  McLOUGHLIN. 


805 


true  to  his  most  generous  instincts,  that  he  was  not 
at  all  grieved  to  have  McLoughiin  out  of  the  way 
and  himself  in  his  place.  I  do  not  say  that  ho  acted 
a  (lishonorable  part  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  re- 
sult. Call  it  legal  or  commercial  honor,  and  I  do  not 
think  he  did  act  dishonorably;  but  on  the  other  liand, 
had  their  positions  been  reversed,  McLoughiin  ne\er 
would  have  permitted  the  London  directors  to  frown 
out  of  office  his  superior  because  of  actions  too  noble 
for  the  digestion  of  the  corporation.  Douglas  not 
only  permitted  it,  but  assisted  it,  and  then  gathered 
tho  spoils. 

With  himself  high  chief,  and  Peter  Skeen  Ogden 
second  in  command,'^  Douglas  not  only  ably  followed 
up  the  system  of  farming  and  general  business  ar- 
rangements originated  and  so  long  successfully  prac- 
tisi'd  by  McLoughiin,  but  be  became  suddenly  kind 
to  the  emigrants,  and  in  short  benevolently  committed 
all  those  crimes  of  charity  for  which  McLoughiin  had 
hoeu  dethroned 

Routes  naving  been  opened  to  tlie  interior  by  way 
of  Fraser  River  in  1848,  and  all  being  prepared  for  a 
full  transfer  of  the  head  depot  from  the  Columbia 

(111  duty  it  was;  "Make  way  for  the  governor,  please."  There  was  much 
ceioiiKiuy.  l>ouglas  liiniself  was  the  greatest  man  to  stuml  on  dignity  you 
evir  saw. 

'  Mr  Tarhull — 0,  of  course  when  you  went  into  his  office  he  wanted  you 
tn  take  your  luit  oti'  tlie  moment  you  went  into  the  door. 

'  Mr  Evans — He  had  a  man  there  witli  the  bagpipes. 

'  Mi-  15iUing8 — Tliat  was  on  the  occasion  of  a  reception. 

'  Mr  Evans — Well,  I  guess  the  old  man  always  adhered  to  that. 

'  Mr  Swan — It  was  a  national  trait;  most  Scotchmen  are  fond  of  the  bag- 
\n\wi. 

'  Mr  Evans — I  am  a  great  admirer  of  Douglas.  I  tiiiuk  he  was  a  great 
«t  itisiuHii,  and  I  think  it  was  an  unfortunate  thing  tliat  tlioy  supplanted  him 
at  tlu'  time  tlicy  did.' 

TIk^  simple  fact  of  the  matter  is,  that  Governor  Douglas  had  a  servant  who 
soiiRtiiiics  accoiiipunied  his  master,  armed,  and  he  may  \\\Hn\  occasion  have 
exiiiliitiil  his  weapon  to  open  the  way  througli  ac  A'd.  Victoria  during  tlio 
flusli  times  was  filled  witli  a  rough  element,  not  ton  much  in  love  with  rigor- 
ous rule.  Although  punctilious  to  what  Americans  might  cull  a  fault,  I  am 
vc  ry  sure  that  he  possessed  too  much  sound  sense  ever  to  have  played  the 
liutiooii,  or  to  have  made  himself  ridiculous  iu  the  eyes  of  intelligent,  fair- 
miinlrd  men. 

"  Says  Jesse  Applegato,  Vieirx  of  Oreijon  IT'iKtrtrij,  MS.,  1."};  'Visiting  Fort 
ViUKciuver  annually  for  supplies,  I  there  met  Mr  Ogdcn  iu  ISlo.  lie  was 
till  II  second  to  Mr  Douglas  iu  command. ' 


!  % 


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■■■'  t  -t 


: !  :  i 


296 


JAME8  1K)U(JLAS. 


I' 


ai''i' 


llivor  to  Vancouver  Island,  in  184D  Douglas  removed 
with  las  family  to  Victoria.''^  In  1859  lio  retired  fioiii 
tlie  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  dis- 
posed of  his  entire  interest  in  that  concern." 

We  shall  see  in  the  succeedinj^  chapters  of  tliis 
volume  liow  James  Douglas  behaved  as  governor  of 
Vancouver  Island,  and  governor  of  British  Coluiu- 
l)ia,  which  latter  ])osition  ho  held  until  1804,  wlicii 
he  made  a  visit  to  Europe,  and  how  ho  conduct 'd 
himself  in  the  many  trying  positions  in  whica  he  was 
placed  during  a  long  and  eventful  j)ul)lic  service.  In 
1859  he  was  created  C.  B.,  and  knighted  in  18C>:]. 
He  died  at  A'ictoria  the  2d  of  August  1877,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four  years. 

The  world  unites  in  according  the  highest  jiraisc  to 
Douglas  as  well  as  to  McLoughlin.  It  is  the  liisto- 
rian's  duty,  however,  to  inquire  further,  and  note  in 
the  persons  brought  before  him  the  distinguisliing 
characteristics  which  make  every  individual  to  dill'tr 
from  every  other  individual  Perha})s  we  may  rcudi 
the  inner  teuijdc  of  the  Douglas  tabernacle  tlie  more 
effectually  by  placing  liim  beside  the  man  he  most  rr- 
sembles,  and  then  marking  tlie  difierence. 

The  livtis  of  both  wei'e  essentially  material.  Pos- 
sessing high  mental  and  spiritual  capabilities,  they 
were  without  moral  companionship  or  intellectual 
food;  yet  their  intellects,  like  their  bodies,  seeiiird 
healthful,  fresh,  and  vigorous.  Their  minds  wtic 
fashioned,  to  a  great  extent,  by  the  same  early  \n'0- 
cepts  and  the  same  commercial  training.  Then  hitcr 
there  were  the  same  interests,  ambitions,  and  disci- 
plhie,  the  same  fort  life,  forest  travel,  and  j)riiiiilive 
domination,  which  for  a  score  or  two  of  years  were 

'■•' McKiiilay,  Xtirrothv,  MS.,  8,  states  in  liis  Imnglina  way  tliat  tlii"  iii^'^e 
was  made  'in  lfS47.  »ii»iii  the  rctireniunt  of  Oovenior  Hlansliaiit,  wlio  ha. I 
Ix'i'ii  apiioiiitud  fidin  England,  and  wliosc  oflico  expired  (in  accnuMt  lA  the 
tran.-ifinjnco  <if  Vancouver  Island  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  liy  the  Uiit- 
i.<li  gdvernniont. ' 

^•'  Dcjio.-^i/./Dii  of  Jnmi'8  Douijlis  on  hchat/  nf  llic  Hii.thou's  Bci/  Co.i.j'niiii, 
JI.  B.  Co.  Claiim,  4i). 


rw 


TWO  MAfJNIFlCKNT  MEN. 


297 


tlicir  constant  onviroinnont,  and  entered  largely  into 
tlic  coinpositieu  of  their  cliaraeter.  We  can  scarcely 
(iiiici^ivo  the  pt)werf'ul  inlluenee  of  the  iron  rule  of  a 
cdiiiniercial  corporation  on  the  plastic  mind  of  youth, 
which  fashionin;^  power  is  increased  tenfold  in  this 
instance  by  its  isolation  and  absolutism.  More  than 
iiituition,  tradition,  and  early  education  all  combined, 
the  iiudson's  Bay  Company  made  its  servants.  Tho 
\rvv  first  thiuLj  for  a  novice  to  do  on  enteriiii;  the 
service  was  to  creep  into  the  ever-ready  mould,  and 
the  quicker  and  more  effectually  he  fitted  himself  to 
it,  t!ie  more  useful  and  successful  he  became.'* 

Standing  a[)art,  both  of  these  men  present  a  dis- 
tiiiuuished  front;  both  arc  lavishly  praised  by  their 
(oiitcmporaries.  I  n(>ed  not  repeat  hero  what  has 
l)c,'ii  said  of  McLouu'hlin.  Burnett,  once  jjovernor  of 
Oregon,  and  one  competent  to  judge  dis[)assionately, 
pronounces  Douglas  "a  man  of  irreproacIial)le  char- 
actri',  .  .  .  of  very  superior  intelligence,  and  a  finished 
Cliristian  gentleman;"  and  further:  "In  his  position 
of  governor  of  British  Columbia,  ho  was  censured  liy 
^Fr  Jolm  Nugent  of  California,  as  I  must  think,  with- 
out sulHcient  cause.  Errors  of  judgment  Covernor 
])oU'j,las  may  have  connnitted,  as  almost  any  man 
Mould  have  done,  at  times,  in  his  trying  position;  but 
lie  must  have  radically  changed  since  I  knew  him,  if 
lie  knowingly  acted  improperly."''^    Grover  of  Oregon 

"  'I  was  sorry  to  hoar  of  Douiila.s'  tli'ath,'  says  tho  parniloiis  olil  Ort'gou 
si'it!iir,  |)anicl  Walilo,  Cfi/ii/iic.'i,  MS.,  iiassiiii.  '1  tlioiiglitii  lioajiof  liiin.  Ho 
Wis  a  mail  horn  to  comiiiaiid  men — a  martial  Icllow.  llu  never  gave  an  eva.sive 
aii-wir.  ,  .McJjoughliiiaiiil  ]Jougla.s  wi'i'o  agoml  ileal  alike.  Tlieilnot  .,  mlil 
tiaitrr  yim  a  little;  Douglaa  would  not.  1  ilo  not  know  Imt  J>oiigl  •  '  ii  JMsb 
■1^  1:1  iial.  He  trusteil  everyhody  just  tho  same  as  tho  dnetor  did,  uiiir  the 
(liHtnr  went  out.'  One  of  tlie  most  iutilligeiit  and  fair-minded  of  Oregon's 
]ii"Mii.rs,  Eirli)  Diii/a,  AIS.,  2,  ill ust  writes:  '1  n-enliict  very  di.stini'tly  tlio 
I'.i.li  ivnio  in  our  personal  iiitereoiirse  with  (ioverimr  McLiiu;;liliii,  who  was 
tliiii  lI,o  eliief  factor,  and  Sir  James  Douglas;  he  was  then  Mr  Douglas,  and 
s"''iid  ill  command  at  Vancouver.  The  latter  was  a  devoted  hidievcr  in  Vie- 
t  r  M  s  linht  to  all  .she  could  maintain,  while  the  other  rose  ahovethat.  Doug- 
li^^nudil  do  what  a  civil  gentleman  was  eomiielled  to  <lo  towanls  assisting 
t  ic  ]...,,r  emigrants,  and  nothing  more.  The  one  was  cold,  and  showed  liy  liia 
III  iinnr  that  lie  did  not  wish  the  Americans  to  come  Iktc,  while  the  other 
Was  w  inn,  hearty,  and  friendly.' 

'Hunien's  IkcolkctioM,  MS.,  i.  94-5,  273-4,  208,  301-3. 


ill'il 


,» 

;i 

•! 


(. 


A 


)H 


k 


. 


' 


298 


JAME8  DOUGLAS. 


says  lie  was  very  judicious  in  settling  difficulties  with 
the  American  miners  in  1858;  that  on  one  occasion, 
when  a  little  war  was  liable  to  be  stirred  up  in  regard 
to  rents,  licenses,  and  water  rights,  he  proci^eded  to  tlnj 
mines  in  j)crson,  and  made  public  speeches  which  in- 
duced that  rough  element  to  settle  their  afl'airs  peac  e- 
ably.'« 

Tlio  author  of  a  pamphlet  published  at  Victoria 
in  1858,  and  who  seems  to  me  somewhat  hyprr- 
critical,  remarks:  "So  far,  his  acts,  though  tardy, 
have  been  judicious  and  liberal,  considering  circum- 
stances and  tlie  many  difficulties  he  has  had  to  con- 
tend with."" 

Another  writes:  "The  long  service  of  Sir  James 
Douglas  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  his  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  various  tribes  of  natives,  and 
his  knowledge  of  the  requirements  fo  developing  the 
resources  of  this  the  most  importai  h)ny  of  En*;- 
land  in  the  Pacific,  rendered  hh..  .  that  epoch 
emhiently  qualified  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  governor  of 
our  Northwest  American  possessions.  I  have  no  oh- 
ject  in  bopraising  him  other  than  a  desire  to  reeord 
my  humble  sense  of  his  eminent  merits.  But  smh  I 
know  to  be  the  verdict  of  all  unbiassed  men  who  had 
the  advantage  of  living  under  his  wise  and  able  ad- 
ministration."^^ 

These  are  stronger  testimonials  even  than  those  of 
countrymen  and  partisans,  of  which  I  have  many. 

"  He  performed  the  duty  of  governor  of  the  two  cnl- 
onies,"  says  one,  "  with  exceeding  prudence  and  yreat 
success."  ^"    "  He  made  himself  popular  by  contributin 


to  the  general  good  feeling  existing  among  the  set- 
tlers," remarks  another.^"  He  "worked  his  way 
gradually  up  to  the  highest  rank  by  persevei'ance, 
sobriety  of  conduct,  and  earnest  application  to  busi- 


"  Gmivrs  Puhllc  Life,  MS.,  65-6. 
"  Wditilini/tonn  Frwrcr  Mines,  36. 
•*"  rooli'\i  Queen  Charlolte  hlaml,  66-7. 
^*  Am/ernoii't  NortlnrentConxl,  MS.,  62. 
'^Good's  Jiriliak  Columbia,  1. 


PERSONAL  Ari'i:AUANC'E. 


'-•09 


iiess. 


»21 


Malcolm  McLood  testifies:  "He was  an  ofK- 
err  eminent  for  his  skill,  oner*2;y,  and  daring,  and  his 
conipeeis  ranked  high  in  those  qualities,  for  tlie  ser- 
vice then  was  one  essentially  militant,  and  extremely 
l)crilous."^2 

Says  Mr  Cridge:^'^  "Governor  Douglas  treated  the 
Indians  with  the  affecticju  of  a  father.  This  coupled 
^vith  his  justice  and  Hnnness  gave  him  unbounded 
intluence  with  them.  When  they  came  from  the 
north  in  such  nmnhers  as  to  cause  serious  ap^jrehen- 
siitn,  he  achieved  by  his  personal  authority  what 
under  another  might  have  cost  blood,  and  induced 
tlicni  to  return.  At  the  time  of  the  influx  of  ^old- 
miners  in  1858,  when  some  ten  thousand  men  were 
encamped  in  Victoria,  whose  population  at  that  time 
might  be  some  three  hundred  souls,  he  conferred  n'ith 
them  as  a  father  and  a  friend;  met  and  counselled 
them  on  the  eve  of  their  various  expeditions;  and  on 
one  occasion,  when  they  were  being  misled,  caused  a 
letter  to  be  printed  and  circulated  among  them,  signetl 
]\[.  F. — miner's  friend — with  the  happiest  results." 
More  were  superfluous. 

In  personal  appearance  Douglas  was  little  less 
peculiar  than  McLoughlin.  Both  were  striking,  grand ; 
aiiywliere  in  the  world,  in  an  American  forest  or  a 
London  thoroughfare,  in  a  fur-trading  fort  or  in  a 
Iigislativo  hall,  either  would  have  attracted  notice  as 
Something  out  of  and  above  the  ordinary  man. 

Six  feet  and  more  in  height,"*  but  so  admirably 
I>r()j)()rtioned  that  one  would  not  imagine  him  so  tall 
until  one  stood  beside  him;  erect  in  liis  carriage, 
measured  in  his  movements,  but  natural  antl  graceful 
witlial,  Douglas  had  not  his  like  in  all  the  Northwest. 


( 


P    '    il 


■^^  Fifilni/mns  Hint.  V.  /.,  MS.,  30. 

■■'■^  MrDoHitld's  Peace  Biivr,  25. 

'"  (/iiir(trterinticii  of  James  DoitijUui,  MS.,  3-5. 

"' Aj)j)legate,  I'ievs,  Or.  Uixt.,  MS.,  13,  says  seven  feet  seven  inches;  but 
tliis  was  (evidently  a  lajtsux  linijii(i>..  Manj'  have  placed  his  height  at  six  feet 
six  (ir  seveu  iuches,  but  Finlayaou,  Letttts,  MS.,  places  it  at  six  feet. 


f 

1 

'■ 


f  J- 


"•t 


m 


f:    ' 


300 


JAMES  I)Oi:(;las. 


Toward  the  end  of  Ids  life  liis  lonnf  face  secMiicd  to 
grow  longer,  hh  large  features  and  high  f«)rehead  to 
assume  yet  more  massive  proportions,  and  th(^  always 
firm  and  earnest  purpose  wluch  his  eyes  and  mouth 
presented,  to  deepen  into  seriousness  akin  to  milau- 
choly. 

MeLoughlin's  was  a  very  handsome  face,  full  and 
well  proj)()rtioned,  with  excpiisite  features,  o^'es,  nose, 
and  moutli  not  too  large,  tlic  wliole  exceedingly  pleas- 
ing, fascinating,  denoting  no  great  powers  eitlier  of  in- 
tellect or  intelligence,  hut  with  paramount  integrity 
of  purpose  and  will  enough  to  enforce  it. 

It  is  an  exceedingly  delicate  task  to  press  a  cl(>s(  r 
analysis  in  this  instance;  and  yet  I  see  pa][>ablr 
differences  in  these  chiefs  so  singularly  alike. 

And  first,  and  most  salient,  their  pi'edispositioii. 
]\rcLoug]din  was  one  to  he  lovi-d;  Douglas  oiu;  to  Ik: 
res[)ected.  Throughout  his  'vliole  career,  McLouglillii 
displayed  a  hroad  benevolence,  an  artless  consideratitui 
for  his  fclli)W-man  of  whatsoever  creed,  color,  or  nation- 
ality. This  generous  temper  was  from  a  native  spiiii.j 
which  poured  forth  purest  kindness  as  the  bird  its 
song,  because  it  could  not  help  it.^^  Douglas  was  kind 
and  just;  but  his  benevolence  was  not  always  untino 
tured  by  policy,  nor  his  symj)athy  by  selfish  inteicsf. 
Fort  life  was  in  many  respects  like  that  of  a  feudal 

'•'''How  Ijoundloss  must  lin  tlie  human  kindnoas  f.f  a  refined  nature  wliicli 
tmU'rgoi^s  trial  like  the  following  without  ever  »us])eelin;;  it  to  he  a  tiiil! 
Sjieakuig  of  tlu;  wife  of  McLouglilin,  the  widow  of  McKay  who  was  lost  nil 
the  '/'iiLi/iiiii,  Mrs  Wilson,  Ori'ijoii  ,Skitr/it:i,  MS.,  H)-'21,  .says:  'Thoiii;li  liis 
wife  wa.s  a  hall-hrtu'd  of  the  Ojiliway  nation,  coarse,  hent,  fat,  and  lliiMiy.  Ii« 
treated  her  like  a  jiriiicess.  In  imhlic  and  in  ])rivate  he  was  as  loyal  to  lnT 
as  if  she  had  lieen  a  daughter  of  Queen  Victoria.  .  .He  would  sutler  no  iinii;;- 
nity  or  sli;;ht  to  her.  His  line  hamlsonie  form  licside  the  nncoi'setcd  tij;iiir  "f 
the  old  Indian  woman  prescntiHl  a  strangi'  contrast,  as  she  waddled  licsiiii;  him 
like  a  heing  of  another  s])ccics.  His  gallantry  to  her  knew  no  liound.  en 
state  oecasion.s,  straight  as  an  arrow  and  inagniticeiitly  ajiiiarelled,  he  wniiM 
stand  like  a  si  Icndid  statue,  while  this  female  ahoriginal  rolled  out  helen 
liim  in  ]ilain  c  otlics  and  no  figure  whatever.'  In  a  country  where  lc::al  uiar- 
riage  was  not  the  -ule,  he  was  tlirici'  married  to  his  wife,  if  we  may  hclievc 
/,'„)„■  r/s  /fir.,  MS.,  ti(),  once  'at  Fort  "W  illenn  I  y  a  .Mr  MeKen/ie.  and  aitei- 
ward  hy  Mr  Donylas'  in  his  caiiaeit>  of  justice  of  the  j^'eacc,  'at  Vaiicouvir, 
and  a^^ain  liy  Archhishoj)  Jilanehct.' 


COMrAR ATI VE  CHARACTERISTICS. 


301 


o(turt.  Bdtli  these  factors  Avcrc  strict  dlsci])lliiariaus,"*' 
to  wiiicli  tliey  liad  been  trained  from  youth,  and  with- 
out wliicli  tliey  could  not  have  held  their  position. 
J^rfoio  those  who  looked  up  to  them  as  su]:)erior 
hc'iiiti^s,  they  were  the  embodiment  of  a  commercial 
polity,  of  commercial  probity,  of  commercial  success; 
to  which  business  policy  the  individual  must  surrender 
himself  wholly:  body,  family,  and  life  itself.  Both 
])()s.scssed  great  powers  in  this  and  other  directions, 
but  the  authority  of  Douglas  was  of  sterni;r  stuff 
than  that  <-)f  j\[cLoughlm.  Both  were  men  of  prac- 
tical sagacity,  possessing  minds  of  penetrating  insight, 
l)ut  while  one  reached  conclusions  quickly,  as  if  by 
intuition,  the  other  was  slower,  and  pondered  well 
Ijcfore  opening  his  mouth. 

Douglas  was  the  stronger;  McLoughlin  tlie  ])urer. 
^rdjoughlin  was  weakened  by  his  good  ([ualities; 
Douglas  was  strengthened  by  his  bad  ones.  Sin 
sometimes  breeds  unha[)plness;  so  do  noble  actions. 
Vav  more  misery  has  been  engendered  in  the  breast 
of  middle-aged  respectability  by  benevolent  acts  than 
in  the  bi'cast  of  villany  by  vicious  acts.  Intcnnperate 
generosity  and  injudicious  trustfulness  drove  AIc- 
J^oughlin  into  unha[)py  old  age.  ].)ouglas  can  boast 
111.  uiduipi>y  old  age. 

J)ouglas  was  possessed  of  a  cold,  proud,  formal 
tgoism,  wholly  apart  from  the  warm  and  gi-nerous 
sympathies  of  McLoughlin.  His  sluggish  imi)ulses 
wei'e  in  the  right  direction,  but  they  nmst  all  be 
made  to  })lay  within  the  hard,  passioidess  limits  of 
ciiiiventionalisni  and  aristocratic  tradition. 

McLoughlin  was  in  temperament  (Jaelic;  he  was 

■^"'lioth  tlio  doctor  and  Poujilas,'  s.iys  Rohcrts,  nci'oUcrl/nii.^,  MS.,  (15, 
'  woio  lUsL'ipli'iariaii.s,  and  tlu'ir  >ih'itsh  v  a.-i  l.ugoly  owing  to  that.  I'vo  ol'U'ii 
nciii  anuised  to  sue  how  courtcoiin  l)oni;las  could  he  to  the  rnut'licst  [lioin'ci', 
iiii  !  v\v\\  force  nutwaril  nyndiols  of  respect  from  nic.  wlio  liad  prolialily 
s^liowii  as  niiu^li  to  no  one  hcforc.  .  Thi'  captains  often  had  to  resort  to  the 
limtnr  or  Douglas;  the  latter  was  much  the  firmer.'  I  cannot  ajxree  with 
vliat  I  liiid  written  in  ('oinjitnii'.'f  Fortit  ar.d  Fort  Lifv,  MS.,  •_',  where  .Mc- 
I.|iii_'hlin  is  mentioned  as  one  wlio.se  'name  will  go  <lown  froi;<  gentratiou  to 
K'iiHtion,  when  Sir  .James  Douglas  will  he  lost.'  Mcjjouuir.in's  name  will 
alvi.;^.j  livuj  at  the  sumu  time,  that  of  James  Douglas  W'li  never  die. 


fl 


t 

I  ,' 


'■   I 


lil 


ill 


302 


JAMES  DOUGLAS. 


Ml     Hi 


I       il 


i'^-  .■'W 


lively,  social,  hospitable.  He  could  be  diplomatic, 
but  not  deceitful;  hence  his  diplomacy  often  fell  to 
the  ground.  Douglas  was  hard,  lethargic;  more  re- 
served and  haughty,  less  charitable,  more  unbending:, 
presenting  a  moral  outline  of  stony  rigidity;  one  who 
thought  much  of  himself,  which  the  other  seemed 
never  to  do.  Their  constant  p-^pociation  made  theiii 
in  a  marked  degree  conformi,  in  character,  to  the 
improvement  of  one  of  them  at  least.  Though  con- 
forming in  the  main  to  the  rules  of  his  commercial 
order,  Mcljoughlin's  life  was  plainly  one  of  impulse 
and  instinctive  action.  He  would  do  no  wrong  be- 
cause his  company  commanded  it.  The  ideal  of  obli- 
gation was  outlined  in  his  mind  as  distinctly  as  was 
Mt  Hood  before  his  physical  vision. 

McLoughlin  loved  what  was  genial,  noble,  honest; 
Douglas  loved  what  was  imposing,  successful,  lionest. 
The  former  more  than  the  latter  was  confined  to  the 
humdrum  duties  of  a  prosaic  life,  and  yet  we  find  in 
the  factor  of  Fort  Vancouver  far  more  of  sentiment, 
of  warm,  tender,  all-enfolding  sympathy,  than  in  liis 
more  stiff  and  stolid  subordinate  and  successor. 

Douglas  venerated  the  institutions  under  which  lie 
was  born,  the  conventionalities  under  which  he  lived, 
and  thence  proceeding,  soon  learned  to  venerate  him- 
self, which  important  figure  he  never  for  a  monicnt 
lost  sight  of  Without  knowing  it,  the  comings  and 
goings  of  McLoughlin  were  directed  by  a  spirit  of 
magnanimous  disinterestedness. 

That  one  could  drop  early  instilled  traditions  and 
adopt  another  faith,  as  McLoughlin  is  reported  Id 
have  done,  shows  at  least  independence  of  thouglit, 
and,  to  some  extent,  freedom  from  sectarian  bondage. 
Douglas  never  changed  his  religion;  nor  could  he,  any 
more  than  the  leopard  could  change  liis  skin.  J)o- 
prive  the  one  of  his  church  ceremonies,  and  his  reli- 
gion was  gone ;  whereas  the  practical  piety  of  the  otlur 
shone  out  from  the  depths  of  the  wilderness  throu;ili 
every  act,  and  a  thousand   miles  away  from  ritual. 


sons,  ben 


JOHN  McLOUdHLIN.  303 

hocili,  or  priest.  The  loyalty  of  Douglas  was  to  the 
full  letter  and  spirit  of  the  law ;  McLoughlin  lived  in 
tl.v  loyalty  of  his  divine  manhood,  and  though  obedi- 
ent to  the  law,  was  yet  above  it. 

The  truth  is,  if  I  must  confess  it,  McLoughlin's 
piety,  like  Tolmie's  temperance,  was  a  garment  for 
occasions,  and  not  to  be  worn  if  it  interfered  with 
more  practical  matters. 

For  example,  while  prayers  were  being  solemnly 
read  on  Sunday  in  the  great  hall  of  Fort  Vancouver, 
business  was  sometimes  going  on  as  briskly  as  ever. 
An  expedition  was  perliaps  on  the  ta2)is,  when,  in  the 
open  space  without,  saddle-horses  were  being  lassoed 
from  a  band  of  two  or  three  hundred  squealing,  gal- 
loping animals,  the  thundering  of  whose  hoofs,  no 
doubt,  added  solemnity  to  the  responses.  So  Tolniic, 
thougli  professing  strictly  total  abstinence  before  his 
sons,  being  a  physician,  took  the  liberty  of  prescribing 
for  himself  liberal  potations  when  in  other  company. 
And  yet  ^McLoughlin  was  pious,  and  Tolmie  temperate. 
Douglas  was  of  the  strictest  sect  a  pharisee,  abound- 
ing in  meaningless  forms  more  hollow  than  he  him- 
self imagined  forms  could  be.  Forms  to  him  were 
indeed  not  forms,  but  actualities;  shadows  were  more 
substantial  things  than  the  unseen  substance  that  cast 
the  shadow. 

McLoughlin  was  of  quick  perceptions.  Glancing 
over  the  accounts  of  an  adventure,  he  could  tell  you 
the  profit  or  loss  and  the  cause  of  either  before 
another  had  fairly  begun  his  calculations.  Douglas, 
on  the  other  hand,  was  slow,  methodical,  exceedingly 
fiireful,  and  he  never  would  be  hurried.  His  work 
wouhl  be  done,  and  to  have  it  well  and  properly  done 
lie  was  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice  of  persf)nal  com- 
foits  or  pleasure,  but  he  must  have  time.  He  pon- 
dered a  matter  long,  but  once  resolved,  he  smote  with 
vigor  and  effect. 

l><)th  were  men  of  dignity  and  lofty  bearing;  but 
the  awe  McLoughlin  sought  to  inspire  was  for  the 


V 

,    ."iirii 

^  i 

i 

^^^^^Hh 

t 

:.i 

Mm 


304 


JAMES  DOUGLAS. 


great  cor})oratlon  represented  in  liim,  \v.  ile  the  pom- 
posity of  JJouglas  sprang'  ratlier  from  pers  ual  piidf. 
McLouglilin  was  not  only  tlie  Avealth,  the  )^  "operty, 
and  profit  of  the  pUiee,  but  he  was  tlie  law,  tho  mor- 
ality, and  the  religion  of  a  vast  area  occupied  ly 
every  sliade  of  savagism  and  civilization,  which,  witli- 
out  pr()[)er  and  enforced  exam])le,  nnist  quickly  w- 
solve  inti)  cha(;s.  D«)Uglas  worshipped  his  God  and 
his  king,  and  endeavored  to  do  his  duty;  but  3'et  lie 
always  reserved  a  full  share  of  adulation  for  himscH'. 

In  bent  of  mind,  in  carriage,  conduct,  und  the  niau- 
agenient  of  affairs,  Douglas  copied  closely  from  lis 
master,  McLoughlin;  so  closely,  indeed,  so  honestly 
and  faithfully,  that  the  imitation  almost  e(|ualled  tlio 
original.  Although  they  differed  in  many  respects; 
although  n^ouglas  was  cold  and  calculating,  even 
as  McLoughlin  was  warm-hearted  and  benevidciit; 
although  the  virtues  of  Douglas  were  manufactured, 
while  those  of  McLoughlin  were  spontaiH!ous;  al- 
though Douglas  was  civilization's  courtier,  while  ^Mi- 
Loughlin  was  nature's  nobleman — yet  they  were  nuicli 
alike;  so  alike,  in  fact,  that  there  could  have  been  i;o 
fitter  successor  to  McLouixhlin  than  Douiilas.  Intth 
were  able,  honest  men,  both  obi-dient  to  the  call  of 
the  higher  powers;  yet  while  the  highest  power  tliat 
Douglas  recognized  in  the  aft'airs  of  business  was  the 
voice  of  his  su[)erior,  McLoughlin  used  to  listen  to 
the  voice  of  humanity,  and  recognize  something  noMn' 
in  this  universe  than  obedience",  evi-n  though  the  edicts 
were  thundered  by  the  mighty  men  of  Fenchurch 
street. 

After  some  forty  years  of  service,  the  only  reproach 
]\[cLoughlin's  directors  could  cast  upon  him  was  tliat 
of  too  much  kindness  to  settlers.  The  company 
wanted  no  interlopers;  neither  did  McLoughlin  want 
them,  and  he  used  every  efl'ort  to  discourage  thcii' 
coming.  But  once  there,  liis  humanity  would  not  Kt 
them  die  of  cold  and  hunger. 

See  the    poor   emigrants  as  they  come   straggling 


down  tin 

tioii !     Tl 

busy  wor 

wiitlema 

ragged. 

the  game 

tory.     Tl 

better  lia 

fort,  sow 

iiiLjh'  unp 

sutl'('rin>' 

McLouj;]] 

in,  brings 

and  comf 

liis  heiiigi 

of  support 

turc.      Bu 

the  soil  d 

lie  credits 

tors  comj) 

Perish  fac 

helpless  1 

diau  Scotc 

cuiiation 

Now,  D 
of  the  fon 
an  exceed i 
to  the  mi 
Was  scrup 
mnld  nial^ 
no  cai'thly 
conijiaiiv. 

"^My'fid 
"Tovvard 
know  wha 
was  again,'- 
was  wry  a 


i,  .•■.-,.. 


;l  , 


POLICY,  POLICY,  POLICY. 


305 


clown  tlie  river,  staggerint^  under  fatigue  and  starv^a- 
tidiil  They  are  not  pleasing  specimens  of  the  outside 
busy  world,  they  are  neither  educated,  intelligent,  nor 
gentlemanly ;  they  are  coarse,  uncouth,  dirty,  haggard, 
raijged.  They  arc  ground-tillers,  who  frigiiten  away 
the  game;  they  are  aliens,  who  would  usurp  the  terri- 
tory. They  arc  improvident,  foolish,  and  had  much 
better  have  remained  at  home.  They  bring  discom- 
fort, sow  discord  amonyf  the  natives,  and  are  exceed- 
in<j;ly  unprofitable  every  way.  But  they  are  men; 
sutl'criug,  sorrowing  men.  And  this  is  enough  for 
Mt'Loui^hlin.  He  sends  out  bateaux,  feathers  them 
in,  brings  them  within  the  palisades,  feeds,  clothes, 
and  comforts  them.  Warmed  into  manhood  under 
liis  benignant  sympathy,  tluy  yet  lack  every  means 
of  Hup[)ort — seed,  supplies,  and  implements  of  agricul- 
ture. But  McLoughlin's  company  does  not  desire 
the  soil  disturbed;  neither  does  McLoughlin.  Yet 
he  rredits  them,  these  strangers;  and  when  his  direc- 
tors complain,  he  tells  them  to  charge  it  all  to  him. 
Perish  factorshi})s  and  fur  corporations,  he  cannot  see 
helpless  human  beings  starve.  I  tell  you  this  Cana- 
dian Scotchman  was  the  very  Christ  of  Northwest  oc- 
cupation! 

Now,  Douglas  likewise  was  humane;  to  the  children 
of  tlie  forest  he  was  as  a  father.  But  Douglas  wys 
an  exceedingly  just  man.  He  was  kind  to  the  settler, 
tti  the  miner,  to  the  poor  of  every  caste;  but  he 
was  scrupulously  alive  to  duty.  No  earthly  power 
could  make  McLoughlin  disloyal  to  his  humanity; 
no  ( ai-tldy  power  could  make  Douglas  disloyal  to  his 
coniiian}-. 

*'^Ly  f.icher  always  liked  him,"  says  Mrs  Harvey.'"'^ 
"T()v>ard  the  last  something  happened;  I  do  not 
know  what.  I  could  not  learn  what  it  was.  He 
was  against  my  father  in  something,  and  my  father 
was  Mry  angry  about  it." 

'"  I.!/<-  of  McLouijhliH,  MS.,  3 

lIlsT.  IJHIT.  Col.     20 


;) 


ifi! 

i 


r 


/ 


4 

,  \ 

"  '  \'% 

■     r  ^ 

rr  ig 


306 


JAME.S  DOUGLAS. 


We  know  what  it  was.  In  the  unpleasant  discus- 
sion between  McLoughlin  and  the  London  directors 
relative  to  assisting  emigrants,  Douglas  took  sides 
against  his  old  friend  and  benefactor,  and  so  made 
capital  with  the  company.  Douglas  himself  soon  be- 
came ashamed  of  his  conduct,  and  repented ;  and  after 
McLoughlin's  retirement,  he  pursued  the  righteous 
policy  of  his  predecessor.  But  this  was  not  until 
after  the  London  directors  had  become  ashamed  of 
their  conduct — for  there  was  really  no  profit  in  it,  it 
being  impossible  to  prevent  immigration  by  any  such 
means.  After  this  exhibition  of  his  heart  to  his  patron 
and  sut)erior,  McLoughlin  saw  in  Douglas  what  lie 
had  never  seen  before,  and  never  after  that  were  they 
the  same  to  each  other. 

In  all  this  Douglas  made  no  mistake.  The  com- 
pany  remembered  and  rewarded  him.  He  was  a 
model  man  for  the  company.  McLoughlin's  mistakes 
were  all  errors  arising  from  the  nobleness  of  his  nature. 
Some  men  are  too  coldly  calculating  ever  to  make 
mistakes.  Obstinate  and  rigid  as  he  was  in  his  liigli, 
aristocratic  policy,  Douglas  was  ever  free  from  any 
unworthiness ;  he  lacked  the  sweet  weaknesses  of  Im- 
manitv,  whence  unworthiness  is  engendered.  To  be 
a  little  faulty  is  lamentable;  but  to  be  absolutely  free 
from  fault  may  be  more  lamentable.  For  virtue, 
concrete  and  absolute,  is  unnatural,  and  to  be  un- 
natural is  crime  against  nature.  Douglas  would 
be  a  party  to  no  virtuous  disloyalty:  no,  not  for 
his  soul's  sake.  If  less  than  his  superior  in  innate 
nobleness,  he  would  be  the  greater  in  outwaril  ap- 
pointment. 

Until  selfish  interest  interfered,  Douglas  cherished 
for  McLoughlin  a  filial  afi:ection.  But  within  the 
breast  of  the  younger  man  there  did  not  dwell  suffi- 
cient kindly  feeling  or  generous  sympathy  to  permit 
a  sacrifice  of  self-advancement.  His  path  of  honor 
always  lay  in  the  direction  of  his  company's  interests. 
Doi'glas  could  satisfy  the  requirements  of  a  merciless 


Surely 
greater 
Alas!    it 
died  tha' 
savai^es : 
namied 
mighty  i 
more  tre; 
scoundre 
age  abor'i 
The  in 
of  a  class 
liitlit'rto 
men  of  t 
and  hone 
si  We;  too 
few  were 
Mercutioi 
Bay   adv 


COLD  ANDi  HARD. 


307 


corporation  better  than  McLouglilin;  for  McLough- 
lin's  duty  was  always  on  the  side  of  charity,  while 
the  charity  of  Douglas  was  made  subservient  to 
duty. 

In  guile  McLoughlin  was  an  infant;  in  everything 
covert  or  cunning  he  was  unsophisticated.  He  had 
spent  his  life,  or  at  least  the  greater  part  of  it,  among 
responsible  men,  whose  words  were  single,  whose 
assurances  signified  something.  They  were  business 
associates,  business  brethren,  strict  in  their  dealings, 
slower  to  promise  than  to  perform.  Thus  the  cold, 
keen  world  and  the  darkest  side  of  humanity  had 
remained  hidden  from  him.  He  had  not  found  it  in 
the  forest  or  in  the  camp. 

He  had  never  met  many  bad  men,  except  among 
classes  so  far  below  him  that  their  wickedness  excited 
his  sorrow  rather  than  his  anger.  The  natives  were 
thieves,  liars,  and  murderers,  some  of  them ;  yet  even 
these  it  was  the  policy  of  his  company  to  trust,  be- 
cause in  giving  them  credit  they  derived  profit. 
Surely  there  could  not  be  among  white  Christians 
greater  villany  than  among  these  scalping  heathen. 
Alas!  it  was  forced  upon  him  to  know  before  he 
died  that  there  were  worse  men  in  the  world  than 
savages;  that  there  were,  even  among  those  who 
claimed  to  be  upon  a  better  footing  with  the  Al- 
nii<(lity  than  were  some  others,  men  more  cunning, 
more  treacherous  and  vindictive,  greater  ingrates  and 
scoundrels,  more  diabolically  wicked,  tut*.,  the  aver- 
age aboriginal. 

The  incoming  settlers  to  the  Northwest  Coast  were 
of  a  class  totally  different  from  any  McLoughlin  had 
hitherto  seen.  They  were  well  beaten  and  battered 
men  of  the  world.  Many  of  them  were  conscientious 
and  honest ;  most  of  them  were  pecuniarily  irrespon- 
sible; too  many  were  unreliable  in  their  word;  some 
few  were  downright  dishonest.  Few  Hotspurs,  few 
Mereutios,  were  found  in  the  ranks  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  adventurers;    all   here   were    under   inexorable 


■    i       !i..  I, 


'II 


^sif 


)l^ 


!  = 


in  "i ' 


lit 


it  t  i\ 


I!" 


ir:-; 


iiiK  il 


Nip^^' 


1' 

J  ■  ri 

Ij'i**'- 

'''\ 

..                ■      ."? 

'■  % 

.iji:: 

-  '■  'm 

iIhS  '- 

m 

Hl^  ^ ' 

308 


JAMES  DOUGLAS. 


commercial  rule;  one  must  look  away  upon  the  moun- 
tains, among  the  camps  of  the  free-traders  for  Mer- 
cutios  and  Hotspurs. 

It  is  scarcely  to  be  wondered  at;  it  is  exactly  wliat 
we  should  expect,  when  the  single-hearted  ruler  cjf 
Fort  Vancouver,  now  well  past  middle  age,  was  hrouglit 
into  jarring  relationship  with  such  an  element  as  this, 
that  by  some  of  them  he  should  be  badly  treated, 
sadly  imposed  upon ;  that  after  the  most  disinterested 
kindness  he  should  be  cheated,  vilified;  such  being  the 
way  some  have  in  cancelling  obligations.  Douglas 
might  boast  fewer  enemies  than  McLoughlin,  because 
he  had  granted  fewer  favors. 

During  the  last  years  of  his  life,  McLoughlin  some- 
times showed  signs  of  impatience,  of  which  he  was 
afterward  heartily  ashamed.  When  much  excited,  Jio 
would  rub  his  stomach,  swear  hotly  for  a  moment,  and 
in  the  same  breath  beg  God's  forgiveness.  It  was 
laughable,  except  to  one  who  knew  the  man  and  tlic 
occasion.  Yet  with  all  his  injuries  he  did  not  become 
a  misanthropic  Timon.  In  the  singleness  and  nolilo 
purity  of  his  soul,  he  could  not  but  believe  that  umst 
men  were  honest;  he  could  not  believe  that  men  aio 
as  bad.  as  they  are,  and  he  never  regretted  luuiiig 
befriended  the  unfortunate.  To  the  end  he  was  gentle 
and  tolerant,  though  his  sensitiveness  to  ingrutitudo 
and  wrong  was  often  manifest. 

Now,  if  in  order  to  detect  some  slight  flaws  in 
tlie  grandest  and  most  faultless  character  of  J^iitisli 
Columbian  history,  it  has  been  necessary  to  view  it 
by  the  light  of  one  of  the  grandest  and  most  faultles.s 
characters  of  any  histor}',  it  only  shows  our  nioic  just 
and  lively  appreciation  of  the  man.  To  the  j)r<)per- 
minded  writer  of  history,  it  is  indeed  refreshing'  to 
find  the  central  figure  in  the  early  affairs  of  a  col ( my 
or  commonwealth  so  worthy  of  the  proud  pedestal  on 
which  it  is  his  greatest  pleasure  to  place  him.  Xeitlior 
Doutflas  nor  McLou<Jthlin  ever  did  a  base  or  iuniohlo 
ftct;  and  side  by  side,  even  as  in  life  they  were  so  olten 


>  i 


LET  BOTH  BE  PRAI8ET). 


809 


found,  their  names  shall  forever  stand  unsullied  in  the 
annals  of  tlie  great  Northwest.^ 

^"Thc  life  of  James  Douglas  is  in  truth  the  history  of  British  Columbia 
frdin  its  beginiiiug,  through  all  its  early  changes  ami  vicissitudes,  down  to 
al"iut  1875.  I  have  in  tliis  chapter  only  outlined  the  salient  characteristics 
of  this  remarkable  man,  for  a  fuller  knowledge  of  whom  .1  nnist  refer  the 
riailur  to  the  other  parts  of  this  volume,  scarcely  a  page  of  which  is  not  af- 
fiiti'il  by  his  influence.  My  authorities  for  this  chapter  are:  Douijlns'  Pr'iiiile. 
I'lijHiv,  Istser.,  MS.,  passim;  Dowjlns'  Joumnl,  MS.,  passim;  Dow/Ian'  Pri- 
ivi/c  I'dpe.rs,  2,1  ser.,  MS.,  passim;  Jltirtvi/'s  Life  of  John  McLoughlin,  MS.,  30 
ct  sii(.;  McLmit/kliiis  Privite  Pdjierg,  ser.  i.,  ii.,  iii.,  MS.,  passim;  Fiii- 
/7/.s()H'.f  J/Ut.  V.  I.,  MS.,  30-3,  67;  Anderson's  Northmst  Co<int,  MS.,  14, 
;;,'),  .V.t-OS;  Tolmiea  Piojel  Sound,  MS.,  2;  ATcKinlai/'g  Narrative,  MS., 
(1;  dimd'n  British  Cobimhia,  MS.,  1;  Graver's  Puhlic  L{f'e,  AIS.,  65,  66;  Olymjna 
diihCoM's.,  MS.,  9-13;  Pnhcrts'  Rec,  MS.,  57,  65;  BurrwU's  Jiec,  MS.,  i.  94-5, 
'J7:i-4;  McLeod's  Peace  Biver,  25;  Wilkes'  U.  S.  Ei-pl.  Ex.,  iv.  351-9;  Address 
villi  Meiiinriids  iipnn  the  Betirement  of  Sir  James  DoiK/las,  passim;  Bejdy, 
U.  S.  to  II.  B.  M.  Treaty  qf  Washington,  74;  Waddim/ton's  Frcuter  Mines,  35  6; 
;/.  n.  Co.  Er.,  n.  B.  Co.  Claims,  49;  Tod's  A'eio  Caledonia,  MS.,  4li  7; 
Ei-'iiis'  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  279;  Cridqe's  Charaeteristirs  of  James  Dowflas,  MS., 
3-.");  Wiililo's  Criti</ues,  MS.,  13-14;  27ih  Comi.  3d  Sens.,  II.  Bept.'  Com.  No. 
,?/,  i.  50,  57;  Or.  Pul).  Bee.,  MS.,  4;  Comptoris  Forts  and  Fort  Life,  MS.,  2; 
H.iivns  Mer.  Life,  MS.,  20-1;  Moss'  Pictureji,  MS.,  20;  Pettii/rnve's  Or., 
.MS.,  1-6;  Saxton's  Or.  Ter.,  MS.,  131^1;  MiiUo's  Early  Bal/s,  MS.,  2; 
]\'i:<>ii's  Or.  Sketches,  MS.,  19-21.  The  biographical  notices  given  by  the 
jmlilid  press  in  different  parts  of  the  world  upon  the  occasion  of  his  death, 
of  wliich  there  are  too  many  even  to  make  mention,  are  remarkable  not  only 
for  tiie  information  they  do  not  contain,  but  for  the  remote  distance  from 
truth  of  the  statements  given. 


I, 


K 


■', 


<  !l 

.  ,  I 


m 


^='  '■■M'^^ 


V:  r 


I;m- 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 
1851-1859. 

RKOONCrLLATION   OF  AxTAOONISTIO    ElEMBMTS — TlIK  TerMS  OF  SETTLE'Mr.Nr 

Unjust  and  iMroLiric — The  Inauguration  ok  frovERNMKNT  I'liKVA- 
TURK— No  Government  BUT  THE  Best  Govebnment — Continuanik  of 
THE  Domination  of  the  Monopoly — The  Puoet  Sound  Company- 
Provisions  OF  THE  CnowN  Grant  in  Reoarp  to  Government — Kxri 
ration  of  the  First  Five-year  Term  and  Renewal  —The  OFFrcKs  of 
Governor  and  Maoistrate  at  First  Unitkd — Illegality  ok  Delki^at 
iNo  Imperial  Authority  to  a  Colonial  Governor  in  Coi;ni  ii.— 
Organization  of  a  House  of  Assembly— I' arcioal  Performani  ks  of 
THE  First  Legislators — The  Wild  Beasts  and  Savages  Sikvivk  i iik 
Result-  Touching  Display  ok  Family  Aft-ecfion  in  the  Manui  i.a- 
•noN  OK  Government  Affairs — Douglas  Compelled  to  RKLi.vyi  isii 
Some  Portion  of  his  Honors  and  Emoluments. 

With  the  inaui^uration  of  James  Douglas  as  rolo 
iiial  governor,  two  of  the  oppugnant  elements  wliich 
(luring  the  past  two  years  had  ruttted  the  usual  serenity 
of  tlie  Island  were  harmonized.  The  manageiiuMit 
of  Hudson's  Bay  Company  affairs  and  the  rulersliip  cf 
the  colonial  government  being  vested  in  one  prison, 
factor-in-ehief  of  the  commercial  monopoly  and  ri  |i- 
resentatlve  of  the  queen's  authority,  it  only  reiuaim  d 
for  him  to  reconcile  to  himself  differences  bctwtiii 
the  company  and  the  crown  according  to  polic}'  or 
conscience.  The  third  element,  the  colonizers,  was, 
fortunately  for  the  peace  of  the  Island,  insignitic  ant 
at  the  first,  and  was  now  since  the  inauguration  of  tlio 
new  governor  rapidly  diminishing.  If  there  was  too 
little  governing  south  of  the  49th  parallel,  nortli  of 
that  line  there  was  now  altogether  too  much.     I  pou 

(310) 


TOO  MUCH  GOVERNMENT. 


811 


tho  devoted  head  of  tlie  poor  S(  ttler,  surrounded  by 
jtaldus  savages  and  under  the  most  arbitrary  and 
insane  restrictions  tliat  ev(>r  emanated  from  a  free 
jroN  crnment  favoring  free  colonization,  rested  the  incubi 
(f  monarchy  and  monopoly.  N(^'t  alone  must  the 
pound  per  acre  for  wild,  and  thus  far  worthless,  land, 
stolen  from  the  savages,  be  paid  the  imperial  govcrn- 
iiu;nt,  but  to  the  representative  of  the  government  as 
the  representative  of  a  crushing  monopoly  must  the 
settler  go  for  every  necessity,  every  article  of  comfort 
or  form  of  requirement,  paying  therefor  often  two  or 
three  hundred  per  cent  on  London  cost;  to  tliis  same 
hydra-head  he  must  carry  his  produce,  and  receive  ft)r 
it  Avhatever  the  comi)any  might  please  to  pay.  Who 
among  nineteenth-century  Englishnuai  would  leave  his 
happy  English  home  with  all  its  hallowed  memories, 
and  take  up  his  residence  in  this  far-away  north-west 
wilderness  only  to  breathe  so  stifling  an  atmosphere 
astliis?  Nobody.  And  so  Douglas  traded  skins  and 
rr.lod,  though  he  presently  had  few  subjects  except 
his  own  hired  servants. 

He  had  now,  I  say,  only  to  reconcile  to  his  policy 
or  conscience  any  infelicities  arising  between  imperial 
and  commercial  interests,  but  I  do  not  say  that  Doug- 
Ins  was  disposed  to  deal  unfairly  in  regard  to  either 
trust.  He  was  wise  enough  to  see  that  self-interest 
lay  in  equitable  adjustments.  He  was  wise  enough 
to  s(  0  that  henceforth  throughout  this  domain  com- 
moixial  power  must  diminish  and  imperial  power 
advance.  The  combhied  sovereignty  was  not  beyond 
his  capabilities,  yet  both  were  not  essential  to  his 
permanent  advancement.  He  could  live  upon  the 
onioluments  of  his  chief  factorship,  or  upon  his  salary 
as  governor.  At  present  the  two  cond>ined  were  bet- 
ter tlian  either  singly;  he  would  be  true,  so  far  as  in 
him  lay,  to  the  interests  of  both;  but  ready  at  any 
time  to  relinquish  either.  When  relinquishment  be- 
came irresistible,  he  would  let  go  the  lesser  and  hold  to 
the  gr-eater ;  which  would  be  permanently  the  greater, 


T 

' ! 

r 

■    i  1 

'  1 

1 

,      If- 

w 

i 

Jr. 

ill 


:-i4-U' 


m 

i 


1  ■ 


« 


312 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOU(iJ,AS. 


and  whicli  tlie  loss,  his  diKcriminatlnj*'  jiulgJiicnt  iiiid 
clour  forosigl't  luiJ  already  told  him. 

Between  1851  and  1850,  in  the  absence  of  settlers, 
the  duties  of  imperial  rule  were  light.  The  nionojt- 
oly,  having  everything  its  own  way,  managed  nuitters, 
in  tlio  main,  to  suit  its  own  interests.  Wiuitever  Wiis 
to  1)0  done  for  England  on  these  shores,  that  l-)ouiL;las 
did  well  and  faithfully.  The  tranquillity  of  the  north- 
ern fur-fields  was  somewhat  disturbed  by  t^*^'  Iiidiim 
hostilities  south  of  the  border,  but  Douglas  was  too 
well  versed  in  aboriginal  traffic  to  permit  open  rupture 
with  the  natives  so  long  as  he  could  have  them  tn 
liimself,  and  away  from  the  demoralizing  inliueiice  of 
stranjjei's. 

During  this  time  the  Hudson's  Bay  Compuny,  t<> 
all  intents  and  purposes,  enjoyed  monopoly  the  Siuui) 
as  if  there  had  been  no  colony  and  no  colonial  (Tcvern- 
ment.  There  were  no  merchants  on  the  Islat  d,  no 
manufacturers,  no  miners,  other  than  the  adventurers 
of  England,  for  none  could  compete  with  them.  Tliere 
was  no  money  on  the  Island;  all  business  was  barter. 
There  was  no  intercourse  with  the  mother  country  or 
with  the  world,  except  through  the  medium  of  the 
monopoly. 

Even  in  agriculture,  in  practical  manipulation,  at 
least,  there  was  also  monopoly — grasping,  overshadow- 
ing, merciless  monopoly.  With  nearest  and  b(.:st  lands 
secured,  and  every  resource  at  command,  whatever  was 
required  for  home  consumption  and  more,  whatever 
could  be  profitably  export*  d  to  .\usMau  America,  the 
Hawaiian  Islands,  or  els'  "  "^  ,  he  Puget  Sound  ( 'oiu- 
pany  could  furnish  at  p  .elow  what     ould  be  cost 

to  the  distant  and  isolat        ettler 

In  granting  the  Island  i  th'  rur  company  f  )r  col- 
onization, it  had  been  stipulateii  by  the  crown,  aiiiono' 
other  conditions,  that  at  the  end  of  the  fifth  year  I  n 
1849,  unless  certain  progress  in  settlement  was  niado, 
the  charter  should  revert  to  the  imperial  government 


-^n^jrW] 


OVKKllKACIlIXd. 


ni;{ 


And  now,  savs  Finlavsoii,  owitj'^  to  tlio  liesitation  of 
(•(ilitiiists  to  come  I'orward,  "tlio  coiinuiny  l)0<ran  to  j^ct 
iuixit>us."  They  heji^aii  to  see  that  there  was  such  a 
thiiijjf  as  overreachiiiLT  liicniselves  in  coiitiiiuin};  too 
far  the  exclusive  system.  They  were  in  no  haste  to 
colonize,  hut  they  could  not  hope  always  to  hold  the 
lial.ince  of  j)ow('r  if  there  was  no  settlement.  ] fence 
they  released  some  of  their  reserved  lands,  intluenced 
some  of  their  servants  to  become  settlers,  and  made 
frcsli  efibrts  to  induce  familiivs  from  ahroad  to  make 
the  Island  their  home.  To  j^ave  further  color  to  their 
|)roce.'lin^s,  a  imnd)er  of  the  officers,  Dou'^las  and 
Work,  Tod,  Tolmie,  and  Finlayson,  bought  wild  lands, 
paying  therefor  the  (me  pound  per  acre.  The  I'uget 
S(»imd  Company  appointed  bailiffs,  who,  besides  a 
salaiy  of  sixty  pounds  a  year,  were  given  (me  quarter 
of  the  farm  profits,  with  liberty  to  draw  goods  from 
tlu!  Jiudson's  Bay  Company  stcjres  at  cost  and  ex- 
jx'iises  chargeable  to  the  farm  account.* 

It  must  not  be  supjiosed  that  such  of  the  officers 
and  servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  as  had 
lu'come  landholders  and  settlers  on  Vancouver  Island 
shared  with  the  London  management  the  desire  for  a 

'  '  The  company  object  to  bringing  the  goods  of  Hettlers  into  the  island, 
ImtiKit  to  taking  goods  away;  tiie  inference  being  tliat  they  oliject  to  any- 
tiling  liiie  coiniietition.'  ('(x>jk'i;  in  Iiouxe  o/Com.  lit'pt.,  H.  B.  Co.,  1857,  204. 
Tlic  licverend  Staines  '  became  much  disaatistiod  with  things,  witli  Mr  Doug- 
lu  ami  his  administration  as  governor  of  tlie  colony,  others  joincil  with  him, 
l-Miliiii,'  to  a  division  among  the  settlers.  And  now  a  portion  of  tiie  Hudson's 
Bay  ('(iiiipuny  traders  al.so  became  dissatisfie<l  with  the  course  of  ^Ir  Douglas 
Hiiil  his  oliiuers.  They  complained  that  the  governor  coidd  not  <lo  justice  to 
liiitli  jiarties;  that  the  chief  factorship  should  be  separate  aud  distinct  from 
the  giiviriinrship;  that  tlie  goo<l3  for  fur-trading  purposes  were  transferred 
to  tile  Puget  Sound  Conipany's  colony  ai'  cost  and  cliarges,  wherciis  they  were 
W'irth  seventy-live  per  cent  on  the  prime  cost,  for  lasii,  in  the  open  market. 
Tills  was  the  complaint  of  the  comiiai\v  ■"crainst  the  representatives  of  the 
tiilimy,  and  they  wished  for  a  sepctration.'  Finlin/non's  V.  I.,  MS.,  5.'l-4. 
'Ihi'ie  are  some  queer  stories  aflr,at  respecting  these  times;  sueli  as  emi- 
grants brought  out  anil  iiiiprisone''.  on  their  arrival  for  not  choosing  to  work; 
<il  others  peremptorily  forbiddei'.  to  locate  on  certain  lands,  or  the  company 
Wdiild  not  jirotoct  them;  of  respectable  emigrants  coming  over  to  obtain  tiie 
necessary  information  and  s<>«-'Je  and  leaving  in  disgust;  of  workmen  flogged 
for  tritli's;  of  a  miner  Laving  his  skull  cracked  with  a  blacksmitli's  hammer 
by  a  tnieman  of  tho  company  at  Nanaimo,  and  receiving  a  compensation  in 
lind  or  money  to  nake  him  hold  his  tongue;  of  agreements  subscribed  on  the 
Island,  promising  never  to  speak  ill  of  the  company,  etc.  Some  of  these 
steries  have  been  2>robably  exaggerated.'   WaddimjlonH  Fraser  Mines,  34. 


:  ' 


m 


m 


i     ■       ''i'li: 


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!        t 


!'■!■*■■ 


I  % 

r  ll 


ill 


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3U 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


continuance  of  fur-trading  rule.  The  settlers'  petition 
to  parliament,  made  in  the  autumn  of  1853,  to  which 
I  have  before  alluded,  asking  that  the  company's  grant 
should  not  be  renewed  at  the  expiration  of  the  fivo 
years'  term ;  that  the  Island  should  be  taken  under  the 
immediate  management  of  the  imperial  government; 
that  a  governor  and  subordinate  functionaries  should 
be  a]>pointed  and  paid  by  the  home  government;  that 
courts  of  justice  should  be  established;  that  the  execu- 
tive council  should  be  separate  from  the  legislative; 
that  a  majority  of  the  legislative  council  should  be 
elective  for  four  years,  by  such  of  the  colonists  as  held 
not  less  than  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  the  house 
of  assembly  to  consist  of  nine  members,  to  be  selected 
every  three  years;  that  the  elective  franchise,  now 
enjoyed  only  by  persons  holding  twenty  acres  of  land, 
should  b(  extended  so  as  to  include  persons  occupy m^f 
houses  or  paying  rent  to  the  amount  of  ten  pounds 
per  annum,  or  owning  farming  lands  to  the  valu<!  of 
ten  pounds,  or  city  lands  to  the  value  of  twenty 
pounds,  and  that  the  price  of  public  land  should  l)e 
reduced  to  ten  shillings  an  acre,  payable  in  five  annual 
instalments,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  five  per  cent 
per  annum — tlie  petition  to  parliament,  I  say,  asking 
these  things,  was  signed  not  only  by  Staines,  (;lrant, 
Muir,  Blenkhorn,  Wier,  Langford,  Atkinson,  Hall, 
Sangster,  Yates,  Hawkins,  Wilson,  Russell,  Downie, 
Perry,  McKay,  Humphrviys,  and  others,  directly  <)[)- 
posed  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  almost  all 
their  interests,  but  by  the  highest  company  ofiicials 
themselves,  by  every  member  of  the  governor's  cduii- 
cil,  even  by  Tod,  Cooper,  Finlaysou,  Tolmie,  Work, 
Kennedy — all,  in  short,  except  tlio  governor,  his  fam- 
ily and  more  immediate  retair.ers. 

No  disloyalty  to  the  conipany  was  attached  to  this 
proceeding;  it  was  only  aa  expression  of  opinion  that 
at  the  expiration  of  the  present  five  years  the  intercf^ts 
of  the  government  and  the  company  should  be  wholly 
distinct.     They    saw    that    Douglas,    in   his   present 


nw- 


EXPIRATION  OF  THE  TERM. 


316 


incli 


anomalous  position,  was  (Joing  justice  neither  to  him- 
self, his  company,  nor  his  govcrmnent,  and  the  quicker 
tliese  several  interests  were  segregated,  the  better  for 
all  concerned.^ 

The  truth  is,  these  shrewd  Scotchmen  saw  nothing 
for  themselves  in  the  present  arrangement.  They 
could  manage  the  affairs  of  the  company  as  well,  or 
better,  untrammelled  by  imperial  forms.  It  was  well 
enough  for  Douglas,  with  his  eight  hundred  pounds  a 
year  salary  as  governor,  but  the  others  were  now 
land-owners  and  settlers  as  well  as  fur-traders,  and 
tiiese  new  interests  were  rapidly  assuming  proportions 
paramount  to  the  older  ones.  Governing  could  never 
be  i)rofitable  to  them  unless  England  was  willing  to 
pay  something  for  the  satisfaction  of  numbering  among 
lier  eolonial  possessions  the  Island  of  Vancouver.  If 
the  government  of  the  colony  was  to  be  borne 
entirely  by  the  colonists,  they  had  better  be  without 
it,  for  the  natural  w  Uh  of  the  country  they  could 
i^fatltor  themselves. 

llitlierto  under  the  grant  of  13th  of  January  1849, 
il'iving  absolute  lordship  and  proprietorship  of  the 
Island,  its  lands  and  minerals,  at  a  yearly  rental  of 
Seven  shillings,  with  tlie  privilege  on  the  part  of  the 
crown  of  resuming  possession  at  the  expiration  of  five 
years  by  reimbursing  the  fur  company  its  colonial  ex- 
penses, little  had  been  d(me  in  the  way  of  governing. 
There  was,  indeed,  no  special  need  of  a  government; 
in  the  absence  of  settlers,  the  old  relations  between 
Indians  and  Europeans  were  the  best,  and  these  could 
be  maintained  by  the  fur-compar.y  alone;  the  imi)erial 
parliament  was  powerless  to  rule  ^Vmerican  savages. 
They  might  exterminate,  but  they  could  not  govern. 

As  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  five  years  covered 
by  the  grant  drew  nigh,  the  fur-traders  saw  that  unless 
they  would  lose  their  colonization  charter  something 
must  be  done.     A  series  of  i)lausible  excuses  might 


ill 


:l 


^1 


'Tliia  ilocnment  with  all  the  signatures  is  too  lengthy  to  give  here;  it  may 
Ite  (..1111,1  in  full  in  the  Olyiiijua  Volumbim,  Oct.  '29,  1S."3. 


316 


rHE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


be  framed,  which,  if  backed  by  sufficient  of  the  ris^Jit 
kind  of  influence  when  placed  before  the  government, 
would  be  all-sufficient.  First,  they  had  carried  out 
the  re(juirements  of  tl.-  charter;  therefore  it  was  no 
fault  of  theirs  tliat  colonization  liad  thus  far  failed; 
and  finally,  it  was  the  fault  of  the  government  in 
making  such  absurd  conditions.  These  weighty  ex- 
cuses at  length  prevailed,  and  in  1854  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  succeeded  in  obtaining  from  the  Biit- 
ish  government  another  agreement  granting  tlioui 
Vancouver  Island  for  purposes  of  colonization  for 
anotiier  period  of  five  years. 

We  have  seen  how  Douglas  began  his  colonial  roign 
as  chief  of  the  provisional  council  appointed  by  Blan- 
shard  just  before  taking  his  departure,  James  C()o}»er 
and  John  Tod  being  the  other  members  of  the  council. 
After  having  been  made  governor  in  the  autumn  of 
1851,  seeing  no  immediate  necessity  for  any  cluinge, 
])ouglas  continued  to  administer  imperial  authority 
by  the  aid  of  a  council,  adding  only  the  name  of 
lioderick  Finlayson  to  the  former  number.^ 

Thus  government  affairs  drifted  on  till  1854,  wlu'n 
ended  the  five  years'  term  of  the  grant,*  after  wliicli 
the  name  of  John  Work  was  substituted  for  that  of 
James  Cooper  as  member  of  council. 

Nor  was  it  difficult  for  the  company  to  obtain  an 
extension.  Tlicy  pointed  to  their  peaceful  reign,  to 
the  absence  of  crime  on  the  Island;  they  expressed 
their  willingness — nay,  their  earnest  desire — to  adopt 
any  means  the  government  might  suggest  for  the 
extension  of  colonization.  And  so  the  grant  was 
renewed  for  another  five  years;  and  the  Hudson's  ]^ay 


^Cooper,  Mar.  Mnfferi,  MS.,  1-28,  says  that  the  avowed  ohject  tol"  .u- 
coniiilislieil  by  the  formation  of  this  coiiiicil  Wiw  to  liold  in  cliuck  the  auto- 
cratic jiowiT  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  ( 'oinjiaiiy.  If  this  wore  the  rual  iiisttail 
of  the  iirotcnded  purpose — and,  as  I  take  it,  it  was  real  with  Bhinshanl,  aiul 
pretended  liy  some  otliers — it  was  manifestly  no  less  puerile  in  its  concojituni 
than  farcical  in  execution. 

*'In  185.3,' says  Deans,  Setlknmit  r./.,MS.,  14,  '  Mr  Tod,  Mr  Finlaysuri, 
and  Captain  Cooper  formed  the  council.'  So  Mr  Finlayson,  Hint.  V.  /.,  M'**-> 
6(),  '  wat)  appointed  to  the  council  which  stood  in  1852-3.' 


RENEWAL  OF  GRANT. 


317 


Company,  with  Douglas  chief  factor  and   governor, 
continued  to  rule  Vancouver  Island  until  1859. 

Soon  after  this  arrangement  was  made,  however, 
the  question  began  to  arise  in  the  mind  of  British 
statesmen  conversant  with  the  principles  of  colonial 
law,  whether  the  crown,  in  a  settlement  of  English- 
nu'ii,  could  legally  convey  authority  to  make  laws  to 
any  council  or  legislature  not  elected  wholly  or  in 
part  l)y  the  settlers  themselves. 

Ui)()n  the  founding  of  the  colony  of  Vancouver 
Island,  Governor  Blanshard  in  his  commission  and  in- 
structions was  directed  to  summon  general  assemblies 
of  fteeholders,  qualified  by  their  ownership  of  twenty 
acres  of  land,  with  whose  advice  and  the  advice  of  Ins 
council,  to  consist  of  se\en  members,  he  was  to  make 
laws  for  the  good  government  of  the  people. 

(Jovornor  Blanshard's  commission  contained  another 
clause,  introduced  for  the  purpose  of  permitting  the 
governor,  if  possible,  to  form  a  legislature  which 
should  provide  for  the  immediate  necessities  of  the 
colony  before  an  asseml)ly  could  be  convened.  This 
clause  empowered  the  governor  to  make  laws  with 
the  aid  of  his  council  alone.  The  governor,  at  his 
discretion,  should  divide  the  Island  into  electoral  dis- 
tricts, fix  the  number  of  representatives,  and  exercise 
tlie  usual  power  of  proroguing  or  dissolving  the  as- 
senihly  at  pleasure.  The  legislature  thus  constituted 
should  have  power  to  make  laws,  levy  taxes,  and  regu- 
late the  aifairs  of  the  Island,  always  subject  to  tlie 
ajiproval  of  the  crown.  It  was  the  intention  of  the 
imperial  government  in  these  instructions,  no  doubt, 
that  an  assembly  should  l)e  formed  as  soon  as  ])ossible.^ 

We  have  seen  how,  by  the  high  jirice  of  land,  the 
presence  of  an  overshadowing  monopoly,  and  the  at- 

■' '  I  am  convinced  as  well  by  the  ceneral  tenor  of  tlio  documents  themselves 
as  liy  tlie  information  which  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  of  tlie  intention  of  her 
iiiaji  sty's  government  in  framing  them,  tliat  it  was  then  coiiteiiiplatcil  that 
sulIi  assemblies  should  be  summoned  as  soon  as  it  slionld  be  jiractioablu  to  do 
80.'  L:!bouc/i(jn-'6  DeitjMtch  to  Gov.  Dowjkis,  i28th  February  1850. 


:  \ 

1  ■; 

i' 

.   Hi. 

f 

•:    *      ■ 

■J.  iiiiii   va| 

r   1 


318 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


tractions  over  the  border,  colonization  had  been  re- 
tarded. We  have  seen  the  difficulty,  the  impossibility, 
of  summoning  an  assembly  of  freeholders,  chiefly  for 
the  reason  that  there  were  no  freeholders  to  summon. 
Or  if  there  were  landholders,  being  mostly  servants  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Campany,  it  was  not  regarded  as 
exactly  the  tiling  to  organize  a  popular  tribunal  solely 
from  the  ranks  of  the  monopoly. 

Hence  it  was  that  Governor  Douglas,  for  some  time 
after  Blanshard  had  resigned,  deemed  it  advisable  t(» 
act  on  the  power  apparently  given  him  to  manage 
matters  with  the  advice  of  his  council  only,  and  to 
pass  such  laws  as  the  exigencies  of  the  time  required. 
And  this  action  on  the  part  of  Governor  Douglas  met 
the  entire  approval  of  the  imperial  government. 

But  at  length  the  time  had  come  when  the  true 
spirit  of  English  law  must  be  given  free  play,  even  in 
this  far  away  and  still  almost  tenantless  isle.  If  it 
were  true  that  the  crown  could  not  legally  confide  the 
law-making  power  to  a  governor  in  council,  then  the 
clause  in  his  commission  on  which  the  governor  relied 
was  unwarranted,  and  his  acts  under  it  invalid. 

At  all  events,  it  appeared  best  that  steps  should  he 
taken  to  establish  a  legislature  for  Vancouver  Island  in 
accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the  English  law.  Hence 
on  the  28th  of  February  1856,  Laboucheire,  secretary 
of  state,  writes  Governor  Douglas,  instructing  him 
without  delay  to  call  together  an  assembly  according 
to  the  terms  of  his  commission  and  instructions. 

By  the  ninth  clause  of  his  instructions,  the  governor 
had  power  to  fix  the  number  of  representatives,  and 
if  he  should  deem  it  essential,  to  divide  the  Island  into 
districts,  with  polling-places  in  each.  To  the  assendily 
thus  summoned,  the  governor,  with  the  advice  of  his 
council,  might  suggest  such  measures  as  seemed  to 
him  requisite.  Among  the  first  steps  to  be  taken  l>y 
the  assembly,  the  secretary  suggested  that  the  acts 
of  the  government  already  performed  without  the 
authority  of  an  assembly  should  be  made  valid. 


■  ''wmm 


^■w. 


n  re- 


A  LEGISLATURE. 


Sl» 


I--   ! 


![•  jlrl 


The  maintenance  of  a  constitution  on  the  model  of 
larger  colonies,  with  a  house  of  representatives  and  a 
council,  Labouchtire  goes  on  to  say,  in  so  small  a  com- 
munity might  be  inexpedient  for  the  present,  and  per- 
haps for  years  a  smaller  body  might  satisfactorily 
perform  the  requisite  functions  of  government.  Such 
a  body,  however,  could  be  organized  only  by  enactment 
of  a  legislature  authorized  by  the  commission,  which 
would  be  an  assembly  acting  with  the  governor  and 
his  council. 

That  is  to  say,  a  legislature  might  be  formed  unaer 
the  p)rovisions  of  the  commission,  and  when  thus  legally 
constituted,  it  might,  for  convenience  or  for  purposes 
of  economy,  surrender  its  powers  into  the  hands  of 
a  single  power  as  had  been  done  successfully  else- 
where. 

"I  leave  it  to  you  to  consider,"  continues  Labou- 
oliere,  "with  the  advice  of  the  local  authorities,  the 
number  and  proper  qualifications  of  the  members  of 
such  a  single  council;  but  in  the  event  of  your  deter- 
iiiunng  to  introduce  the  elective  principle  into  it,  a 
certain  proportion,  not  less  than  one  third,  should  be 
nominated  by  the  crown.  The  power  of  assenting  to 
or  negativing,  or  suspending  for  the  assent  of  the 
crown,  the  measures  passed  by  such  a  council  should 
be  distinctly  reserved  to  yourself.  And  it  is  very 
essential  that  a  constitutional  law  of  this  description 
should  contain  a  proviso  reserving  the  initiation  of  all 
money  votes  to  the  local  government.  An  additional 
reason  in  favor  of  the  course  which  I  now  prescribe, 
namely,  that  of  calling  together  the  assembly,  and  then 
if  the  legislature  so  created  think  proper,  establishing 
a  simpler  form  of  government,  is  to  be  found  in  the 
circumstance  that  the  relations  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Comjiany  with  the  crown  must  necessarily  undergo 
revision  before  or  in  the  year  1859.  The  position  and 
future  government  of  Vancouver's  Island  will  then 
unavoidably  pass  under  review,  and  if  any  dilficultios 
should  be  experienced  in  carrying  into  execution  any 


i  : 

i 
1 

, 

i    i 

■    '   ■ 

'1:1 

.J  .*  r  ; 

1 

■  ii]  '1 

i 
1 

P 

r 

>  - 

ii 


I       .{  (  : 


I     i' 


\\^' 


ni: 


II''  '^ 


320 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


present  ir  structions,  a  convenient  opportunity  will  ^)o 
aft'orded  for  reconsideriu<i:  them." 

To  these  instructions  Governor  Douglas,  on  tlu; 
22d  of  May,  thus  replies:  "It  is,  I  confess,  not  wltli- 
out  feelings  of  dismay  that  I  conteni})late  the  nature 
and  amount  of  labor  and  responsibility  which  will  be 
imposed  upon  me  in  the  process  of  carrying  out  the 
instructions  conveyed  in  your  despatch.  Possessing 
a  very  slender  knowledge  of  legislation,  without  legal 
advice  or  intelligent  assistance  of  any  kind,  I  apjiroadi 
the  subject  with  diffidence,  feeling,  however,  all  the 
encouragement  which  the  kindly  promised  assistance 
and  sui)port  of  lier  majesty's  gcn-ernment  is  calculated 
to  inspire." 

While  averse  to  universal  suffrage,  or  to  making 
population  the  basis  of  representation,  the  governor 
deemed  it  expedient  to  extend  the  franchise  to  iill 
persons  holding  in  the  colony  a  fixed  property  stake, 
that  class  being  more  numerous  than  the  other,  and 
having  equal  interest  in  the  permanent  welfare  of  the 
colony.  He  therefore  asked  permission  of  the  hn- 
perlal  government  to  extend  the  franchise  so  as  to 
give  the  representation  a  wider  basis,  but  was  told  in 
reply  that  it  was  thought  best,  for  the  present,  not  to 
alter  the  commission,  but  to  convoke  the  first  assembly 
in  strict  accordance  with  its  provisions,  and  then  bring 
before  tliat  body  a  measure  for  extending  the  suftVage. 
The  council  at  this  time  consisted  of  John  Tod,  senior 
member,  James  Cooper,  Roderick  Finlayson,  and  John 
Grant.  Calling  a  meeting  of  the  council,  the  governor 
laid  before  it  the  secretary's  instructions  concerning 
the  summoninig  of  assemblies  of  tlie  freeholders,  and  on 
the  4th  and  *Jth  of  June  the  same  were  duly  consid- 
ered. The  result  was  a  proclamation  issued  the  Idth 
of  June  185G,  dividing  the  Island  into  four  electoral 
districts,  apportioning  the  number  of  representatives, 
and  appointing  returning  officers  for  each." 

"Tlio  four  districts  were  as  folldwa:  Victoria  to  be  represented  liy  tliree 
meinliurs,  Andrew  Muir  mturiiiug  oHifur;  Es(|uimiilt  and  Motcliosiii,  two  mhmc- 
bers,  H.  W.  O.  Margary  ruiurniug  oliicer;  Naiiaimo,  one  muniber,  (,'.  K.  Stiiurt 


mm 


ELECTION 


321 


Seven  members  were  to  be  returnea,  wnose  qualifi- 
cation was  the  ownership  of  freehold   estate  to  the 
amount  of  three  hundred  pounds  or  more/    The  prop- 
erty   <j[ualification    oji  voters    remained   as    fixed   by 
tlio  gcvernor's  commission,  twenty  acres  or  more  oi 
freehold  land.     "  There  will  be  a  difficulty  in  finding 
properly  qualified  representatives,"  writes  Douglas  to 
Labourhere,  "  and  I  fear  that  our  early  attempts  at 
k't^'islation  will  make  a  sorry  figure;    though    at   all 
events  tliey  will  have  the  effect  you  contemplate  of 
reinoving  all  doubts  as  to  the  validity  of  our  local  en- 
actments."   Following  the  example  of  British  Guiana, 
tin;  agents  of  the  absentee  freehold  proprietors  were 
allowed  to  vote  in  place  of  their  principal.'*     Writs 
calling  a  general  assembly  of  freeholders  for  the  pur- 
pose of  electing  members  to  serve  in  the  general  assem' 
blv  were  made  returnable  the  4th  of  August  following: 
Elections  were  duly  held  according  to  notice ;  and  in 
three  of  the  districts  the  electors  were  so  few  in  number 
that  the  returns  were  little  more  than  mere  nomina 
tions.    In  Victoria  district,  however,  there  were  no  le!;«4 
than  five  rival  candidates,  who  fiercely  contested  for  the 
honor  of  memljership  of  the  first  house  of  assembly  of 
Vancouver  Island.     And  thus  were  chosen  "seven  fit 
and  discreet  persons,"  into  whose  hands  the  destiny  of 
the  nation  was  for  the  time  being  confided.^ 

rctiiniiiigoflicor;  Soke,  one  member,  JohuMuir,  junior,  returning  officer.  Vic- 
turiii  (U.striet  conii)riseil  the  country  eu^t  of  the  Victoria  Arm  and  of  a  line 
riiuuiug  in  a  northerly  direction  toward  Siumicli,  so  as  to  include  Peer's  Farm; 
]l.s(iuini;ilt  <li.strict,  tlie  country  east  of  Victoria  Arm,  and  eastof  I'edder  Bay, 
iialudiug  McKenzie's  and  tlie  farms  west  of  Colijuot's  River;  Soke  distriit 
fioni  I'ldder  Bay  to  Otter  Head,  the  headland  beyond  Soke;  Nanaimo  dis- 
tiict  simply  tlie  town.  The  returuina  ollieerof  eacli  district  was  at  the  same 
tinu'  I'lirccti^d  to  give  notice  wlien  and  where  the  poll  should  betaken. 

' 'Til  have  fixed  upon  a  higher  8t;uidard  of  qualification  would  have  dis- 
qiialiliiil  all  the  present  representatives,  leaving  no  disposable  persons  to  re- 
l)l;ui.'  them,  and  it  appeared  tome  impolitic  as  well  as  unconstitutional  todis- 
[lensu  altogether  with  the  property  qualificatiou.'  Letter  from  J)oui/1<m  to 
Lihn'irhrn;  dated  '2'M  July  185G. 

•■ '  1  lie  governor  laid  down  as  a  principle  that  the  custom  or  practice  ob- 
wrv(  '1  in  England  should,  as  far  as  possible,  be  adopted  in  this  colony  in 
iraniiMgthe  rules  for  elections.'  Miiiiid'  <ij' Council,  9tli  June  185(). 

"Tlicir  names  were  John  Muir,  Soke  district;  Thomas  Skinner  ami  J.  S. 
M.l;nr!;t'n,  Kh(]uimalt  district;  John  V.  Kennedy,  Nanaimo  district;.  J.  D.. 
I'.iiiliurton,  James  Yates,  and  E.  E.  Langford,  Victoria  district. 
HhsT.  BuiT.  Col.    21 


i 


i  4 


.]'-/'■ 


322 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


i       s 


r  !^'*tl 


The  august  body  convened  the  12th  of  August. 
and  the  first  house  of  assembly  was  declared  open  lor 
business.  "The  aflair  passed  off  quietly,"  wrote  the 
governor,  with  a  naivetd  which,  in  a  less  unsophisti- 
cated statesman,  might  be  regarded  as  sarcasm,  "and 
did  not  appear  to  excite  much  interest  among  the 
lower  orders."  ^^  Then  followed  the  governor's  address, 
which,  though  a  kind  of  congratulatory  wail,  was  de- 
livered in  a  dignified  and  inapressive  manner." 

'•  Who  the  lower  orders  upon  the  Island  at  this  time  were,  I  am  at  a  loss  to 
know,  unless  we  should  seek  them  amongst  the  oily  Indians,  or  Farsou  Staines' 
pigs. 

"  Herewith  I  give  the  governor's  address  in  full: 

'Gentlemen  of  the  Legislative  Council  and  of  the  House  of  Assemhhj :  I  con- 
gratulate you  most  sincerely  on  this  memorable  occasion;  the  meeting  in  full 
convention  of  the  general  assembly  of  Vancouver's  Island,  an  event  frauyht 
with  consequences  of  tlie  utmost  importiince  to  its  present  and  future  inlial)i- 
tants,  and  remarkable  as  the  first  instance  of  representative  institutions  being 
granted  in  the  iufiuicy  of  a  British  colony.  The  history  and  actual  position 
of  this  colony  are  marked  by  many  other  remarkable  circumstances,  t'allcil 
into  existence  by  an  act  of  the  supreme  government,  immediately  after  tlie 
discovery  of  gold  in  California,  it  has  maintained  an  arduous  and  incessant 
struggle  with  the  disorganizing  cflfects  on  labor  of  that  discovery.  K( mote 
from  every  other  British  settlement,  with  its  commerce  trammelled,  and  inut 
by  restrictive  duties  on  every  side,  its  trade  and  resources  remain  undevel- 
oped. Self-supporting,  and  defraying  all  the  expenses  of  its  own  government, 
it  presents  a  striking  contrast  to  every  other  colony  in  the  British  empire,  ami 
like  the  native  pines  of  its  storm-beaten  promontories,  it  has  acquired  a  slow 
but  hardy  growth.  Its  future  progress  must,  under  providence,  in  a  f.'reat 
measure  depend  on  the  intelligence,  industry,  and  enterprise  of  its  inhal)i- 
tants,  and  upon  the  legislative  wisdom  of  this  assembly. 

'  Gentlemen,  I  look  forward  with  confidence  and  satisfaction  to  the  aid  ami 
support  which  the  executive  power  may  in  the  future  expect  to  derive  from 
your  local  experience  and  knowledge  of  the  wishes  of  the  people  and  tli(! 
wants  of  the  country.  I  feel  assured  that,  as  public  men  holding  a  solemn 
and  momentous  trust,  you  will,  as  a  governing  principle,  strive  with  one  aceoril 
to  promote  the  true  and  substantial  interests  of  the  country;  and  that  our 
legislative  labors  will  be  distinguished  alike  by  prudence,  temperance,  aud 
justice  to  all  classes. 

'  (Gentlemen,  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  her  majesty's  governnu^nt 
continues  to  express  the  most  lively  interest  in  the  progress  and  welfare  of 
this  colony.  Negotiations  are  now  pending  with  the  government  of  tlie 
United  States,  which  may  probably  terminate  in  an  extension  of  the  r(^i'i- 
procity  treaty  to  Vancouver  Island.  To  show  the  commercial  advantages  con- 
nected with  that  treaty,  I  will  just  mention  that  an  impost  duty  of  thirty 
pounds  is  levied  on  every  one  hundred  pounds'  worth  of  British  produce  which 
IS  now  sent  to  San  Francisco,  or  to  any  other  American  port;  or  in  other 
words,  the  British  proprietor  pays  Eis  a  tax  to  the  United  States  nearly  tlie 
value  of  every  third  cargo  of  fish,  timber,  or  coal  which  he  sends  to  any 
American  port.  The  reciprocity  treaty  utterly  abolishes  those  fearful  im- 
posts, and  establishes  a  system  of  free-trade  in  the  produce  of  British  cul- 
onies.  The  eflfects  of  that  measure  in  developing  the  trade  and  iiatuial 
resources  of  the  colony  can,  therefore,  be  hardly  overestimated.  The  coal,  tie 
timber,  and  the  productive  fisheries  of  Vancouver's  Idand  will  assume  a 


■mm 


GOVERNOR'S  ADDRESS. 


323 


The  first  legislature  would  scarcely  be  called  a  wise 
or  imposing  body  of  men,  or  the  representatives  of  a 
powerful  state.     Exclude  the  rocks,  trees,  and  sav- 

value  before  unknown ;  while  every  branch  of  trade  will  start  into  activity, 
and  become  the  means  of  pouring  wealth  into  the  country.  So  unbounded  is 
tlie  reliance  which  I  place  in  the  enterprise  and  intelligence  possessed  by  the 
people  of  this  colony,  and  in  the  advantages  of  their  geographical  position, 
tiiat  with  equal  rights  and  a  fair  field  I  think  they  may  enter  into  a  successful 
competition  with  the  people  of  any  other  country.  The  extension  of  tlie 
reciprocity  treaty  to  this  Island  once  gained,  the  interests  of  the  colony 
will  become  inseparably  connected  with  the  principles  of  free-trade,  a  system 
which  I  think  it  will  be  sound  policy  on  our  pare  to  encourage. 

'  Gentlemen,  the  colony  has  been  again  visited  this  year  by  a  large  party 
of  northern  Indians,  and  their  presence  has  excited  in  our  minds  a  not  un- 
reasonable degree  of  alarm.  Through  the  blessing  of  God  they  have  been  kept 
from  committmg  acts  of  open  violence,  and  been  quiet  and  orderly  in  their 
deportment;  yet  the  presence  of  large  bodies  of  armed  savages,  who  have 
never  felt  the  restraining  influences  of  moral  and  religious  training,  and  who 
are  accustomed  to  follow  the  impulses  of  their  own  evil  natures  more  than  the 
dictation  of  reason  or  justice,  gives  rise  to  a  feeling  of  insecurity  which  must 
exist  as  long  as  the  colony  remains  without  military  protection.  Her  Majes- 
ty's government,  ever  alive  to  the  dangers  which  beset  the  colony,  have 
arranged  with  the  lords  commissioners  of  the  a<lmiralty,  that  the  President 
frigate  should  be  sent  to  Vancouver's  Island;  and  tiie  measure  will,  I  have  no 
doubt,  bo  carried  into  eflfect  without  delay.  I  shall  nevertlielcss  continue  to 
conciliate  the  gootl-will  of  the  native  Indian  tribes  by  treating  them  with  jus- 
tice and  forbearance,  and  by  rigidly  protecting  their  civil  and  agrarian  rights; 
many  cogent  reasons  of  humanity  and  sound  policy  recommend  that  course  to 
our  attention;  and  I  shall,  therefore,  rely  upon  your  support  in  carrying  such 
measures  into  etfect.  We  know,  from  our  own  experience,  that  the  friend- 
ship of  the  natives  is  at  all  times  useful,  while  it  is  no  less  certain  that  their 
enmity  may  become  more  disastrous  than  any  other  calamity  to  which  the 
colony  is  directly  exposed. 

'  Gentlemen  of  the  house  of  assembly,  according  to  constitutional  usage, 
with  you  must  originate  all  money  bills ;  it  is  therefore  your  special  province 
to  consider  the  ways  and  means  of  defraying  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the 
government,  either  by  levying  a  customs  duty  on  imports,  or  by  a  system  of 
direct  taxation.  The  poverty  of  the  country  and  the  limited  means  of  a  popu- 
lation struggling  against  the  pressure  of  numberless  privations,  must  neces- 
sarily restrict  the  amount  of  taxation;  it  should,  therefore,  be  our  constant 
study  to  regulate  the  public  expenditure  according  to  the  means  of  the  coun- 
try, anil  to  live  strictly  within  our  income.  The  common  error  of  running  into 
speculative  improvements  entailing  debts  upon  the  colony,  for  a  very  uncertain 
ad\  antjige,  should  be  carefully  avoided.  The  demands  upon  the  public  revenue 
will,  at  present,  chiefly  arise  from  the  improvement  of  the  internal  communica- 
tions of  the  country,  and  providing  for  the  education  of  the  young,  the 
erection  of  places  for  public  worship,  the  defence  of  the  country,  and  the 
administration  of  justice. 

'  Gentlemen,  1  feel  in  all  its  force  the  responsibility  now  resting  upon 
ua.  The  interests  and  well  being  of  thousands  yet  imborn  may  be  afifected  by 
our  decisions,  and  they  will  reverence  or  condemn  our  acts  according  as  they 
are  found  to  influence,  for  good  or  for  evil,  the  events  of  the  future. 

'  (ientlemen  of  the  house  of  the  assembly,  I  have  appointed  ChibJ  justice 
Cameron  to  administer  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  members  of  your  house, 
and  to  receive  your  declarations  of  qualification;  you  may  then  proceed  to 
cliuose  a  speaker,  and  to  appoint  the  ofiScers  necessary  for  the  proper  conduct 
of  the  busmess  of  the  house.  James  Douglas,  Governor.' 


:  .  f" 


ij '. '  ; 

'  1 

f 

1 

i     ;' 
|: 

l! 


■I     |-::i.      1- 


!      I   y 


\\   i!. 


;ti- 


'         I  ^9 


f    ■'«' 


I    If 


SM 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


ages,  the  wild  beasts  and  fishes  from  their  constituency, 
and  there  was  Uttle  leffc.'^  Indeed,  that  the  forest 
was  not  called  upon  to  furnish  Solons  was  almost  a 
wonder,  for  the  fiat  had  gone  forth  that  there  should 
be  a  colony  and  a  government,  and  search  the  Island 
through,  not  more  than  six  or  seven  men  might  hu 
found  eligible  for  the  important  trust,  and  these  nmst 
be  returned  by  one  or  two  voters  each.  There  were 
then  upon  the  Island  but  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
white  men,  although  there  had  been  more.  Most  of 
these  were  servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
and  few  of  them  were  land-owners. 

J.  S.  Helmcken  was  chosen  speaker,  and  took  liLs 
seat  smiling  audibly.  Before  the  heavy  work  of  tlio 
day  was  fairly  undertaken,  the  machinery  of  govern- 
ment was  brought  to  a  stand  by  reason  of  questions 
being  raised  as  to  the  property  qualifications  of  two 
of  the  members,  and  the  validity  of  the  election  of 
one,  thus  leaving  an  efficient  force  of  but  three  mem- 
bers besides  the  speaker. 

Again  the  governor  found  himself  in  a  dilemma. 
To  one  of  the  immortal  seven,  objections  had  been 
raised  purely  from  party  motives.  Possibly  these 
might  be  quieted  or  overruled.  "In  the  territorial 
government  of  the  United  States,"  writes  Douglas  to 
Labouchere  the  20th  of  August,  "the  practice  in 
such  cases  is  for  the  governor  to  grant  certificates  of 
qualification  to  a  majt^rity  of  the  members,  who  then 
proceed  to  constitute  the  house;  but  I  am  not  certain 
if  such  a  course  would  be  in  harmony  with  Englisli 
law;  nevertheless,  if  the  house  should  appeal  to  mc 
on  the  subject,  I  will  have  recourse  to  that  expedient." 

But  happily  the  governor  was  saved  from  pursuin:^' 
so  questionable  a  course.     After  adjourning  from  day 


'^ '  There  waa  a  farcical  affair  in  the  shape  of  a  legislature  house  of  assem- 
bly, wli„i'e  two  or  tlirce  votera  returned  as  many  members  to  the  house.  As 
there  was  no  revenue  to  expend  and  no  powor  conced;;il  to  tlie  house,  tliiir 
logiclative  efforts  could  only  be  and  were  abortive.  This  assembly  die;!  a 
natural  death  in  1859.'  Cooper's  Mar.  Mnttem,  MS.,  12.  See  also  Cooiici's 
testimony  before  the  select  committee.  House  Com.  Sept.,  192. 


i 
! 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


326 


to  day,  meanwhile  practising  to  the  best  of  tlitiir 
iinonlight<"ncd  ability  the  political  j^yrations  and  genu- 
flections most  eflfective  on  such  occasions,  party  difFer- 
oiices  were  adjusted  in  so  far  as  to  achnit  of  the 
forming  of  a  committee,  which  proceeded  at  once  to 
inquire  into  the  qualification  of  members  elect.  The 
return  of  Mr  Langford  was  dedan  1  void,  on  the 
ground  of  his  not  possessing  suflficient  proDerty,  and 
J.  W.  McKay  was  elected  in  his  place. 

By  the  13th  of  November,  after  numberless  vicissi- 
tudes, the  house  declared  itself  ready  for  serious  busi- 
ness; and  there  was  nothing  of  more  sombre  concern 
tlian  the  ways  and  means  of  money-raising;  so  tliat 
id  first  the  financial  capabilities  of  the  colony  and  the 
detail  of  the  expenditures  occupied  attention.  On 
tiiw  18th  of  December  a  bill  passed  the  assembly  and 
was  carried  to  the  council,  granting  the  sum  of  one 
lumdred  and  thirty  pounds  for  the  payment  of  the 
servants  and  the  defraying  of  the  ordi'iary  expenses 
of  the  house.  "I  am  now  preparing  a  bill  for  im- 
posing a  custom  duty  on  imports  as  a  means  of  meet- 
iiig  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  government,"  wriiis 
Douglas  on  the  9th  of  January  1857 ;  "but  the  subject 
must  be  approached  with  caution  as  there  is  a  very 
general  feeling  in  both  council  and  assembly  against 
taxation  under  any  form,  and  I  am  prepared  to  en- 
ceuntcr  much  clamour  and  opposition  in  carrying  so 
unpopular  a  measure  through  the  house." 

A  French  dancing-master  in  a  Parisian  salon  could 
not  have  been  more  painfully  polite  than  were  these 
l»lu:sterinor  Scotch  and  Endish  fur-hunters  in  this 
^V(  stern  wilderness.  However  far  short  of  its  im- 
l)ei  ial  model  the  incipient  government  might  fall  in 
l)0!nts  of  learning  and  intelligence,  dignity  and  cour- 
tesy should  not  be  wanting.  Scarcely  a  message  is 
transmitted  between  the  son-in-law  speaker  and  the 
fatlier-in-law  governor  unless  accompanied  by  fulsome 
flattery. 

TJie  governor  sends  "Mr  Speaker  and  Gentlemen 


Iri 


I  !  , 


i! 


Jjl!  I!! 


t-  ^' 

111 


■m-i 


!    1'  r^ 


326 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


'M 


■I  1^' 


li: 


of  the  House  of  Assembly"  a  dry  document  on  finance ; 
on  receipt  of  which  it  is  resolved  first  of  all,  "  that  the 
thanks  of  this  house  bo  presented  to  his  excellency 
the  governor  for  the  communication."  With  juoro 
insignificant  detail  the  governor  "highly  appreciates  the 
complimentary  message,"  whereupon  the  legislators 
immediately  resolve  "that  the  speaker  bo  requested 
to  thank  his  excellency  the  governor  on  behalf  of  this 
house  for  the  information  so  courteously  and  promptly 
afforded,"  which,  as  usual,  constituted  the  burden  of 
the  communication.  But  the  climax  of  public 
affection  is  reached  when,  on  the  10th  of  December 
1856,  on  the  receipt  from  the  father-in-law  of  an 
abstract  of  the  income  and  expenditure  of  the  colony, 
the  son-in-law  "on  the  part  of  the  house  of  assembly 
begs  respectfully  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  this  day 
of  a  gracious  communication  and  an  abstract  of  the 
income  and  expenditure  for  the  year  185G  from  his 
excellency  the  governor,  and  to  inform  his  excellency 
that  the  house  of  assembly  unanimously  resolved  that 
the  thanks  of  this  house  be  presented  to  his  excellency 
the  governor  for  the  same."  Surely  this  man's  merri- 
ment was  only  exceeded  by  his  family  affection.  Nor 
is  it  at  all  difficult  to  perceive  in  this  connection  who 
was  the  government." 

They  were,  forsooth,  a  happy  family,  these  fur- 
hunting  legislators.  The  Douglas  was  all  in  all, 
lord  paramount,  dominator,  imperial  viceroy,  and  fur- 
traders'  factor-in-chief.  Work,  Finlayson,  and  Tod, 
chief  factor,  chief  trader,  and  ancient  pensioner, 
respectively,  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  com- 
prised both  secret  council  and  house  of  lords.  The 
seven  wise  men,  representing  the  seven  districts 
of  the  Island  as  a  house  of  assembly,  were  in  their 
several  vocations  almost  wholly  of  the  monopoly. 
Helmcken  was  staff  doctor  of  the  company;   Pcni- 

^^lieturn  to  an  address  of  tlie  Honorable  the  House  of  Commons,  dated  ->")th 
June  1857,  for  Cojnen  of  Extracts  of  any  Despatches  that  have  been  receiml  hy 
her  Afajfsty's  Secretary  of  Slate  for  the  colonies,  on  the  subject  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Jiepresentalive  Assembly  at  I'ancouver's  Island. 


END  OF  SECOND  TERM. 


m 


bcrton,  surveyor  ana  ardent  attacM;  McKay,  clerk  of 
tlie  company;  Muir,  former  servant  of  the  company, 
and  fatlicr  of  the  sherifl';  Skinner,  agent  of  the  l*uget 
Sound  Agricultural  Company;  Kennedy,  a  retired 
officer  of  the  company  api)ointed  by  the  governor  and 
council  to  represent  the  district  of  Nanaimo;  Yates, 
by  the  grace  of  the  company,  merchant.  D.  Cameron, 
brother-in-law  of  the  governor,  was  chief-justice,  and 
A.  C.  Anderson,  retired  chief  trader,  was  collector  of 
fustoms. 

After  the  performance  of  their  important  duties, 
wliich  appear  principally  to  have  been  provision  for 
tbe  payment  of  their  own  expenses,  the  first  house  of 
assembly  lapsed  into  oblivion. 


u 


Thus  the  government  of  Vancouver  Island  con- 
tinued until  1859,  at  which  time  terminated  the  sec- 
ond live  years  of  Hudson's  Bay  Company  colonial 
domination.  During  his  term  of  office,  four  distinct 
and  often  antagonistic  interests  looked  to  Douglas  as 
their  head;  namely,  the  HudsoTi's  Bay  Company's  fur- 
trade,  the  colony  of  Vaucouver  Island,  the  Puget 
Sound  Agricultural  Company,  and  the  Nanaimo  Coal 
Company. 

It  was  impossible  for  him  to  do  justice  to  each  of 
these  several  trusts.  No  man  can  serve  two  aiasters. 
Xo  honorable  man  will  permit  himself  to  ser/e  as  a 
manager  of  a  corporation,  or  of  a  commonwealth, 
where  his  fullest  capabilities  are  not  permitted  free 
play  in  the  performance  of  his  duty  to  shareholder  or 
citizen.  During  this  entire  term  it  was  obviously  im- 
possible for  Douglas  to  throw  his  entire  strength  and 
intiuence  upon  the  side  of  every  one  of  his  several 
oppugnaji.t  trusts,  and  he  should  have  long  since  re- 
signed, or  rather  he  should  never  have  accepted  more 
than  one  of  them  at  once.     But  he  loved  the  power, 

"'Tliis  took  place  in  July,  two  years  ago,'  says  Alfred  Wacldingtou, 
writing  in  1858,  'and  nobody  can  toll  me,  nor  do  I  believe  it  is  knowni,  when 
the  asjicmbly  is  to  be  renewed,  unless  it  be  at  the  will  of  the  governor.'  Thia 
assfciiibly  died  a  natural  death  in  1859.  tooi)ers  Mar,  Alatiers,  MS.,  12. 


m 


m  I 


!...  .>If-><   ! 


■r.    I  I 


I  !  ' 


i4t; 


Im 


ii:^ 


II  'i 


II    ' 


m 


m 


l*i: 


328 


THE  ISLAND  UNDER  DOUGLAS. 


and  he  loved  the  emoluments.  For  a  very  great  man 
or  a  very  ambitious  man,  the  whole  of  this  north- 
west wilderness,  and  all  that  it  contained,  was  at  bt;st 
a  small  sovereignty,  which,  to  cut  into  parts,  some 
of  them  wellnigh  hollow,  were  an  exceedingly  petty 
business. 

But  the  time  had  now  come  when  he  must  roliu- 
{{uish  his  hold  on  some  of  his  several  trusts.  He  nmst 
cease  either  to  be  factor  or  governor. ^^  Thus  the  case 
was  put  before  liim  by  his  company.  It  was  not  dif- 
ficult to  deternune  which  power  was  in  the  ascendant. 
Therefore  Douglas  chose  to  abandon  traffic,  and  hold 
to  rulership.  The  result  was,  that  in  this  year  of 
185"J  the  management  of  the  several  associations  was 
given  up,  and  the  governorship)  retained.  Douglas 
abandoned  forever  all  interest  in  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  and  Work,  Tolmie,  and  IVIcTavish  became 
the  new  board  of  manairement.  With  the  retirenuiit 
of  McLoughlin  and  Douglas  the  glory  of  the  corpcna- 
tion  departed  from  the  Pacific.  ^^ 

'"'The  fur-trade  was  the  company's  commercial  operations  proper;  the 
Pugct  Sound  Company  was  <listinct  altogctlicr,  although  soiiu'  of  tlir  ll\iilsnn'-! 
Bay  Company's  oHicers  belonged  to  this  ccmipany  likewise.  Tlie  coal  cuiiip:iiiy 
was  carried  on  liy  sliareholders  of  the  company,  in  which  the  oflicers  hvv  li;ul 
notliiiig  to  do.  These  four  interests  were  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr 
Douglas  until  1859,  when  he  had  to  sever  his  connection  with  the  Minlsdii's 
15ay  ( 'ompany  altogether.  He  had  his  choice  to  remain  with  the  couipiuiy  or 
become  governor  of  the  colony.'  Fiiihii/Kon's  V.  1.  and  N.   W.  C,  M.S.,  "I'l. 

"^ My  authorities  for  this  cliapter  are;  Doiujbia'  Prirnilc  Paper.'*,  MS.,  2il 
ser.  34-50;  Cooper's  Mar.  MaW'r.%  MS.,  12,  V,\;  Finlai/.toti's  Jlist.  V.  I.,  JLS., 
4.)-7,  50;  TntVs  Xew  ('alrdoiiia,  JIS.,  22.  Let  it  be  obserqed  that  every  iiiiin- 
bor  of  the  first  council  liere  gives  in  hi';  evidence,  all  being  in  manuscript.  1 
may  furtlier  mention  the  San  Biruaruino  Guardian,  .Tan.  1 1,  ISGS;  Brit.  Colo- 
iiist,  April  4,  1877;  ['ietorin  Stundard,  Aug.  8,  1877;  Wadilin'jlonn  FniM-r 
Minrjf,  .'<');  Ellin,  in  ]lou«e  Ciiiiimnits  Itejit.,  //.  B.  Co.,  1857,  3.14;  Cooper,  in  Id., 
100;  Fiid(ii/'.i  Diri'it.,  i.,  38',),  90;  CoruwaUis'  Xetu  El  Doraxlo,  33;  aud  J/c- 
Donald,  iu  Brit.  Col.  Sketchex,  MS.,  30. 


CHAPTER  XIX 


1  !  ■ 

1       :  i 

1 

I 

I 

THE  JUDICIAi/.Y. 
1853-1859. 

TilE  QUE3TIOK8  OF  VaNCOITVEB  IsLAND  GOVERNMENT  AND  JOSTICE    IN  HOHB 

PoLnicAL  Circles— There  19  no  Money  in  it — And  Therefore  Tiiet 
May  Saiely  be  Left  to  Themselves— Blanshard,  the  First  Gov- 
ernor. Likewise  the  First  Judge— Douglas  as  a  Man-tamer  and 
Measurer  ok  Retribution— The  'Thetis'  and  the  ' Trincomalek ' 
Expeditions — Bloodless  V.-  tory  over  the  Cowichins — The  Bright- 
est Virtue  of  James  Doug'  as — David  Cameron  Made  Chief-justice— 
His  Antecedents,  Duties,  and  End — His  Successors,  Needham  and 
Begbie — Revenue — Land  and  Liquor — The  Mighty  Power  of  Rum, 

Nai  urally  among  the  first  questions  arising  in  the 
minds  of  office-holders,  but  more  especially  of  office- 
seekers,  when  it  became  certain  that  the  grant  of 
Vancouver  Island  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
would  be  consummated,  were,  How  is  the  new  colony 
to  be  governed?  How  is  justice  to  be  administered 
there?  We  have  seen  the  tirst  question  answered  in 
the  perse  us  ol  Mr  Blanshard  and  Mr  Douglas.  The 
other  '"equired  more  delay  and  further  legislation ;  for, 
as  mutters  now  stood,  the  law  required  offenders  on 
the  British  Pacific  coast  to  be  sent  to  Canada  for 
trial.  This  would  no  longer  do,  now  that  Vancouver 
Inland  was  a  colony.  Therefore,  when  in  the  house 
of  commons  on  the  27th  of  March  1849,  Mr  Glad- 
stone asked  the  under-seeretary  for  the  colonies  if 
it  was  the  intention  of  the  government  to  introduce 
during  that  session  any  bill  for  altering  any  existing 
statute  touching  Vancouver  Island,  the  answer  was, 
None,  except  to  establish  there  courts  of  judicature. 
Tho  bill  was  accordingly  introduced  on  the  25th  of 

(3291 


330 


THE  JUJ)ICIARY. 


June.      It  was  supported  by  Earl  Grey,  and  benaiut' 
a  law. 

In  supporting  in  the  house  of  lords  the  bill  lor 
the  administration  of  justice  on  Vancouver  Island, 
Earl  Grey  remarked  that  it  was  the  object  of  the  im- 
perial government  to  reserve  judicial  power  to  IIk 
l(jcal  legislature  of  the  Island,  with  right  of  a[)pcal 
from  the  courts  so  constituted  to  the  privy  council. 
No  political  power  was  given  by  the  grant  to  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company.  The  governor  might  l)i' 
selected  by  the  company,  but  their  choice  must  he 
approved  by  the  crown.  It  was  not  proposed  to  enter 
immediately  upon  legislation  and  taxation,  but  tlic 
governor  might  summon  a  legislative  council  when- 
ever there  w*:'re  sufficient  colonists  to  make  it  advisa- 
ble. As  an  excuse  for  the  grant  in  the  first  instaiue, 
he  said  that  it  was  necessary  that  the  rights  oi  tlie 
crown  should  •■»e  defined  at  once,  that  regular  auih:.i  :ty 
should  be  planted  there  to  prevent  irregular  occujui- 
tion,  and,  if  the  government  were  to  do  all  this,  it 
would  prove  expensive.  The  result  was  that  qui.  ■  a 
little  economical  delay  happened  before  English  golil 
was  spik  for  Vancouver  Island  government  or  justice. 

Justice  under  English  law  was  first  administered 
on  Vancouver  Island  by  Richard  Blanshard,  the  first 
governor.  As  there  were  no  colonial  funds,  no  means 
of  paying  a  recorder  or  other  admiui.strator  of  justice, 
the  liovernor  wan  obliged  to  act  in  that  capacity.- 
And  Bjo  under  Df)Uglas,  until  legislators  could  be  emi- 
vent<l,  who  should  provide  the  means  of  payment  for 
judges,  and  sheriits,  and  the  usual  paraphernalia  of 

^Han-inrrTfi  Parliamcntiiri/  Deftntes,  3d  aer.  I'lii.  1371;  cvi.  106{)-S'2. 

-  *  So  that  you  were  governor  and  justice  't '  iveked  Hoeliuck;  '  hud  ymi  inn- 
.<«tal>lea  ?  '  '  Vos,'  replied  Hlanahard,  '  when  I  waisteda  constable  I  swon'  (  ao.' 
Jlome  Cornitinn-t  liiyf.,  H.  B.  Co.,  1H57,  290  *Th<-y  had  no  courts  for  tn.il 
west  of  the  mountains.  Governor  Blansliu:  I  was  tiie  first  to  instituti'  iiniit' 
hnrro.  He  himself  used  to  a'ljudieate  in  >  .ises.  In  one  case  he  came  iiito  ii'i- 
laiou  with  the  late  Sir  Jameii  Douglas  it    a  matter  in  connection  with  rlnii- 

tung,  and  iii  which  tiie  power  of  Mr  l>>iuj,'las  Mas  called  in  (juestiou  h,\  Mr 
lliMshard.  Tiiu  latter  stated  that  Mr  r)oui;las  in  the  case  had  no  autlinrily 
«••  act.  Mr  DouLtlas  wan  aummoned  li»-toro  Mr  lilansliard.  And  tliis  was  t.ie 
tirst  time  tliat  English  law  was  felt  hero.'  Fiidoysona  I  .  /.,  MS.,  100. 


law  courts 
enior  in  ( 
standing  i 
was  organ 
of  the  con 


Up  to  : 

Island. 
roltiijears, 
were  at  tl 
extremely 
laane  mar 
til  is  regal 
power  was 
two  instai 
tli(.'  native 
t)lfenders  ' 
war,  ou  oi 
the  Trina. 
In  Dec 
I'eter  Br 
natives,  o 
to  Xauai 
fearful  le 
them,  wh 
'•aptaiii  o 
volunteer 
cejited. 
h'uni  the 

Vessel,   J\( 
\>^:)'\,  tow 
l)iiu;.,das 
Anch< 
.shot'.'  an< 

ers  \V(!re 

to  iinpai 


i  he  sett 
iiri^ni  of  thi 
f.:iii.'r  lost  tl 
M.S.,  15. 


I    rifi 


THE  VOLTIGEURS 


331 


law  courts,  justice  must  be  administered  by  the  gov- 
tiiKir  in  council.  And  in  the  place  of  sheriffs  and 
standing  armies,  a  mounted  police,  called  voHigeurs, 
wa.s  organized  from  among  the  settlers  and  servants 
of  the  company.^ 

Up  to  1857  there  was  but  one  constable  upon  the 
Lsliiiid.  There  was  no  military  force,  if  wc  except  the 
riilijiicurs,  so  that  settlers  scattered  about  the  country 
were  at  the  mercy  of  the  savages.  Yet  outi'ages  were 
extremely  rare,  thanks  to  the  uniformly  wise  and  hu- 
mane management  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in 
this  regard.  Still,  an  occasional  display  of  superior 
]u)\ver  was  not  without  wholescmie  effect.  In  the  only 
two  instances  of  trouble  occurring  prior  to  this  time, 
tlic  natives  had  been  induced  voluntarily  to  give  up 
odrnders  to  punishment  by  tlie  appearance  of  men-of- 
war,  on  one  occasion  by  the  Thetis,  and  on  another  by 
the  Trhicomalce. 

Ill  December  1852,  one  of  the  company's  shepherds, 
I'l'tcr  Brown,  at  Christmas  Hill,  was  killed  by  two 
iiutivus,  one  of  whom  Hed  to  Cowichin,  and  the  other 
ti)  Xanaimo.  The  settlers  were  greatly  alarmed, 
fearful  lest  the  terrible  Cowlchins  should  annihilate 
them,  which,  indeed,  they  might  easily  do.  Kuper, 
I'aptain  of  the  war-vessel  Thetis,  lying  at  Es(|uimalt, 
\<iluiite<jred  assistance,  which  Douglas  gratefully  ac- 
(■••jitid.  A  force  sufficient  for  the  purpose  was  taken 
iVuni  tlie  Tlieiis,  and  placed  on  board  the  company's 
ves.s(  1,  Recovery,  wliich  was  then,  the  4tli  January 
I'^j:;,  towed  by  the  ateamer  round  into  Haro  Strait, 
Dou'das  beinjj  in  command. 

Aiichorinir  off  thi^  Siuiulch  villai^e,  .Douglas  went  on 
MK.f.  and  began  to  talk  to  tlie  lieatlien.  The  offend- 
ers were  not  liero,  but  the  governor  took  this  occasion 
to  iinpai't  a  liujftkhfij^  lesson.     He  told  those  present 

I  111'  settlers  were  mweh  annoyed  Ijy  oattle-thievea,  wliicli  w.is  in  fact  tlie 
orif^iii  of  tliis  organization.  Cows  •wiin  «h()t  within  call  of  lioiiio.  '()iio 
f  niii- lost  thirty-six  hi;aii  of  cattle  in  three  years.'  Duaiis'  HtUlemvnt  V.  1., 
MS,,  15. 


i 


1       ;■ 


THE  JUDICIARY. 

of  Queen  Victoria  and  the  British  parliament,  of  law 
and  love,  gunpowder  and  perdition.  He  a.ssured  tlicni 
if  white  men  injured  them  they  should  have  rcdresf, 
and  if  they  injured  white  men  they  should  be  punished. 
Then,  with  his  blue-jackets  and  marines,  he  proceeded 
to  Cowichin,  arriving  thereon  the  morning  of  the  Otli, 
and  throwing  the  village  into  quite  a  flutter  of  ex- 
citement. 

The  usual  demand  was  then  made,  that  the  mur- 
derer should  be  delivered  up.  The  chief  asked  time 
to  ccmsider,  which,  as  Douglas  desired  to  avoid  blood- 
shed, was  granted.  A  meeting  was  appointed  for 
final  conference  next  day  on  shore,  the  savages  bL'iiij,' 
afraid  to  trust  themselves  among  the  voltigenn  and 
others  on  board. 

At  the  appointed  time  the  forces  from  the  vessels 
landed,  the  Cowichin  chief,  witii  a  few  attendants, 
receiving  them;  on  a  knoll  a  tent  was  pitched,  and 
the  wliite  men  waited  the  attendance  of  the  rest. 
The  chief  advised  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  a 
little  out  of  sight,  lest  his  people  should  be  afraid  to 
land.  This  was  done,  and  yet  nearly  an  hour  elapsed 
before  any  of  them  appeared.  Then  two  canoes  were 
seen  making  their  way  quietly  out  of  the  river  After 
them  soon  came  six  others,  larg^er  ones,  all  in  a  line. 
Paddling  slowly  along  the  shore,  chanting  tlieir  war- 
song,  drunmiing  on  their  canoes,  and  whoopin<i^  like 
demons,  they  passed  by  the  council-ground  and  landed 
a  little  beyond;  then  rushing  up  the  hill,  shouting,  and 
clashing  their  arms  as  if  to  shake  with  terror  any 
army  daring  to  oppose  them,  they  stood  glaring  lero- 
ciously  at  the  intruders. 

It  was  with  difficulty  Douglas  could  restrain  his 
men  from  firing ;  gradually  the  savages  became  quieter, 
however,  and  then  they  produced  the  murderer,  armed, 
and  painted  from  head  to  foot.  A  grandiloquent  de- 
fence was  then  made  by  the  prisoner,  whicli  vould 
have  done  honor  to  any  criminal  lawyer,  the  bui'dcn 
of  which  was  that  he  was  wholly  innocent.     After 


more  parle 
white  men, 
More  fa 
formed  the 
(•f  tlie  Bri 
he  could  re 
book  prece 
ileterniined 
press  upon 
could  not 
was  to  foil 
red  each  w 

On  the 

uainio  and 

ised   for    t 

ordered  tw 

coal  tliems( 

mouth  of  t 

assembled 

not  be  fori 

whili!  the  c 

would  be 

their  safet> 

lmn;j,ing  t( 

lieu  (tf  the 

no  amount 

The  arnie( 

all  was  des 

as  possible 

white  men 

rewai'dcd  1 

iiands  witl 

Surelv  1 

like  this  oi 

lieeii  so  ea 

to  havo  m 


w 


PUNISHMENT  OF  CRIME. 


333 


more  parleying,  he  was  finally  handed  over  to  the 
white  men,  to  be  tried  at  Victoria. 

More  fatherly  advice  was  now  in  order.  "I  in- 
fnrnied  them  that  the  whole  country  was  a  possession 
of  the  British  crown,"  writes  Doujj^las,  thoufj^h  how 
he  ft >uld  reconcile  such  a  statement  with  his  prayer- 
hook  })recept,  Thou  shalt  not  steal,  which  with  such 
(leterniined  persistence  he  endeavored  always  to  im- 
press upon  their  minds,  the  unsopliisticated  savage 
could  not  tell.  Nevertheless,  for  the  tobacco  wliicli 
was  to  follow,  they  promised  loyalty,  and  white  and 
red  each  went  his  way. 

On  the  1 0th,  the  expedition  appeared  before  Xa- 
iiaiiuo  and  demanded  a  conference,  wliich  was  prom- 
ised for  the  following  day.  Meanwhile  Douglas 
(irdered  twenty-one  voltigeurs  under  McKay  to  con- 
ceal tliemselves  during  the  night  in  a  canoe  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Nanaimo  River,  and  when  the  natives 
assembled  about  the  vessel,  should  the  otlier  criminal 
not  he  forthcoming,  to  search  the  village  for  him, 
while  the  chief,  who  was  the  father  of  the  murderer. 
Would  be  seized,  and  kept  on  board  as  hostage  for 
theii'  safety.  Morning  came,  and  with  it  the  savages, 
i)rinij,ing  to  the  Beaver  piles  of  valual)le  peltries  in 
lieu  of  the  murderer.  But  they  were  informed  that 
no  amount  of  property  could  buy  the  man's  acquittal. 
The  armed  boats  pr-oceeded  to  the  village.  Tliero 
all  was  deserted.  Making  themselvc>s  as  comfortable 
as  possible,  though  without  destroying  anything,  the 
white  men  patiently  awaited  events,  .ind  were  finally 
rewarded  by  the  murderer  being  delivered  into  their 
liaiids  without  bhH)dshed. 

Surely  nothing  could  be  more  noble  than  conduct 
like  this  on  the  part  of  the  governor.  It  would  have 
l»een  so  easy,  so  less  trying  to  patience  and  dignity, 
to  liave-  given  the  word  to  fire,  and  so  to  have  mowed 
•l'»wii  a  hundred  innocent  men  for  the  crime  of  the 
'lie  uuilty.  "On  one  or  two  occasions,"  writes  Doug- 
las t     T(k1,  immediately  after  the  capture  of  the  first 


I    it 


^^ 


834  THE  JUDICIARY. 

criminal,  "the  aflfair  had  nearly  taken  a  serious  turn, 
a  misfortune  which  could  hardly  have  been  avoided 
had  it  not  been  for  the  perfect  arrangements  of  Lieu- 
tenant Sansum,  and  the  admirable  temper  and  for- 
bearance exhibited  by  the  force  in  circumstaiico.s 
infinitely  more  trying  to  brave  men  than  actual  con- 
flict . .  .  The  surrender  of  a  criminal  without  bloodshed, 
at  the  requisition  of  the  civil  power,  by  the  most 
warlike  tribe  on  Vancouver  Island,  is  an  epocli  in 
the  history  of  our  Indian  relations  which  augurs  for 
tiie  future  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  colony.  Tell  tlie 
settlers  to  be  prudent  and  vigilant;  but  at  the  same 
time  entreat  them  to  dismiss  those  idle  terrors  of 
Cowichin  invasion  which  have  so  often  distressed 
their  minds."  Arrived  at  Victoria,  the  Indians  uude!- 
went  a  form  of  trial,  and  were  executed.* 

Not  long  afterward  a  white  man  was  shot,  but  not 
mortally,  at  Cowichin,  and  soon  the  governor  was 
there  again  with  the  Trincomalee  towed  by  the  Offer. 
Yet  more  peremptory  conduct  on  both  sides  marked 
this  occasion.  The  natives  refused  to  give  up  the 
(!ulprit,  and  desired  to  fight.  Though  consideratf  and 
humane,  there  was  none  braver  or  more  detortnined 
than  Douglas.  He  would  not  harm  the  poor  smat^es 
if  he  could  possibly  avoid  it;  but  he  would  have  tlie 
offender  and  satisfy  justice  if  he  swept  the  Island  into 
the  sea. 

The  governor  landed  his  forces,  and  each  side  (hew 
up  in  battle-array ;  the  red  with  tremendous  and  fearful 
noise,  the  white  with  mountain-howitzer  and  musket. 
Douglas  beckoned  the  chief  forward,  and  a  parley 
ensued,  but  without  favorable  result.  The  wliit(>  men 
then  encamped  wiiere  they  were.  Next  morning  the 
governor  stood  before  the  Cowichin  village,  still  in 
the  interests  of  peace  and  humanity.  Behind  him  were 
the  muskets  and  howitzer  ready  pointed  awaiting  his 
signal    to  fire.     Instead  of  the   chief,  the    murderer 

*  Dnui/Uts'  Private  Papem,  2d  ser.,  MS.,  3i-4;  Deam  Settlement  I  I. 
MS.,  U.' 


-njMlii 


BLANSHARD  AND  DOUGLAS. 


330 


liiiiisolf,  armed  and  painted,  came  out,  hesitated  a 
moiiieut,  then  quickly  raised  his  gun  and  pulled  the 
trio  (^rcr.  It  missed  tire,  else  the  governor  had  probably 
l)e(  II  slain.  And  yet  he  did  not  give  the  signal  to 
fire.  Coolly  and  calmly  he  stood  his  ground,  while 
the  savages  seized  and  bound  the  offender,  and  handed 
him  to  the  governor  for  justice.  The  trial  took  place 
imiuediately,  and  the  Indian  was  hanged  there  before 
all  his  people.^ 

Such  was  the  administration  of  justice  during  the 
first  years  of  the  Douglas  rule.  But  the  governor  did 
ni)t  relish  it.  In  his  less  dignified  days  he  had  fouglit 
Indi.aiis  and  hunted  criminals  to  his  heart's  content. 
And  now  to  continue  in  himself  the  offices  of  sheriff, 
)U(lt;(\  and  executive,  together  with  a  dozen  otliers, 
was  more  than  he  cared  for.  Mij^ht  he  not  make  a 
jud^e  even  I'^fore  legislators  were  convened,  and  after- 
ward o^et  government  to  sanction  the  proceeding,  and 
the  colony  to  [)ixy  the  cost? 

Tliere  was,  al)out  the  time  of  this  last  occurrence, 
at  (^)wichin  oii3  David  Cameron,  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany clerk,  and  superintendent  of  the  coal-mines  at 
Nanaimo  He  was  a  brother  in-law  of  the  governor- 
it  IS  wonderful  how  prolific  was  the  family  when  offices 
were  vacant  bat  we  must  also  bear  in  mind  how 
^cantv  was  suitable  ijovermnij  material  at  this  time. 
riere  was  an  opportunity  foi  a  little  stroke  of  busi- 
ness. And  it  was  all  business  civdizinsjj,  christian- 
izui'j;,  colonizing,  and  governmg  What  sliall  I  gain 
hy  it?  was  the  question  and.  that  not  in  heaven  or 
ht-rt'after,  but  litre  and  now 

Cameron  nad  been  brought  ap  a  draper;  he  once  had 

harge  of  somebody's  estate  m  the  West  Indies,  and 

lie  now  received  from  the  company  one  hundred  and 

tifty  pounds  a  year  for  his  services.     Though  he  knew 

*  'Coart  woulil  HdtiBetimefi  be  hold  a*  which  Indians  were  trie. I.  Floj;ging 
«'asH"iiiet>nie8inflintwt  upouth-  natives  whith  thoy  deemed  v  Ty  disgraceful, 
riio  ilr  itli-uriialty  wu»  xuiiicted  ju  Indians.  MrUonalU,  m  Bnt,  CoL  Sketc/icn, 
MS.,  L-J,    ^       ' 


*n  hi,. 


330 


THE  JUDICIARY. 


nothing  of  law,  never  having  been  called  to  the  h\v, 
yet  lie  might  make  a  most  excellent  judge,  buiiii,' 
brother-in-law  to  the  king.  In  civil  oases,  at  least, 
where  human  life  was  not  at  stake,  lie  might  serve 
well  enougli;  the  company  being  always  one  of  the 
parties  in  such  suits,  all  he  had  to  do  was  to  decide 
in  favor  of  the  company.  The  matter  of  salary  was 
worthy  of  consideration;  but  with  liis  pay  as  clerk  Iw. 
miglit  live ;  it  would  cost  nothing  extra  to  act  as  judj^c; 
there  was  honor  in  it,  the  first  chief-justice  of  the 
colony,  and  all  that;  besides,  it  would  not  do  to  let  so 
impcjrtant  an  (office  go  out  of  the  family  (»•  out  of  the 
company.  Suppose  some  big-wig  having  a  knowledge 
of  law  and  a  mind  of  his  own  should  come  out  fioni 
Enghmd  armed  with  the  autliority  of  deturmiuiiitf 
here,  there,  everywhere,  what  miglit  and  wliat  u\\>^]it 
not  be  done,  one  wlio  might  awn  presume  to  instruct 
the  governor  in  his  duties,  and  prescribe  limits  to  the 
power  of  tlie  monopoly.  It  would  be  fearful;  entail- 
ing, besides,  heavy  expenses  upon  the  colony  for  the 
luxuiy  of  a  curse. 

No!  Since  Blanshard's  day,  matters  were  not  so 
bungled.  Appoint  Cameron;  get  government  to  ratify 
the  appointment;  then  let  him  serve  without  pay  for 
the  present,  trusting  that  all  will  come  out  j)rolita- 
bly  in  the  end.  And  so  it  was  done.  The  supreme 
court  of  civil  judicature  of  A'^aneouver  Island  was 
created,  and  the  draper  became  chief-justice  of  the 
colony.^ 

Kules  to  be  observed  in  the  supreme  court  iov  the 
admmistration  of  justice  in  civil  cases  were  submitted 

^  '  Was  tli(?ro  any  dissatisfaction  expressed  at  tlie  time  of  liis  appointiiient  ?' 
asked  Mr  I'liristy  of  Mr  Cooper  liefore  tlie  suleet  committee.  '  Stroiij,'  hmikjii- 
str.iueejt  wure  made  l)y  petition  to  the  governor,  and  hy  petition  to  tlio  limi.si  i)f 
commons,  was  the  reply  House  ('oniiiniiis  Rep'.,  11.  B.  Co.,  KS.")7,  '20-.  '  lli« 
settlers  at  K  'd  Uiver  in  1840  petition  the  removal  of  the  reconler,  AdamTiidni, 
becau.-ie  of  lus  favi>rnifi  the  fur  comi)any  in  his  decisions.  Cdli/init,  in  /''■,  'Wl. 
Mr  ( 'oopci  heforo  tlie  select  committee  n  narkeil  of  Mr  Staines:  '  Me  was  pur- 
seciUcd  most  vilely,  1  lielieve,  myself,  through  the  instrumentality  of  this  Mr 
Cameron,  for  he  was  a  prominent  pirty  there;  he.  Rev.  Mr  Staines,  was  iw 
(loul)t  olinoxious  to  the  autlionties,  and  he  was  perseeutod  u:i  that  account. 
Jlome  Co.ninons  Rqpt.,  11.  B.Co.,  ISJT,  I*J3. 


by  C\M- 
ril,  and  w 
copy  of 
I'lieri'  for 
same  on  ^ 

Ciinien 
ISr);'..'  an( 
iiial  utKce 
wa.s  still  { 
residence 
of  his  tk^u 
ill  1858,  1 

But  a  y 

out  lUOIUV 

from  the  i 
nial  (l(,'ve 
eriior  Bla 
Rty  Com 
officers  ou 
must  he  ri 
tact,"  rem 
in  their  g 
own  e.Kj)e 
nients;  th 
paying  pr 
shall  he  o 
Iiromincn 
published 

After 
every  elc 
traditions 
and  cdllet 
clerks,  tn 

J //-««•  0/ 

''Tills  aoci 
iloparture  of 

»llu  <lied 
'■i'lth  M;iv  KS7 

'•' '  MV  Xe, 
till'  islijul  of 

His 


Wl 


DAVID  CAMERON. 


337 


bv  Chief-justice  Canieroii  to  tho  o<)voni()r  and  coun- 
cil, unci  were  approvod  tho  17tli  of  February  1857.  A 
c(Ji)y  of  these  rules  was  transmitted  to  ^Ir  Labou- 
chere  for  final  approval,  and  proclamation  made  of  the 
saiDc  on  Vancouver  Island." 

Ciuueron  received  his  nomination  from  Douj^las  in 
ISoT),**  and  his  a[)pointment  was  confirmed  by  the  colo- 
nial <ilfico  about  the  end  of  the  year,  at  which  time  he 
was  still  at  Nanaiino.  Early  in  1854  he  took  up  his 
residence  at  Victoria,  where  he  remained  to  the  day 
of  his  death."  Cameron  was  superseded  1  )y  Needham '" 
in  1858,  he  by  Be^bie  in  1859. 

But  a  lioveriunent  cannot  be  carried  on  forever  with- 
out  money.  It  had  been  stipulated  that  the  proceeds 
fioHi  the  sale  of  public  lands  might  be  devoted  to  colo- 
nial development.  Before  leaving  the  Island,  Gov- 
ernor Hlanshard  had  been  informed  by  the  JLudson's 
Bay  Company  that  no  salaries  would  be  paid  public 
otticrrs  out  of  the  proceeds  of  land  sales.  Such  salaries 
must  he  raised  either  by  taxes  or  duties.  "  This  is,  in 
fact,"  remarked  the  governor,  repudiating  the  clause 
in  tlieir  grant  which  binds  them  to  ])rovid(!,  at  their 
own  exjjense,  all  neccssaiy  civil  and  military  establisli 
meats;  their  own  arrangements  tend  to  prevent  a  tax- 
paying  population  settling  here;  and  that  the  harbors 
shall  he  open  to  all  nation  for  the  pur[)oses  of  ti'ade  is 
proud  iiently  put  forward  in  the  prospectus  they  have 
published."" 

After  the  departure  of  Blanshard,  however;  after 
every  element  and  person  obnoxious  to  fur-trading 
traditions  had  been  removed,  when  all  revenue  levied 
and  collected  should  fall  into  the  pockets  or  honorable 
clerks,  traders,  and  factors — there  was  no  longer  ques- 

^  I  I'll/. -I'  of  Commons  Returns  to  an  Address,  dated  June  2.5,  IS.")?,  18. 

•■  Tins  according  to  Coojjer.  Finlayson  dates  lii.^  apixiiiitiuuiit  'after  the 
ilepaituic  of  Blanshard,'  say  in  18.")2.  Jfiit   V.  I.,  MS.,  100. 

''Ih'  lUedat  Bdmont,  V.  I.,  the  14th  of  May  1872.  Oli/mina  Transcrq)!, 
'-'•'itli  M;iy  1872. 

'" '  Mr  Xee.lham  was  then  knighted  and  appointed  to  a  similar  position  in 
till' island  of  Trinichid,  West  Indies.'  Finlayson  s  V.  I.,  MS.,  101. 

^^  /ll'iiis/inrd's  Desjtixtehcs,  11. 
Hist.  Biut.  Coi,.    -n 


i!|lll 


•I'M' 


'■''■'i 


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SM 


THE  JUDICIARY. 


tion  as  to  tlic  right  disposition  to  bo  inado  of  tin'  pio- 
coods  of  land  sales.'" 

Sonic  revenue  might  be  seeured  from  sales  of  iiiiKJ 
if  settlers  would  come  forward  and  pay  their  ]t<)iiii(| 
per  aere;  but  if  the  lands  did  not  sell,  the  privilujirc 
was  of  little  avail.  Was  there  no  other  airciicv 
whereby  patriots  might  secure  profit  as  well  as  honor 
for  their  services  1  Yes :  there  was  rum.  As  a  civili/,(  r, 
rum  had  been  always  king.  Whoever  heard  of  tiu^ 
accomplishment  of  great  tilings  in  the  new  world— of 
conquests,  conversions,  pacifications,  and  occupations — 
without  the  aid  of  alcohol?  White  men  and  red  iiicn 
both  loviid  it,  and  would  lay  down  their  life  for  it. 
Let  this  stimulant,  then,  do  what  every  other  stimu- 
lant failed  to  accomplish ;  let  whiskey  energize  wlieru 
philantrophy,  enlightenment,  and  progress  could  not 
inspire.  Let  justice  be  supported  by  the  emoluments 
of  vice,  and  let  the  noble  institutions  of  Euroi)e  he 
planted  in  America  with  empty  rum-barrels  for  their 
foundation.  So,  by  order  of  the  governor  hi  council, 
liquor-dealers  in  Vancouver  Island  were  made  to  ]iay 
each  an  annual  license  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
pounds.  At  the  time  when  the  first  house  of  assonihly 
met  there  were  four  of  these  licenses  on  the  Island, 
one  held  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  three 
by  retail  dealers. 

By  paying  this  annual  license,  keepers  of  piihlic 
houses  might  freely  import  liquors  and  sell  without 
further  restriction.  There  were  no  duties  on  spirits 
or  groceries,  and  on  this  license  liquors  might  be  sold 
in  any  quantities  or  to  any  persons  except  Indians. 
No  license  was  required  to  sell  any  article  except 
spirits.  And  although  this  license  was  by  many 
deemed  exorbitant,  yet  if  there  had  been  no  more  un- 
wise nrovisions  in  colonial  regulations,  as  colonization 
goes,  immigrants  would  have  been  more  than  usually 
fortunate.     By  this  means,  in  due  time,  the  sum  ot 


'■^  'The  revenne  of  Vancouver  Island  prior  to  ISoS  arose  principally  frmii 
the  salo  of  land.'  Fiukiynons  Hint.   V.  I.,  M.S.,  84. 


IIKVENUE  AND  EXPENDITURK 


-  •!!■':    i   '! 


one  liundrcd  i)<)uncls  per  annum  was  provided  for  the 
cliiet'-justice." 

Fur  the  year  endin*^  November  1,  1855,  the  pubhc 
txjK  nditure  ot'tlie  colony  was  £4,107  2s.  M.  Tlie  in- 
come from  all  sources,  including  duty  on  licensed  houses 
and  sales  of  public  land,  was  £093  2s.  lOd.  Among 
the  items  of  expenditure  were  government  premises, 
£7  lbs.  lOd.;  surveying  department,  £083  18s.  Id.; 
rojids  and  bridges,  £1,388  S.s.  5c/.;  Victoria  (church, par- 
sonage and  chaplain,  £1,302  I7.s.  5d;  public  schools, 
.i'.'i'JO  4.9.  lid.;  poor-rates,  £10  10.s.  i)d.;  administration 
of  justice,  £100;  jail  expenses,  £30  ds.  2d.;  militia, 
£81  8s.  8d.  From  land  sales  were  received  £334  17s. 
Cxi,  and  from  duty  on  licensed  houses  £340. 

( )n  the  0th  of  December  1856,  the  house  of  assembly 
asked  the  governor  what  the  revenue  of  the  colony 
ini^lit  be.  The  reply  was,  "that  the  house  can  exer- 
cise a  direct  control  only  over  the  revenue  raised  in 
the  colony  through  the  act  of  the  general  legislature. 
Tlio  revenue  derived  from  the  tax  on  licensed  houses 
is  therefore,  I  conceive,  the  only  fund  absolutely  at 
our  disposal;  the  proceeds  arising  from  land  sales, 
royalties,  and  timber  duties  being  remitted  and  placed 
to  tlie  account  of  the  reserve  fund  in  England,  which 
is,  however,  also  exclusively  applicable  for  colonial 
])urp()ses,  with  the  exception  of  ten  per  cent  allowed 
liy  virtue  of  the  charter  of  grant  to  the  Hudson's  Bay 
C"oiii})any."  The  revenue  received  from  licensed  houses 
was,  in  1853,  £220,  in  1854,  £400,  and  in  1855,  £340.^* 


'-    ;-;  ; 

w 

'1 

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"  And  now,  besides  the  £1.50  as  clerk,  Cameron  '  receives  also  another  .€100 
JILT  iuiiuiin  from  what  is  called  the  license  fund.  There  are  heavy  licenses 
fniiM  the  imblicans;  they  my  about  £120  per  annum.  I  believe  that  gives  an 
iiKdiiu;  to  the  colony  of  about  £400  or  £500  per  aunuin,  and  he  receives  £100 
oiitiif  it.'  Cooper,  in  J/omc  Commons  BeyL,  11.  B  Co.,  1857,  193. 

"  llctween  the  12th  of  July  1855  and  the  10th  of  October  1856,  there  were 
sold  (if  public  lands  2,1.37  acres.  'The  extent  of  unimprovable  rockj'saya 
^\  illiam  Cr.  Smitli,  secretary  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  in  his  statement 
reii(lire<l  the  governor,  the  Kith  of  October  1856,  'added  to  the  allowance 
madi'  for  roads,  somewhat  exceeds  837  acres,  leaving  1,299  acres,  three  roods, 
and  'JO  perches  chargeable  to  purchasers;  on  which  £512  iln.  Gd.  has  been 
already  paid  in,  anil  there  remains  payable  by  annual  instalments  the  sum  of 
£787  Ox,  10(;.'  la  addition  to  above,  £6,193  was  received  from  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  for  lands  purchased  or  reserved  by  them.  Up  to  the  19th  of 
July  ltj55,  the  total  amount  received  from  land  sales  was  £6,871  9«.  M.    The 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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THE  JUDICIARY. 


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An  appropriation  for  £130  passed  the  assembly  tlio 
18th  of  December  185G,  and  was  approved  by  the 
council  and  governor  the  14th  of  February  1857. 
The  items,  all  of  which  were  to  be  paid  out  of  the  duty 
derived  from  licensed  houses,  were  as  follows:  £50, 
to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  governor,  to  pay  for 
copying  documents  for  the  use  of  the  iiouse;  £10  to 
Robert  Barr  for  services  as  clerk  of  house;  £5  to 
Andrew  Muir  for  services  as  sergeant-at-arms ;  £25 
for  salary  of  clerk  of  house  for  1857;  £15  for  salary 
of  sergeant-at-arms  and  messenger  for  1857;  £20  for 
heating,  lighting,  and  furnishing  house  of  assembly 
for  1857;  £5  for  stationery  for  members  of  assembly." 

The  truth  is,  government  on  the  Island  thus  tar, 
with  the  sole  exception  of  the  legally  appointed 
governor,  who  could  have  performed  all  the  duties  of 
that  office  equally  as  well  had  he  been  only  chief 
factor  in  charge  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's 
affairs,  was  mere  sham.  The  council  was  a  sham,  in- 
competen''  to  ordain;  the  chief-justice  was  a  sham, 
the  hireling  of  the  monopoly,  knowing  no  law;  and 
the  legislature  was  a  sham,  for  there  never  had  been 
given,  by  act  of  parliament,  sufficient  power  to  con- 
stitute a  legislature.  All  that  had  been  done  was 
doiie  by  the  power  of  the  crown.  The  colony  was 
first  ruled  by  a  governor  in  council,  which  government 
soon  came  to  a  standstill  because  it  proposed  to  levy 
duties  on  spirits,  or  issue  liquor  licenses,  when  it  pos- 
sessed no  authority;  then  it  was  that  an  abortive 
attempt  was  made  to  set  up  in  the  Island  a  free  lej^is- 
lature. 

moneys  received  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  remitted  to  London. 
By  tiic  lOtli  of  October  1853,  they  hod  remitted  £.1,577  5t.  2(/.;  the  I'ligct 
Sound  Company  had  paid  in  London  £2,574,  a/jd  £120  had  l)een  pnid  I'V  ^V. 
C.  (irant  and  J.  lluggins  in  London,  house  Cummom'  Itetums  to  an  Add'-e»ii, 
14. 

"  M'muta  of  Council  14th  Feb.  1857  in  House  Commons'  Returns  to  an  Ad 
dress.  19. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


!^''! 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 

1858. 

OoLii !  Hatl  All-powkrftl  anp  Most  Worshipfti-  ! — Its  Presencf,  not 
Skcrfttly  Known  to  tub  Fur-tkaders — Discovery  on  Vancouver 
IsLANiv— On  Queen  Charlotte  Islands — On  Skeena  River — In  the 
('AsfADE  Mountains  ok  Washinoton — At  Colville — At  Kamlooi* — 
On  Thompson  Rivek— On  Fkask.k  River— The  Tiiunos  Spread— The 
M.viter  Laid  hekore  Government — Kkfect  on  California — Rush  to 
TiiK  Mines — Rdutes  and  Mkihods  of  Transportation — Whatcom 
vKitsrs  Victoria— Trail-makino— Overland  Expeditions— Licenses 
AND  Imposts — Effect  on  the  Fur-traders. 


:'^ 


'■  u 


m 


High  above  all  principalities  and  powers,  above 
rolii,n()US  fanaticism  or  love  of  empire,  above  patriot- 
ism, philanthropy,  family  affection,  lumor,  virtue,  or 
thiiiii^s  supernal  or  infernal,  there  now  arises  in  this 
Xtirthwost  wilderness  an  influence  which  overshadows 
every  other  influence,  which  shrivels  into  insignifi- 
caiue  fur  companies,  licenses  to  trade,  pounds  per  acre, 
wttltiuent,  skins  of  wild  beasts  or  lives  of  wild  men, 
missionaries,  governors,  parliaments,  houses  of  assei.  .- 
h\\\  and  even  rum. 

Here  history  begins  anew.  It  is  as  though  noth- 
iii<;  had  been;  as  though  all  was  present  and  to  come. 

Amongst  the  many  sins  charged  upon  the  Hudson's 
T^iiy  Company,  by  the  hungry  horde  that  invaded  their 
ttriitories  during  the  wild  excitement  of  1858,  was 
t'lif  in  effect  that  the  existence  of  gold  on  the  upper 
Knisor  and  elsewhere  had  long  been  known  to  the 
company's  officers,  prior  to  that  unwelcome  appear- 

(341) 


848 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 


II A 


ance,  and  that  such  knowledge  had,  through  motives 
of  pohcy,  been  kept  secret. 

While  it  is  not  of  the  slightest  importance  to  any 
one,  least  of  all  to  those  then  upon  the  gound  in 
search  of  the  metal,  how  long  fur-traders  had  knovii 
of  its  existence,  if  of  that  pestiferous  crew  there  are 
any  now  living  to  whom  tlie  fact  that  such  previous 
knowledge  did  not  exist  can  bring  comfort,  let  tluin 
henceforth  possess  their  souls  in  peace.  It  would 
surely  seem  the  last  thing  of  which  sane  men  could 
complain,  for  had  such  knowledge  been  published, 
where  now  would  be  their  chance?  Rather  let  tlieiu 
thank  the  good  traders  for  keeping  the  secret. 

The  fact,  however,  had  not  been  known.^  Reticent 
as  were  the  traders  by  law  and  by  instinct,  they  could 
not  long  have  kept  secret  a  knowledge  of  the  existence 
of  any  large  quantity  of  precious  metal,  even  had  it 
been  to  their  interest  to  do  so.  And  as  to  their  inter- 
est, when  such  knowledge  was  almost  sure  to  spuil 
forever  their  dearly  loved  hunting-ground,  how  could 
those  doubt  who  were  unaware  how  near  their  end 
the  company  were  before  the  great  gold  excitonient, 
how  a  renewal  of  their  exclusive  trade  license  liad 
already  been  refused  them,  how  great  might  be  their 
harvest  with  all  their  superior  facilities  of  men,  sliij>s, 
fortresses  well  stored  with  goods,  of  organization, 
capital,  familiarity  with  the  natives,  and  knowledu;o 
of  i\ie  country,  should  the  region  rapidly  fill  with 
enei  getic  humanity  ? 

But  although  gold  on  the  upper  Fraser  was  not 
uncovered  to  any  one  long  prior  to  the  so-ealled 
Fraser  River  excitement,  its  existence  in  supposed 
inconsiderable  quantities  elsewhere  in  British  C(duni- 
bia  had  been  openly  and  for  some  time  known.  Tho 
silly  suspicion   of  the   miners,   that   the   knowle(I<fe 


'  'No  suspicion  of  tho  fact  ever  existed,  as  I  can  personally  aver.  Iinl.t'd, 
it  Wiia  not  till  after  a  consideraWe  interval,  ami  after  niuih  careful  reHeitii  li  l>y 
experienced  niint^ra  from  California,  that  the  riches  of  the  Cariboo  uiiuLS  «  ere 
partially  developed.'  Anderson's  Northwest  Coatt,  MS.,  lltt. 


EARUEST  GOLD  INDICATIONS. 


343 


e^isted  and  was  kept  secret,  never  was  true  of  any 
part  of  the  country,  or  at  any  time. 

When  during  the  summer  of  1850  Joseph  W.  Mc- 
Kay was  exploring  for  farming  lands  between  Vic- 
toria and  Nanaimo,  on  Vancouver  Island,  he  found 
in  various  places  particles  of  gold,  but  nowliere  in 
sufticient  quantities  to  warrant  further  investigation. 
Xuvertheless,  it  was  a  gold-field  that  he  had  found, 
and  mines  were  worked  there  subsequently.^ 

During  this  same  year,  the  mania  for  gold  then 
rai,nng  in  California  having  penetrated  savagedom, 
a  native  of  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands  appeared  at 
Victoria  with  a  bag  of  specimens.' 

Writing  Earl  (irey  the  29th  of  March  1851,  Gov- 
ernor Blanshard  says:  "I  have  heard  that  fresh  speci- 
imiis  of  gold  have  been  obtained  from  the  Queen 
Cliarlotte's  Islanders.  I  have  not  seen  them  mvsclf, 
but  they  are  reported  to  be  very  rich.  The  Hudson'.s 
Bay  Company's  servants  intend  to  send  an  expedition 
in  tlie  course  of  the  summer  to  make  proper  investi- 
gations."* The  brigantine //wron,  was  despatched  ac- 
cordingly, ostensibly  to  trade,  but  really  to  search  for 
gold.  Failing  in  which,  and  for  want  of  something 
better  to  do,  the  men  broke  up  part  of  a  quartz  ledge. 


■'  ■    S  -; 


•f 


''  In  August  1858  there  was  quite  a  flurry  of  excitement  in  Victoria  respect- 
ing tlio  pi-esence  of  gold  in  that  vicinity,  as  if  it  were  then  a  new  tiling.  '  Onii 
atTimut  asserts  positively  that  five  ounces  were  tiikcn  from  diggings  south-east 
of  Victoria, . .  .while  another  changes  the  location  to  a  nearly  opposite  (Munt.' 
Virtiii-iii  (,'iizfUe,  Aug.  1!»,  1858.  liumora  increased,  until  within  a  week  after- 
w:inl  ijold  w;is  everywhere — under  the  governor's  houses,  at  Silver  Lake,  at 
•Sa.iiii.  Ii,  and  at  Dead  Man's  Creek.  'It  has  been  found  Imck  of  Nanaimo, 
aiul  n  known  to  exist  on  other  i8lan<ls  in  these  waters. '  Victoria  ihmtie,  Aug. 
t!('i,  is.VS.  'One  location  about  twenty  miles  from  Nanaimo  is  now,  1878, 
buliij:  wdrked  l)y  Chinamen.'  McKni/'s  Iffcnllertir^uH,  M.S.,  11. 

•'  'liold  liad  been  discovered  in  Queen  Cliarlotte's  Island  in  IStW,  but  only 
in  Niii.dl  quantities.'  /iriUih  Volumlmi  and  Vniira^ni'r  hlniid,  I'J",  by  VVil- 
li:iiii  C.ircw  Hazlitt.  This  little  book,  a  lOino  of  247  pages  in  yellnw  boards, 
wa.s  publLshed  in  London  in  1858  with  a  map  to  all  apiPfanmce  much  older 
in  Its  uompilatioii  than  the  text.  Mr  Hazlitt  is  evidently  a  journeyman 
autliirr,  whose  wages  were  too  low  to  warrant  good  work.  His  Imok  is  mostly 
fxtivuts,  well  selected,  and  from  widely  extended  sources,  the  original  parts 
lieiii:;  ilosultory,  and  lacking  both  preciseness  ami  consistt^ncy. 

iJe; 


'  lihimlinrd's  Desjuitrlueii" XQ.     The  governor  was  not  very  definite  in  his 
'•I   of  metals,  or  precise  in  his  use  uf  wordj. 


■■\\ 


iUU 


MmA 


SM 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 


1 


'.    : 


i       ! 


and  carrying  the  pieces  on  board  their  vessel,  re- 
turned in  triun)ph  to  Victoria.  Again  on  tlie  12th 
of  May,  liianshard  observes:  "Reports  are  current  of 
gold  having  been  found  by  the  Cowitchin  Indians,  in 
the  Arro  Canal,  but  they  are  so  vague  as  scarcely  t; 
deserve  notice." 

Rowland  of  the  sloop  Georgina  from  Australia  IkkI  a 
mate  named  McEwen,  who  had  been  in  the  service 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  In  one  of  his  exi)e- 
ditions  to  the  north,  McEwen  professed  to  have  landid 
on  Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  and  to  have  chiselled  some 
gold  out  of  a  quartz  seam.  This  was  exhibited  by 
Rowland  and  McEwen  at  Olympia  in  the  autumn  of 
1851.  It  was  their  oi)inion  that  if  they  could  organize 
a  company  and  go  to  the  spot  in  sufficient  force,  tluy 
could  load  their  vessel  with  gold.  An  expedition  was 
fitted  out  at  Olympia,  which  sailed  in  the  Gconjina  in 
November  1851.  Being  forced  to  come  to  anchor  at 
Neah  Bay,  on  account  of  bad  weather,  the  Danicras 
Cove,  Cajitain  Balch,  was  encountered  at  the  same 
place.  Balch  was  out  on  an  oil  and  fur-trading  ex- 
pedition, but  on  learning  the  destination  of  the  (icor- 
gina — in  spite  of  the  mystery  that  surrounded  it — 
he  followed  the  sloop  northward.^  The  unfortunate 
ending  of  this  venture  is  given  elsewhere.  In  the 
summer  of  1851,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  with- 
out further  showing,  despatched  the  brigantine  Jhiron 
with  a  immber  of  men,  who  had  experience  in  miniii<T, 
to  the  spot  indicated  by  the  native  who  had  brought 
the  specimens  to  Victoria  some  time  previous.  Thiv 
spent  several  months  prospecting  the  islands,  and 
though  they  failed  to  find  placers  at  the  place  indi- 
cated by  the  native,  after  considerable  searching  aloiij; 
a  quartz  outcrop  they  succeeded  in  finding  a  u^od 
ledge  which  showed  free  gold  in  nearly  every  spici- 
men.  They  were  not  prei)ared  to  undertake  quartz- 
mining  operations;  and  as  it  was  now  late  in  tho 
season,  they  gathered  about  half  a  ton  of  specinu  us 

"  Weed'ii  Queen  CluvloUe  hlaml,  MS.,  9-19. 


gUEEN  CHARLOTTE  ISLANDS. 


346 


and  returned  to  Victoria,  intending  to  resume  tlieir 
work  on  the  ledge  better  prepared  the  following 
s[ning.*  McEwen's  specimens  seem  to  have  come 
from  the  saine  place,  and  not  improbably  they  were 
obtained  fnmi  the  same  native.  It  was  in  a  little 
harbor  on  the  west  coast  of  Moresby  Island,  the 
southern  island  of  the  group,  subsequently  known  as 
(jold  Harbor,  also  as  Mitchell  Harbor,  named  after 
Captain  Mitchell  of  the  Recovery. 

Ill  the  following  spring  of  1852,  Queen  Charlotte 
Islands  witnessed  the  arrival  of  numerous  expeditions. 
Tlu;rc  were  five  vessels  in  Mitchell  Harbor  at  one 
time;  and  the  hills  were  full  of  prospectors.  A  party 
ot"  miners  from  the  Nanaimo  coal-mines,  taken  there 
1)V  the  Una  on  behalf  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
was  well  provisioned  and  provided  with  every  requisite 
for  blasting  on  a  large  scale.  The  whole  ended  in  dis- 
a|)[>ointment.  A  quartz  vein  seven  inches  in  width, 
traceable  for  eighty  feet,  contained  in  some  places 
twt'iity-five  per  cent  of  gold,  but  the  hope  of  loading 
Vessels  here  with  gold  was  forever  abandoned. 

In  the  Fort  Simpson  journal,  the  8th  of  A])ril  1852, 
is  found  written:  "This  day  one  of  the  chiefs  from 
Skciiar  River  that  arrived  here  yesterday  brought  a 
l'(  w  small  pieccis  of  gold  ore  to  the  fort;  also  two 
iarij^t!  pieces  of  quartz  rock  with  a  few  particles  of 
!j:ii1(1  ore  introduced.  The  chief ...  tells  me  that  it 
Would  take  me  seven  days  to  go  where  the  gold  is  to 
bt'  found  and  return  back  to  the  fort.  I  am  told  by 
others  that  we  can  go  to  tiie  place  in  two  days,  or 
forty-eight  hours,  by  trail.  The  chief  tt'lls  me  that 
the  oolil  is  to  be  seen  in  many  places  on  the  surface 
of  the  rock  f(tr  some  distance,  say  two  miles.  This  is 
a  most  important  discovery,  at  least  I  think  so,  and 
may  prove  more  convenient  for  us  to  work  than  the 
(iiuLj'iugs  on  Queen  Charlotte  Island.  I  shall  go  or 
s 'lid  to  have  a  look  at  this  and  examine  this  new  dis- 
<ovi!ry  HO  soon  as  possible.     I  gave   the  chief  that 

"ilcKay'ti  RccoHections,  MS.,  12-15. 


>    i 


111, 
ft  * 


■». 


ifSi 


'If 


•I     -'  i 


U 


348 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCTTEMENT. 


brought  tho  rock  and  ore  a  larger  canoe,  value  fi\e 
elk-skins,  which  pleased  him  much.  We  showed  liiin 
other  civilities.  I  hope  the  company,  and  myself  also, 
will  reap  some  benefit  from  this  discovery,  as  I  have 
ten  children  that  would  be  much  pleased  to  finger  a 
portion  of  the  precious  metal.  Who  knows  but  this 
discovery  may  prove  more  valuable  than  the  di^gintj^s 
in  California. '  To  which  prayer  the  sailor  McNeill 
affixed  his  initials. 

The  24th  of  the  same  month  the  fort  scribe  enters: 
"Pierre  Lagrace  with  his  son  and  four  Indians  had 
started  in  tho  morning  to  visit  the  place  where  gold 
has  been  found  at  Skenar  River.  They  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  when  the  steamer  was  seen  in  tho  distance, 
and  they  turned  back,  together  with  four  other  canoes 
which  had  also  started  for  the  river  on  a  trading  excur- 
sion . . .  We  were  most  pleased  to  hear  that  all  our 
friends  to  the  south  were  well,  and  that  the  Recovery, 
one  of  our  vessels,  had  gone  to  Queen  Charlotte 
Island  to  hunt  for  and  obtain  gold.  Captains  Mitchell 
and  Stuart  and  Dr  Kennedy  were  the  superior  officers 
of  the  party,  in  all  forty  souls." 

May  5th:  "About  noon  Chief  Factor  Work  with 
Pierre  Lagrace,  Quintal,  and  four  Indians  started  in 
a  canoe  for  Skenar  River  to  examine  the  gold  re- 
gions said  to  exist  up  that  river.  They  will  probably 
be  absent  about  fourteen  days."  Punctually  to  the 
hour  Work  returned  and  reported  no  gold  on  Skcoiia 
River,  and  his  journey  a  failure. 

The  8th  of  May  word  came  to  Fort  Simpson  from 
Kennedy  on  board  the  Recovery,  that  "two  American 
vessels  are  lying  in  Mitchell's  Harbour,  viz.,  the  Topic 
from  Liverpool,  and  the  Susan  Sturgis  from  Nisqually. 
The  vein  had  been  worked  out  by  some  vessel,  and  he 
had  no  hopes  of  obtaining  gold.  Six  more  vessels 
were  expected  soon  from  the  Columbia  and  San  Fran- 
cisco. The  Recovery  had  been  leaking  both  at  sea 
and  in  harbour.  This  will  be  another  bad  speculation 
in  my  opinion,"  concludes  the  Fort  Simpson  journal- 


liJ 


8KEENA  RIVER. 


S47 


k«'oper.  Nevertheless,  Kennedy  wanted  more  miniufif 
tools,  an  outfit  of  which,  with  beatls  and  cod-liooks, 
was  despatched  by  canoe  on  the  12th,  and  cimi-ged  to 
tlie  account  of  the  Recovery.  Letters  received  the 
Kith  reported  that  "no  gold  had  been  proc^ured  by 
blasting,"  and  that  "the  Aniericdn  vessels  had  ull 
gone  away  quite  disappointed."' 

Another  cliicf,  arriving  at  Fort  Simpson  on  the  5th 
September  from  Skeena  River,  reported  gold.  Chief 
Factor  Work  was  fast  catching  the  fever.  For  tlu-se 
many  years  furs  alone  had  filled  his  brain.  Now  he 
found  room  for  metals.  It  would  be  so  pleasant  to 
have  his  old  age  made  mellow  with  gold.  The  natives 
of  Xass  River  had  brought  in  specimens  of  various 
metals  from  their  country,  and  thither,  on  the  l.']th. 
Work  set  out  in  a  canoe  to  see  what  he  could  make 
of  it.  If,  indeed,  another  California  might  bo  found 
in  the  north,  how  happy  would  be  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company!  Nevertheless,  Work  returned  from  his 
adventure  unsuccessful.  "Nothing  like  gold  was  seen 
during  his  cruise,"  writes  the  anxious  father  of  ten 
children. 

Thus  years  before  the  great  excitement,  all  along 
the  coast,  from  Fuca  Strait  to  Skeena  Ri^er,  were 
thought  and  talk  of  gold;  and  when  men  looked  for 
it,  they  generally  found  evidence  of  its  presence. 

(ieorge  B.  McClellan  in  1853  found  gold  in  con- 
siderable quantities,  as  he  expresses  it,  on  the  military 

'  Fnrt  Simpson  Journal,  MS.,  1852.  See  also  Compton'a  Aliorii/innl  Brit. 
Col.,  MS.,  GO.  William  M.  Turner  elaborates  to  the  extent  of  seven  pages  in 
t\\v  II IV rlund  Monthly,  Feb.  1875,  a  statement  to  tlie  effect  that  in  Feb.  18.52 
oiif  .lack  McLean,  a  Scotch  sailor,  once  in  the  service  of  tlie  Huilson's  Bay 
(-'ciiiili.'iny,  arrived  at  8au  Francisco,  and  reported  gold  at  Englufiuld  Harbor, 
(^iicru  Charlotte  Islands.  The  fur-traders  were  then  there,  ho  said,  gathering 
till'  niutal,  and  jealous  of  any  intrusion.  On  his  way  down  he  had  Inien 
wrfiki'il.  On  the  eviilence  of  some  specimens  he  showed,  sixty-five  persons 
eiiiliai'kud  at  San  Francisco  tlie  29th  of  March  on  board  the  brig  Tepir,  Cap- 
tain i,ortt.  Arrived  at  Englctield  Harbor,  tliey  were  soon  overhauled  l)y  tno 
first  mate  of  the  Recovery,  who  informed  them  that  they  were  within  Britisli 
iliiiiiiiiiiin,  and  that  they  were  requested  to  depart  from  that  coast.  To  which 
tlii'V  gave  an  impudent  answer,  and  pushing  ashore  began  prospecting.  Tlieir 
iiiiiiili(io(land  inciependeuce  thus  vindicated,  after  a  month's  stay  they  returned 
wiicuco  they  came. 


ifl 


:i  1 


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i      i        1  > 
I      I 


! 


.1 

;  !  i 


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1  t 


■-<) 


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.1  'illl' 


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i 


11 


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if 


t*-  tr.+ 


MS 


THK  (iRKAT  OOLU  HXCITKMKNT. 


road  survey  tlirou^di  the  Nadies  Pa.s8  in  the  Cas- 
cade Mountains,  l)etw(!en  Walla  Walla  and  J'mt 
Steilacooni,  and  in  his  Northern  Pacific  Kailway  •  x- 
ploratiouH  at  Siniilkaineen,  ids  men  paniuni^  it  out  at 
the  rate  of  two  dollars  a  day.  Alfred  Waddington,  u 
former  MarijKtsa  miner,  saw  in  1854  an  Indian  cliic  t' 
i:i  the  Colville  country  who  had  placer  gold  in  his 
possession. 

Henry  De  Groot,  an  indefatigable  explorer,  pms- 
]tcctor,  and  writer  upon  mining  developments,  hii\iiit,' 
visited  British  C'olund)ia  in  1858,  states  that  Cliiii" 
Trader  McLean  at  Kandoop  procured  gold-dust  f'nmi 
the  natives  in  that  vicinity  as  early  as  1852,  since  wliicli 
time  njore  or  less  gold  has  been  received  from  tlic 
natives  at  that  and  other  posts,  though  not  enouifh 
to  awaken  a  8usj)icion  in  the  minds  of  the  traders  that 
paying  diggings  existed  in  the  country;  and  that 
various  parties  at  different  times  prospected  tlio 
banks  of  the  Thompson  between  1855,  the  date  of  tlic 
discovery  of  the  Colville  mines,  and  1858.  It  was  at 
Niconnnen,  on  the  Tlu)mp8on  near  its  junction  with 
the  Fraser,  according  to  some  authorities,  that  tliu 
first  gold  was  found  in  paying  quantities  in  Pritisli 
Columbia.  Chinese  and  Indians  were  engawd  in 
mining  at  that  ])lace  in  favorable  seasons  as  late  as 
1 876.  The  account  of  the  first  discovery  at  Niconum  a 
was  very  circumstantially  given  by  Douglas  in  liis 
diary  under  the  date  of  August  14,  1860,  witlumt 
stating  the  date  of  the  discovery.  "  Gold,"  he  writes, 
"was  first  found  on  Thompson  River  by  an  Indian,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  below  Nicommen.  He  is  since  lUad. 
The  Indian  Avas  taking  a  drink  out  of  the  river;  luiviiij,' 
no  vessel,  he  was  quaffing  from  the  stream,  when  he 
])erceived  a  shining  pebble,  which  he  picked  u[»,  and 
it  proved  to  be  gold.  The  whole  tribe  forthwith  In^aii 
to  collect  the  glittering  metal."* 

Mr  Finlayson  says  gold  was  first  found  in  croviees 

^DawMOH  OH  Mini's,  40;    Doiii/ln«'  Prhxtte  Pajiem,  Ist  ser.,   M8.,  1-4  .k 
HazliU'sB.  C,  127;  De  Oroot'n  B.  C,  13. 


THOMPSON  AND  FRASEU  UIVKKS. 


34G 


of  t]w  rocks  on  tlie  bunks  of  the  Tlioni|)son  Tvlvcr. 
McLean, tlu! otticor  in  clinrj^oat  Kaniloop, insjuctcd  tlio 
i,M'iiuii(l,  and  then  sent  down  to  Victoria  for  some  iron 
spoons  for  the  purpose  of  dijjjginj^  out  thi;  nuii^j^ets. 
The  si)oon8  were  sent  up  as  requested,  anil  Mcljcan  was 
instructed  to  give  every  encouragement  to  the  nativi'S 
ti)  liave  them  procure  and  bring  in  the  gold,  and  tooi)- 
taiii  all  that  he  could.  Shortly  al'terward,  an  Ameri- 
can named  Adams,  a  miner  of  some  experience,  began 
wasliiiig  for  gold  on  the  Fraser.  ]ie  gathered  a  small 
hag  full  of  fine  dust,  which  he  exhibited,  according  to 
Mr  Finlayson,  on  Puget  Sound  and  at  other  ])laces. 
The  news  so  attested  went  from  mouth  to  mouth,  and 
8|tread  rapidly  through  Oregon  and  California."  ^[r 
Anderson  states  that  the  first  intimation  the  Hudson's 
Jiav  people  had  (»f  the  existence  of  gold  in  the  interior 
was  ill  1855,  when  Angus  McDonald,  clerk  in  charge 
at  (.'olville,  "wrote  down  to  Fort  Vancouver  that  one 
of  his  men,  while  emjdoyed  hauling  firewood,  had  al- 
most undesignedly  amused  himself  by  washhig  out  a 
paiiliiiiin  of  gravel  on  the  beach  near  Colville."  l*ar- 
ticles  of  gold  were  found,  which  excited  curiosity  and 
in\ited  further  search;  j)arties  went  out  to  prospect, 
and  at  the  north  of  Fend  d'(Jreille  River  near  the 
houiidary,  diggings  were  found  which  were  moderately 
remunerative.  According  to  his  account,  it  was  in  1857 
that  the  existence  of  gold  was  ascertained  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Thompson,  and  it  was  the  exaggerated 
re[)(»rt  of  this  discovery  reaching  California,  he  believes, 
tliat  caused  the  great  rush  of  1858.'"  Douglas  noticed 
a  later  connmmication  of  McDonald's  in  a  letter  to 
Laliouchere  of  the  colonial  office,  dated  Victoria, 
April  10,  1856,  in  which  he  states  that  according 
to  McDonald's  report  from  the  upi)er  Caledonia 
district  in  March  1856,  gold  had  been  found  on 
the  upper  Columbia  in  considerable  quantities,  the 
daily  earning  of  persons  then  employed  in  the  dig- 

'  Fiiilni/Moiin   l .  I.  and  Narthxoest  Coaxt,  MS.,  SG-CO.     Adams'  doings  are 
lit'io  ciiiifuHed  with  McDonald's. 

^"AnderBona  Hist.  Northwest  Coaal,  MS.,  117-18. 


Nf 


1r 


1; 


1 


(I 


I 


MO  THE  GREAT  UOLD  EXCITEMENT. 

^'iiifj^H  \k'\\\^  from  ton  tti  forty  dollars  to  the  man. 
JaiiKis  Cooper  testified  before  the  British  parhauu  n- 
tary  committee  investij^ating  the  affairs  of  the  Jlml- 
son's  JJay  Company  in  1857,  touching  the  particulars  (if 
tliu  discovery,  expressing  the  belief  that  it  was  hij^hly 
important,  and  that  there  would  be  a  great  rush  into 
the  country.  His  language  was  prophetic,  for  it  wa.s  Imt 
twelve  months  later  when  from  thirty  to  forty  thou- 
sand people  came  into  British  Columbia  from  the  soutli. 

Waddnjgton  affirms  that  some  Canadians  fr(»m  Fort 
Colville  went  over  to  the  Thomj)son  and  ]^oiiajtart( . 
and  thence  to  the  Fraser  above  the  Big  Falls.  Tin  y 
jTospected  on  their  way,  found  gold  almost  evtiy- 
where,  and  concluded  to  tarry  amoi\g  tlie  natives  ,,n 
the  Thompson  in  order  to  try  their  fortune  at  miniiiL(. 
It  was  the  report  of  the  results  obtained  by  thesc^  nun 
which  induced  others  in  the  season  of  1857-8  to  em- 
bark in  mining;  and  results  exceeding  exjjoctations. 
the  news  was  spread  over  Puget  Sound  and  tlienco 
carried  to  San  Francisco.  De  Groot's  version  is  tluit 
in  the  sununer  and  autumn  of  1857  a  number  of  jin- 
sons  from  Oregon  and  Washington  territories,  familiar 
with  the  operations  at  the  Colville  mines,  accom- 
panied by  a  sprinkling  of  Canadians  and  half-bret  ds, 
formerly  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  service;  at 
Colville,  made  their  way  to  the  jr  .ction  of  the  Thomp- 
son with  the  Fraser.  They  found  several  rich  bars  in 
tliat  vicinity,  and  worked  them  with  good  success. 
He  also  states  that  it  was  the;  news  of  their  success 
which  caused  the  Fraser  River  excitement. 

McDonald  and  Adams,  two  partners  who  wero 
engaged  in  mining  on  the  Thompson  and  FVaser,  in 
1857-8  brought  down  some  of  the  first  gold  from  tlii' 
bars  where  the  first  profitable  workings  were  cai  ritd 
on.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Fraser,  McDonald  killed 
Adams  and  secured  his  gold,  which  he  carriitl  to 
Olynipia,  and  there  displayed  it." 

"  Waddiniitoiia  Eraser  Mines,  5;  De  Orani's  B.  C.,  l.S,  referring  to  Wacl- 
diiigtun'a  second  party.  DoujUu,  in  ContmiUu  A"".  El  Dorailo,  351-4;  Cooler » 


QUESTION  OF  OWNEIWUIP. 


3fil 


The  officers  of  the  fur  coiiipanv  at  Victoria  were 
wtll  informed  at  the  aame  tiiiio  of  the  iniiiiii^  o|)era- 
tioiia  that  were  goin^  on  in  the  valley  of  the  Frawer, 
and  its  tributary  the  Thompson,  but  not  coming  in 
loiitjict  directly  with  the  miners  who  emerged  from 
the  mountains  in  the  spring  of  1858  with  the  evi- 
(leiues  of  the  auriferous  wealth  of  the  great  river  of 
Hriti.sh  Columbia,  or  for  some  otlier  reason  not  ex- 
|tl:iiiicd,  they  did  not  realize  fully  the  importance  of 
tlif  facts,  nor  anticipate  the  effects  that  might  be  pro- 
(hut'd.  Douglas,  in  a  letter  to  Labouchere,  dated 
Victoria,  Decond)cr  29,  1857,  speaks  of  the  Chouteau 
iiilncs,  HO  named  after  the  natives  of  the  Thompson 
and  IShushwap  countries,  as  having  attracted  atten- 
tioi\.  "The  aurifci  / »  I'haracter  of  the  country  is  be- 
lonrmg  daily  more  extensively  developed,"  he  writes, 
"through  the  exertions  of  the  native  Indian  tribes, 
who,  liaving  tasted  the  sweets  of  gold-finding,  are  de- 
voting much  of  their  time  and  attention  to  that  pur- 
.suit. 

Tin)  product  exported  through  the  agency  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  from  October  6,  1857,  to  the 
end  of  that  year,  and  supposed  by  them  to  be  all  that 
was  carried  out  of  the  country,  was  three  hundred 
ounces.  Douglas  mentions  the  fact  in  the  same  con- 
nection that  the  reported  wealth  of  the  Couteau  coun- 
try was  causing  much  excitement  in  Washington 
Tt'iritory  and  Oregon.^^  At  Olympia,  Ballou,  (iar- 
field,  and  Williams,  as  partners,  were  merchandising 
during  the  winter  of  1857-8,  and  more  or  less  gold 
canit;  to  them  from  the  Fra.ser.  The  specimens  showed 
thcru  by  McDonald  particularly  attracted  their  atteti- 
tion,  and  the  attention  of  others.  Ballou  doubted 
the  re))ort  of  the  company's  officials,  that  the  gold  was 
mostly  found  by  the  natives,  on  the  ground  that  more 
would  then  have  been  realized.   Deeming  the  dii"^overy 


f' 


Jl'ir.  M<illerK,  MS.,  11;  Ballou's  Adv.,  MS.,  3.     The  alleRed  killing  of  AdaiiM 
rests  wholly  on  Hallou's  opinion. 

'•  Douglas  to  Labouchere,  in  Comwallia  N.  El  iJorailo,  347-54. 


11 


i\,> 


an  THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT, 

of  sufficient  importance  to  outweij^h  all  other  con- 
siderations of  trade,  Ballou,  accompanied  by  Jolm 
Scranton,  Governor  McMullin,  Secretary  of  the  Ttr- 
ritory  Mason,  and  several  others,  early  in  the  spring 
went  to  Victoria  to  ascertain  what  the  Hudson's  l^ay 
people  knew  about  the  matter.  They  confirmed  all 
the  reports.  Instead  of  going  to  the  gold-fields,  Ballou 
proceeded  at  once  to  San  Francisco,  Having  under- 
gone the  excitements  of  the  southern  mines,  and  suh- 
sequently  of  the  northern  mines  of  California  as  an 
expressman,  he  conceived  the  idea  that  whatever 
might  bo  the  merit  of  the  mines,  there  was  certain 
profit  in  the  express  business,  and  hence  he  forthwith 
started  Ballou's  express  from  San  Francisco  to  the 
Fraser  River  mines. ^^ 

The  state  of  knowledge  of  the  mines,  and  the  facts  on 
which  the  gold  excitement  was  based,  may  be  furtlier 
deduced  from  the  ofticial  acts  and  the  corrcspondi'Mce 
of  Governor  Douglas.  Christmas  week,  1857,  at  Fort 
Victoria,  had  been  enlivened  by  the  substantial  com- 
munications, accompanied  with  gold-dust,  that  wii-e 
received  from  Chief  Trader  McLean  at  the  post  near- 
est the  forks  of  Thompson  River,  the  results  of  the 
washmgs  by  the  Indians  already  referred  to.  On 
the  same  day  that  he  despatched  the  information  to 
the  colonial  office,  December  29,  1S57,  Governor 
Douglas  issued  a  proclamation  declaring  that  all  the 
gold  in  its  natural  place  of  deposit  belonged  to  the 
crown,  referring  in  particular  to  the  gold  found  within 
the  Couteau  country,  embraced  by  the  Fraser  and 
Thompson  districts.  This  proclamation  "  forbade  all 
persons  to  dig  or  disturb  the  soil  in  search  of  gold 

^^ B'tlhu's  Adv.,  MS.,  3.  Billy  Ballou,  as  ho  was  called,  was  a  wild  waif, 
a  haroliraiiiod  ailventurcr  of  French  descent,  wlio  since  1840  had  been  tlnut- 
ing  aliout  tlie  mountains  and  sliores  of  the  Tacilic.  Beginning  with  tiie  Moxi- 
cun  war,  ht^  passed  through  a  pioneer  experience  in  California  and  the  Snuinl 
ccuiiitry  liefore  going  to  Britisli  Columbia.  He  was  much  broken  in  In  ihli 
when  1  took  i>is  dictation  at  Seattle  in  1878,  and  died  shortly  afterwanl.  His 
information  was  certainly  as  varied  as  that  of  any  man  I  ever  met,  aii'l  he 
gave  it  me  in  good  faith,  yet  while  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  liis  wonl,  be- 
fore placing  implicit  eonfidenco  iu  aa  important  statement,  I  should  prei' r  to 
Bee  it  verified. 


SPOLIATION  OF  THE  MAINLAND  PARK. 


8SS 


until  authorized  in  that  behalf  by  her  majesty's  colonial 
government."  Douglas  acknowledged  in  his  commu- 
nication of  December  the  29th  to  Labouchbro,  that 
he  had  no  authority  to  make  such  a  proclamation 
in  regard  to  a  country  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  his 
government,  but  pleaded  in  excuse  the  fatt  that  he 
was  invested  with  authority  over  the  domain  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  that  he  was  the  only 
representative  of  her  Majesty  within  reach.  A  license 
of  ten  shillings  a  month  was  demanded,  in  virtue  of 
which  persons  were  permitted  to  mine  under  pre- 
scribed limits  and  conditions. 

On  the  14th  of  January  1858,  Governor  Douglas 
reported  further  news  from  the  mines  to  the  colonial 
office.     "  From  the  successful  result  of  experiments 
made  in  w^ashing  the  gold  from  the  sands  of  the  tribu- 
tary streams  of  Eraser  River,"  says  Douglas,  "  there 
is  reason  to  suppose  that  the  gold  region  is  extensive, 
and  I  entertain  sanguine  hopes  that  future  researches 
will  develop  stores  of  wealth  perhaps  equal  to  the 
gold-fields  of  California — the  geological  formations 
observed  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  of  California  being 
similar  in  character  to  the  structure  of  the  corre- 
sponding range  of  mountains  in  this  latitude."   On  the 
6tli  of  April  he  wrote  to  Labouch^re  "  that  the  search 
for  <ro]d  up  to  the  last  dates  from  the  interior  was 
carried  on  almost  exclusively  by  the  native  popula- 
tion, who  had  discovered  the  productive  mines,  and 
washed  out  almost  all  the  gold,  about  eight  hundred 
ounces,  thus  far  exported  from  the  country;  and  that 
they  were  extremely  jealous  of  the  whites  digging  for 
gold." 

"  In  addition  to  the  diggings  before  known  on 
Thompson  River  and  its  tributary  streams,  a  valuable 
deposit  has  recently  been  found  by  the  natives  on  the 
bank  of  the  Fraser  River,  about  five  miles  beyond  its 
continence  with  the  Thompson;  and  gold  in  smaller 
quantities  has  been  found  in  possession  of  the  natives 
as  fur  M  the  great  falls  of  the  Fraser,  about  eighty 


■      I'   r  ■(  .     "  '-■■.1 


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Hut.  Ban.  Ck>L.    33 


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Mil 
If 


S64 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXQTEMENT. 


miles  above  the  forks."  Seventy  or  eighty  Ameri- 
cans  had  gon  ■>  to  the  mines  virithout  procuring  Hcenscs. 
By  a  despatch  dated  April  19th  the  arrival  of  Georj^e 
Simpson,  bearer  of  despatches  from  Chief  Trader  Mc- 
Lean, was  announced,  bringing  news  from  the  forks 
of  the  Thompson,  to  April  4th,  which  was  very  flat- 
tering, but  not  supported  by  a  large  return  of  gold- 
dust.  "Simpson  reports,"  says  Douglas,  "that  gold 
is  found  in  more  or  less  abundance  on  every  part  of 
the  Fraser,  from  Yale  to  the  forks,  but  I  presume 
those  diggings  cannot  be  very  productive  or  there 
would  have  been  a  larger  return  of  gold."^ 


14 


And  here  begins  the  infection  which  spread  with 
such  swift  virulence  in  every  direction.  Thoui^h 
Cooper  considers  it  "almost  imposible  to  trace  the 
origin  of  the  gold  excitement,"  it  seems  to  me  we  have 
it  plainly  enough  before  us.  It  is  noised  abroad  that 
gold  abounds  in  British  Columbia.  Then  men  every- 
where throughout  the  world  begin  to  study  their 
maps,  to  see  where  is  situated  the  favored  isle  that 
guards  the  auriferous  Mainland.  California  is  to  be 
outdone,  as  the  rivers  of  British  Columbia  are  laiijer 
than  those  of  California.  The  glories  of  Australia 
shall  pale  before  this  new  golden  aurora  borealis.^' 
As  in  California  the  precious  metal  was  most  abun- 
dant near  the  sources  of  the  streams,  and  was  thoui^ht 
by  some  to  have  flowed  in  with  the  streams  from  the 
north,  so  in  the  north,  it  is  now  expected,  may  be  found 
the  primitive  source  where  the  deposits  were  orii,n- 
nally  formed.  And  so  the  settlers  on  Vancouver  Island, 
on  the  Cowlitz,  and  on  the  Columbia,  leave  their 
farms;  then  the  servants  of  the  monopoly  fling  oif 
allegiance;  the  saw-mills  round  the  Sound  are  soon 
idle;  and  finally  wave  after  wave  of  eager  advent- 
urers roll  in  from  the  south  and  east,  from  Oregon 

'*  Dnurjlas'  Official  Correspondence,  in  Comwallis'  N.  El  Dorado,  343-30"?. 
"  Waddingfon'a  Fraser  Mines,  5;  Anderson's  Hist.  Northwest  Coast,  MS., 
116-17;  Cooper's  Mar.  Matters,  MS.,  14. 


i 


PROGRESS  OF  THE  FEVER. 


355 


and  from  California,  from  the  islands  and  Australia, 
from  Canada  and  Europe,  until  the  third  great  devil- 
dance  of  the  nations  within  the  decade  begins  upon 
the  Fraser. 

Ellwood  Evans  remarks  that  the  newspapers  of 
Oregon  and  Washington  Territory  continued  silent 
in  regard  to  the  existence  of  gold  in  the  Northwest 
until  March  1858,  not  believing  that  it  would  ever 
be  found  in  quantities  sufficiently  large  to  attract  im- 
migration in  that  direction.    Gold,  said  they,  had  been 
reported  as  found  by  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad 
cxitloring  parties  in  1853.     It  was  reported,  and  by 
sonic  surmised  to  exist,  in  large  quantities  on  the  bars 
of  the  Upper  Columbia,  but  the  metal  was  not  forth- 
coming in  quantity,  and  not  really  believed  in.     The 
matter  failed  to  excite  the  attention  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  till  Angus  McDonald  reported  the 
Colville  excitement  to  Governor  Douglas  March  1, 
1856.'°    On  the  5th  of  March   1858,  the   Olympia 
Pioneer  and  Democrat,  one  of  the  first  papers  published 
in  Washington  Territory,  announced  the  rumors  of 
"  Reported  Gold  Discoveries,"  brought  from  Victoria 
by  the  schooner  Wild  Pigeon.    March  1 2th  the  same 
journal  contained  "Good  News  from  the  Gold  Mines" 
of  Fraser  River.     March  26th  it  had  an  account  of 
"The  Gold  Regions  of  the  North,  Highly  Favorable 
Reports."    April  9th  there  was  "  Further  Encourag- 
ing News."    April  IGth  there  waa  a  spread  of  "Late 
Reliable  and  Confirmatory  Tidings."    The  San  Fran- 
cisco Herald,  on  the  20th  of  April   1858,  recorded 
that  the  excitement  was  fully  equal  in  extent  to  that 
Avhich  arose  in  the  Atlantic  States  from  the  reports 
of  gold  discoveries  in  California  in  1849.    At  one  leap 
British  Columbia  had  become  the  rival  if  not  the  peer 
of  California  herself 

The  Fraser  River  excitement  began  and  was  spread 
from  Puget  Sound.  Captain  Prevost  of  H.  M.  S.  Satel- 
lite, stationed  at  Esquimalt,  on  the  Tth  of  May  1858 

^^ Evans'  Fraser  River  Excitement,  MS.,  12-20. 


I  ! 


i 


ri 


li[^ 


8f6 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT 


wrote  to  the  admiralty  office  that  the  excitement  W'a.s 
much  greater  in  Washington  and  Oregon  than  on  Yiui- 
couver  Island,  several  hundred  persons  having  at  that 
time  gone  to  the  Fraser  River  mines  from  Puget  Sound, 
where  all  the  vessels  were  lying  deserted  by  their 
crews."    These  vessels  were  the  ordinary  means  of  com- 
munication with  San  Francisco  from  that  part  of  the 
coast  carrying  lumber.  Douglas'  announcement  in  1 85G 
had  been  received  abroad  with  comparative  disbelief. 
No  sooner  was  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  gold  uj)()ii 
the  Fraser  in  paying  quantities  established  beyond  a 
doubt,  than  a  logical  effect  worked  itself  out  upon  tlie 
Californian  mind.     Action  as  prompt  as  the  idea  was 
the  result.     An  excitement  arose  throughout  society, 
which  caused  an  unparalleled  exodus.     To  tlie  Cal- 
ifornia miner  the  deduction  followed  naturally  that 
the  history  of  California  was  to  be  reprodu(;ed.     The 
foundation  of  the  idea  was  clearly  expressed  by  Douglas 
in  his  despatch  of  January  14,  1858,  the  extension  to 
the  north-west  of  the  same  mountains  and  geological 
formations,  a  fact  well  known  in  a  general  way  from 
the  reports  of  the  Oregonians  and  Canadians  who  had 
been  to  the   California  mines.     Only  the  additional 
fact  was  needed  that  the  Fraser  was  another  Sacra- 
mento, to  lead  logically  to  the   clearest   demonstia- 
tion  that  a  great  gold  area  was  washed  and  sluice  d 
by  the  Fraser  and  its  tributaries.     Vague  as  were 
the  ideas  touching  where  or  how  the  gold  would  l)c 
found,  whether  in  the  Cascade  canon  or  on  the  slo])es 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  there  was  needed  no  further 
evidence  than  that  to  remove  every  doubt  torn  hin*; 
the  vast  importance  of  this  discovery.     In  the  blind 
hopeful  way  of  the  gold  prospectors,  it  seems  to  liavo 
been  anticipated  that  the  richness  of  the  sands  of  the 
Fraser  would  be  found  in  some  proportion  to  the  size 
of  that  river.     Doubtless  many  who  made  this  \ tii- 
turo   reasoned   more  accurately — that   the  discowry 
was  simply  important  in  a  degree  proportionate  to  tho 

"  Comwallk'  New  El  Dorado,  365-ft 


,1   ■  r 


fJl.. 


EFFECT  IN  CALIFORNIA. 


357 


area  of  the  new  country  to  be  opened  by  the  mines, 
and  made  accessible  by  the  valley  of  the  Frascr. 
Untold  auriferous  wealth  in  connection  with  the  great 
coinmc  ial  and  agricultural  region  of  British  Colum- 
bia with  its  European  climate,  though  predestined  for 
discovery  under  the  developments  of  time  with  the 
necessary  conditions  thereto,  justified  these  hopes 
without  rewarding  the  energy  and  enterprise  of  the 
adventurers  of  1858. 

In  California,  the  seaport  of  San  Francisco  was 
almost  in  the  gold-mines;  the  mines  were  near  the  sea, 
with  no  intervening  diflSculties.  A  different  kind  of 
test  was  in  reserve  for  the  mining  industry  in  the 
north,  where  the  lofty  sierra,  and  five  hundred  miles 
of  distance,  and  much  geographical  and  geological 
exploration  had  to  be  undergone,  with  trials  and  fail- 
ures, before  all  the  conditions  of  general  prosperity 
to  miners  and  traders  could  be  fulfilled.  Nor  was  it 
all  misfortune  that  was  in  store  for  those  who  vent- 
ured 1  )lindly  in  search  of  profitable  gold-deposits ;  for 
how  could  the  knowledge  be  obtained  without  chance 
to  open  the  door,  or  action  to  seize  the  prize  under 
impossible  conditions? 

California  was  now  rapidly  losing  population.  Men 
of  ull  classes  abandoned  their  occupations  in  the  inte- 
rior, and  followed  the  crowd  to  San  Francisco.  Money 
was  borrowed  at  exorbitant  rates  of  interest  to  be 
advanced  on  goods  for  British  Columbia.  It  was  not 
strange  that  the  first  fair  opportunity  would  be  seized 
by  the  journals  o'  '^-'xi  Francisco  to  stem  the  current 
by  giving  to  the  riort.iiern  regions  under  the  guise  of 
the  mistake  of  the  Fraser  mines,  the  worst  possible 
name.  The  whole  of  California  in  April  1858  was  in  o 
ferment.  Business  in  the  interior  was  deranged,  and  in 
many  places  broken  up.  Hundreds  too  impatient  to 
wait  for  the  steamers  mounted  horses  and  hastened 
overland,  especially  from  the  northern  counties  of 
Cahfornia,  making  the  distance  in  eighteen  days. 
Whib)  towns  in   the   interior  were   being   deserted, 


.  f  ,■ 


■' 

1 

\  ; 


^h'l 


li  ' 


t,  t 


;r  [ 


iili  1 

m's ]  r  ::      v.] 


358 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 


San  Francisco  derived  the  benefit  of  the  influx  and 
of  the  outfitting  of  the  miners,  and  the  shippers  re- 
joiced at  the  prospects  of  the  Fraser  trade.  Shrewd 
store-keepers  in  the  mountain  counties  hurried  down 
to  establish  themselves  in  San  Francisco/^ 

During  April  and  May,  the  rumors  more  or  less 
fabulous  of  gold  discoveries  in  the  north  continued 
to  circulate  throughout  California,  and  Oregon  and 
Washington  territories.  Vessels  left  San  Francisco 
carrying  three  times  the  number  allowed  by  law.  Jolni 
Nugent,  special  agent  of  the  United  States,  estimated 
that  in  May,  June,  and  July,  twenty-three  thousand 
persons  went  from  San  Francisco  by  sea,  and  about 
eight  thousand  more  overland — safely  thirty  thousand 
or  thirty-three  thousand  in  all  in  the  course  of  tlio 
season;  and  that  out  of  these  there  returned  boforo 
January  1859  all  but  three  thousand. ^^  None  were 
too  poor  and  none  too  rich  to  go.  Young  and  old 
and  even  the  decrepit.  Some  out  of  restlessness  or 
curiosity;  others  for  profit  or  prey.  "In  short,"  says 
Lundin  Brown,  "never  in  the  history  of  migrations 
of  men  has  there  been  seen  such  a  rush,  so  sudden 
and  so  vast."^" 


^^  Corinixillin'  iV.  El  Dorado,  11-18.  Says  the  Nevada  Journal  oi  May  1-t, 
1858,  editorially:  'The  spirit  of  '4!)  is  imrtially  aroused,  and  quite  a  l;u-;;i" 
number  will  probaMy  leave  the  country  iu  quest  of  adventure  in  i\w  tar 
north.  ..  .Nine  years  experience  has  taught  us  never  to  be  in  a  huriy  to 
chase  new  and  nuirvellous  reports  to  tlieir  source.  We  have  found  it  raiuly 
pays.'  C.  C.  Rol)erts,  a  correspondent  of  the  Bulletin,  from  Orass  Valley, 
June  7,  1858,  says:  '  The  Fraser  excitement  l-ad  the  efl'ect  to  augment  tiie  dilli- 
culties  experienced  by  the  quartz-mininB  interest,  by  drawing  away  a  ^.Tcat 
number  of  the  underground  hands,  and  oy  increasing  the  rate  of  wajjis,  so 
tliat  many  of  the  mills  and  mines  had  closed;  and  it  would  Inevitably,  if  the 
rise  of  wages  continued,  close  the  rest. ' 

^^  Nui/eiit's  Jiept,  3'ilh  Coiit/.,  M  Seii».,  If.  Ex.  Doc.,  3,  p.  .3. 

'^  Jiroirns  Ennay,  .3,  4;  (JorumiUin'  N.  El  Donulo,  li-18.  One  of  the  liist 
painted  pictures  of  the  time  was  published  in  tiie  Overland  MonUily  oi  \>vi:v\\\- 
bur  18tj!),  by  Mr  Wright.  Tiie  worm-eaten  wharves  of  San  Francisco  trwiilikil 
almost  daily,  ho  said,  under  the  treail  of  the  vast  multitude  that  gatlu  iimI  tn 
see  tiie  northern  steamer  leave.  The  crowded  stages  landing  the  people  I'luiii 
the  mining  counties  of  California  at  .Sacramento  and  Stockton;  the  siiirit  nI 
speculation  ram])ant  at  Victoria  and  Whatcom;  the  helpless  and  oiinfiisiMl 
mass  of  humanity  swayed  hither  and  thither  by  each  conllicting  report  frnin 
the  gate  of  the  C'jiscados  in  British  Columbia;  the  towns  of  canvas  at  Victnria, 
Whatcom,  Langley,  Hope,  and  Yale;  the  upturned  craft  found  auioii!.'  tluf 
islands  of  the  lieautiful  ilaro  ar  '  ipelago,  constituting  the  only  ixccr.!  of 


THE  GRAND  RUSH. 


859 


The  first  load  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  adventurers 
left  San  Francisco  on  the  steamer  Commodore,  ^m  the 
20th  of  April  1858.  Between  April  20th  and  June 
*Jth,  twenty-five  hundred  miners,  mostly  from  the  in- 
terior of  California,  had  taken  passage  by  steamer  from 
San  Francisco;  and  it  was  estimated  that  five  thou- 
sand more  were  at  the  same  time  collected  in  Puget 
Sound,  on  their  way  to  the  Fraser.  Governor  Doug- 
las, in  a  letter  to  the  head-quarters  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  in  London,  dated  Victoria,  April  27, 
1858,  speaks  of  the  arrival  of  the  Commodore  on  the 
25th.  The  passengers  were  well  provided  with  tools. 
Said  Douglas:  "  There  seems  to  be  no  want  of  capital 
or  intelligence  among  them.  About  sixty  were  Brit- 
ish subjects,  sixty  Americans,  and  the  remainder  Ger- 
mans, French,  and  Italians."'^  On  the  27th,  the 
Pacific  Mail  steamer  Columbia  landed  eighty  more 
j)assengers  at  Fort  Townsend,  all  bound,  says  Doug- 
las, for  the  Couteau  District. 

Tlie  Fraser  River  excitement  was  encouraged  by 
the  steamboat  owners,  who  coined  money  as  long  as 
it  lasted.  At  first  the  crowds  that  came  to  Victoria 
wont  from  there  to  Whatcom,  under  the  belief  that 
the  great  town  of  the  north  would  spring  up  on  the 
^laiuland.  They  brought  plenty  of  money  t(j  invest 
ill  land  and  other  speculations,  as  much  as  two  millions 
of  dollars  being  at  one  time  deposited  in  Victoria. 
The  only  safe  in  the  country  was  owned  by  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company,  so  that  the  money  pasted  through 
the  hands  of  Mr  Finlayson,  the  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany.    It  was  presented  in  sacks,  which   Finlayson 

niany  too  impatient  for  inaction,  who  had  been  swainpcil  in  the  sudden  storms 
and  truaohtTous  tide-rips,  reported  by  others  who  had  waudered  for  weeks 
among  tortuous  passes,  and  at  last  returned  to  Victoria,  not  caring  to  venture 
across  the  (Georgian  Gulf;  the  toil  against  the  rapid  eiurent  of  tlie  Fraser 
liy  tlie  bold'jr  and  stronger,  towing  t'^eir  lioats  along  tlie  shore,  cliiiibing  over 
falli'ii  trees,  creeping  under  hanging  bushes,  and  l)econiiiig  from  sheer  neces- 
sity almost  amphibious;  the  mosquitoes;  the  rifTles  and  whirls  of  the  un- 
known stream,  which  carried  them  back  half  a  day's  journey,  when  they  were 
olili!.'cd  tf)  cross — all  these  matters  and  more  are  told  as  they  can  be  told  only 
|jy  one  who  had  seen. 

''■  Dowjliui,  in  CornivalUn'  X.  El  Dorado,  3(J1. 


ini 


»  !f  ■.',, 


it    ! 


.i      I 


.     »' 


800 


TUE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 


refused  to  receive  unless  tlicy  were  sealed  with  the 
names  of  the  owners,  as  it  was  impracticable  to  count 
the  money.  When  any  one  wanted  money,  he  would 
take  out  his  bag,  get  what  he  needed,  and  return  it. 
Not  an  instance  ever  occurred  of  complaint,  says  Fiu- 
layson  with  pride,  of  supposed  loss.^"  To  the  staid 
and  plodding  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
the  advent  of  the  thirty  thousand  "lialf-wild  Califor- 
nians,"  distributing  themselves  broadcast  over  their 
possessions,  caused  a  degree  of  uneasiness  of  mind 
amounting  to  a  commotion.  "The  rough-and-tumble 
rascals,"  said  McDonald,  "  had  not  come  for  nothing;" 
and  their  notions  of  neum  and  tuum  did  not  appear 
to  them  to  be  very  well  defined. 

This  army  of  gold-seekers  that  besieged  Fort  Vic- 
toria threatened  the  supremacy  of  the  crown  as  well 
as  the  stability  of  the  territorial  claims  of  the  Hud- 
son's Hay  Company  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  miners, 
three  tliousand  of  whom  arrived  at  Victoria  in  one 
day,  encamped  in  tents  around  the  fort.  In  regard  to 
the  general  orderly  character  of  the  pilgrims,  tlierc  is 
cumulative  testimony  from  all  sides,  notwithstanding 
the  fact  that  the  jealousy  and  the  unreasonable  exac- 
tions of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  practically  in 
charge  of  the  government,  met  the  strongest  opposi- 
tion, and  called  forth  the  unqualified  animadversii)ns 
of  the  miners.  In  order  to  quiet  the  difficulties  thus 
arising,  and  to  remove  the  restrictions  against  the  im- 
migration of  Americans,  John  Nugent  was  finally  sent 
to  the  country  as  commissioner  and  consular  agent 
by  the  United  States.  ^^     The  stringency  of  the  laws 

^^ Fhilayson's  V.  I.  andN.  W.  Coast,  MS.,  56-GO. 

"  California  must  have  been  pretty  nearly  emptied  of  loafers  and  gaml)li'ra 
during  the  Frasor  River  excitement.  '  Smithers '  was  depicted  as  one  of  the 
typical  characters  of  the  time  by  asketch  in  the  Mornimj  Call.  Ho  had  come  to 
California  at  an  early  period,  and  had  wonderoua  tales  to  tell  of  '49  and  '50, 
and  of  the  times  when  he  was  a  millionaire;  but  'the  great  couflagratioii  of 
1851  had  done  the  business  for  him  completely,'  and  he  could  no  longer  get 
trusted  in  San  Francisco  for  a  drink.  A  large  number  of  the  gamblers  that 
came  to  Victoria  did  not  like  the  appearance  of  things  on  Vancouver  Island, 
and  crossing  over,  established  themselves  at  Whatcom.  When  that  town  c;une 
to  naught  in  consequence  of  the  successful  navigation  of  the  Fraser  by  steam- 
ers to  Yale,  they  removed  in  a  body  to  the  latter  place. 


ARRIVAL  OF  VESSELS. 


301 


united  with  the  general  good  sense  of  the  muiers  had 
tho  effect  to  deter  the  many  doubtful  characters — 
•fanihlers,  thieves,  and  swindlers — that  flocked  into 
the  country  in  the  ho})e  of  obtaining  rich  spoils  from 
the  industrious  and  unsuspicious,  and  force  them  to 
quit  the  field.  Perhaps  the  scanty  product  of  the 
Fraser  River  bars,  in  comparison  with  those  of  the 
American,  the  Yuba,  and  Feather  rivers,  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  their  graceful  yielding  to  the  stern 
authority  of  Mr  Justice  Begbie. 

Nearly  all  the  Californian  emigration  was  landed 
at  Victoria,  in  consequence  of  Governor  Douglas  re- 
fusing to  grant  permits  and  mining  licenses  elsewhere. 
A  large  quantity  of  shipping,  both  sail  and  steam, 
enlivened  the  aboriginal  quiet  of  Victoria  and  Esqui- 
malt  harbors.  From  the  middle  of  April  1858  for 
several  months,  while  the  excitement  was  daily  in- 
creasing, not  only  at  Victoria  but  in  San  Francisco, 
the  halcyon  days  of  '49  appeared  to  have  come  again, 
and  fresli  dreams  of  wealth  floated  through  the  minds 
of  nmltitudes.  In  the  fortnight  between  the  5th  and 
20th  of  June,  there  arrived  at  Victoria  from  San 
Francisco  the  shi[)s  Geort/ina,  a  new  craft  under  an  old 
name,  and  the  William  Berry,  the  barks  Gold  Hunter, 
Adelaide,  Live  Yankee,  and  Madonna,  the  schooners 
Giulictta,  Kossuth,  and  Osprci/,  and  the  sloop  Curlew. 
Besides  these,  the  steamers  Republic,  Commodore,  Pau- 
anh'i,  Corti's,  and  Santa  Cruz  landed  passengers  and 
freiglit  during  the  same  fortnight,  making  in  all  a 
contribution  of  about  six  thousand  souls  within  the 
period  named. 

Tlie  return  of  the  steamers  to  San  Francisco  was 
awaited  by  crowds  impatient  for  news.  The  Panama 
and  Pacific  had  returned  to  San  Francisco  on  the 
5th  and  8th  of  June,  from  which  time  there  was  no 
fresli  intelligence  from  the  mines  until  the  I'Jth,  when 
the  Republic  returned,  several  days  earlier  than  was 
expected,  amidst  intense  excitement  along  the  water- 
front and  at  the  hotels.     When  on  the  22d,  23d,  and 


H 

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302 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENl. 


24tli  of  June  the  steamers  Republic,  Oregov,  and  Cmn- 
inodore  sailed  respectively,  there  were  twenty  otlar 
sailin*^  vessels  lynig  at  the  wharves  announced  for 
immediate  despatch.  Some  of  the  smaller  sailiii^r 
vessels  went  to  Fort  Langley,  stoppinj^  at  Victoria 
only  long  enough  to  get  the  necessary  j)ermits.  First- 
class  passage  by  steamer  was  sixty-fixe  dollars ;  steer- 
age passage  thirty-five  dollars;  by  sailing  cral't  the 
rates  were  from  twenty-five  to  sixty  dollars.  To  the 
20th  of  June  Cornwallis  estimated  that  fourteen 
thousand  eight  hundred  .v^rsons  had  embarked  at  San 
Francisco  by  steam  and  sail.^*  All  that  the  adven- 
turers desired  was  to  be  landed  as  near  as  possible  to 
the  mininij  rcijion  on  the  Fraser,  but  the  considcra- 
tions  which  governed  the  shippers  modified  the  gen- 
eral desire. 

Fort  Victoria  was  the  head-quarters  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  of  the  government  of  the  country.  Situ- 
ated on  Vancouver  Island,  with  sixty  miles  of  inland  sea 
to  be  traversed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Fraser,  and  eiglity 
miles  to  Fort  Langley,  the  entire  innnigration  would 
have  souulit  the  Mainland  for  a  landing.  An  Anuri- 
can  port  would  have  been  preferred,  other  things  being 
equal.  As  opposed  to  Victoria,  Port  Townsend  was 
first  chosen  by  the  representatives  of  the  Pacific  !Mail 
Company ;  but  that  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  minors, 
who  ft)und  themselves  left  unnecessarilv  remote  fioin 
their  destination.  Then  Whatcom  was  made  tlic 
objective  point,  being  conveniently  situated  fi»r  a  land 
route  to  the  diggings.  Dense  forest,  however,  oh- 
structed  the  way,  and  a  trail  had  to  be  cut,  requiiinj,' 
both  time  and  money.  The  Fraser  itself  was  inac- 
cessible, it  was  thought,  for  ocean-vessels;  or  wliat 
was  equivalent,  the  owners  of  vessels  did  not  choose 
to  incur  the  risk  of  going  up  to  Langley.  Above 
Langley  it  was  not  expected  that  river  steamers 
could  go  far  enough  to  be  an  object  to  the  miners. 

'^*  A nderson  a  Northwest  Coast,  MS.,  277;  Cornwallis'  New  Kl  Jhrndo, 
141-51 


WHATCOM  AND  VICTORIA. 


363 


li\ic  general  inquiry  was  for  canoes  from  the  most 
convenient  port.  Under  the  specious  cover  of  Ameri- 
can patriotism,  Whatcom  obtained  the  ascendency  ; 
Victoria  being  only  called  at  to  j)rocure  the  official 
documents  prescribed  by  Governor  Douglas  to  admit 
tlic  miners  to  the  freedom  of  the  country,  which  sanc- 
tion it  was  charged  was  granted  only  at  Victoria  for 
the  purpose  of  bringing  business.  But  it  is  doubtful 
whether  Victoria  would  have  gained  the  ascendency 
so  soon,  but  for  another  circumstance  more  potent 
than  the  government  regulations.  It  was  found  that 
the  Fraser  could  be  navigated  all  the  way  to  the  dig- 
gings, so  that  the  trail  from  Bellingham  Bay,  which 
was  cut  in  order  to  avoid  the  navigation  and  landing 
from  sliipboard  in  British  territory,  was  at  once  dis- 
carded. 

Steamers  now  began  to  run  directly  from  Vict(jria 
to  tlie  mines,  leaving  Whatcom  aside.  So  long  as  tlie 
miners  were  dependent  entirely  upon  canoes,  What- 
com had  continued  to  hold  its  o'"n  under  the  prospect 
of  the  speedy  opening  of  the  pack-trail  and  proposed 
wagon-road.  But  tlie  trail  was  not  opened  soon 
enough ;  much  less  the  wagon-road  through  the  canon 
of  the  Fraser,  which  alone  could  have  presented 
claims  in  competiti*.)n  with  the  lower  Fraser  and  gulf 
of  Cleorsria  navigation.  The  mud-flats  of  Whatcom 
being  objectionable,  also,  the  annex  called  Sehome 
soon  took  the  place  of  Whatcom,  and  the  buildings 
of  the  town  became  tenantless  with  the  departure  of 
tlic  loose  population  to  Yale.  Some  of  the  longheads, 
as  they  were  called,  then  went  to  Semiahmoo,  and 
two  paper  towns  were  laid  out  on  opposite  sides  of 
the  bay;  but  the  Fraser  travel  could  not  be  beguiled 
ovir  land  to  Semiahmoo  merely  because  the  distance 
was  sliort,  Whatcom  was  early  in  tlie  field  as  a  pro- 
siisH'tive  town,  as  the  earliest  mining  below  the  Fraser 
canon  was  carried  on  by  people  from  Puget  Sound, 
who  went  to  the  mines  and  sent  out  their  gold  by 
way  of  Whatcom.     In   March  or  the  beginning   of 


'I 

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S04 


THE  OREAT  GOLD  EXt'ITEMENT. 


Aj)ril  1858,  while  tlin  Frascr  Kivcr  was  at  its  lowest 
8tu*j;c!,  parties  of  Canadians  and  others  from  I'uL^ct 
Sound  had  managed  to  pet  up  the  river,  and  were 
working  some  of  the  rielier  bars  below  Fort  Yalo. 
Some  of  tliesoeven  eontitmed  their  operations  beyond 
the  forks  of  the  Tliomjison.  They  made  their  way 
along  the  shores  of  l^uget  Sound  in  canoes.  Tlie  cur- 
rent to  the  mines  from  Puget  Sound  did  not  follow 
the  route  by  way  of  Vancouver  Island  until  business 
of  eveiy  sort  was  running  in  a  well-established  groove 
to  Victoria. 

The  first  body  of  miners  that  struck  out  from  A'ic- 
toria  in  April  crossed  the  gulf  in  skills,  whale- 
boats,  and  canoes.  Numbers  of  these  were  believed 
to  have  perished,  as  the  craft  employed  were  mostly 
makeshil'ts  constructed  by  the  miners  themselves. 
At  that  time  all  American  steamers  were  j(>al()iisly 
excluded  from  the  Fraser.  Inadequate  steamer  eoiii- 
nmnication  was  carried  on  by  the  Hudson's  IJay 
Company.  At  length,  Douglas,  on  the  payment  of  a 
royalty  for  every  trip,  permitted  American  steamers  to 
enter  the  river;  and  the  Sea  Bird,  Surprise,  Umatilla, 
Marin,  Kntirprise,  and  others  began  running,  usually 
from  Victoria  to  Langley  and  Hope.  Their  use,  by 
the  inflowing  and  outgoing  miners,  proved  the  death- 
blow to  Whatcom.  However,  even  after  the  stea'ii- 
ers  afforded  abundant  facilities,  many  of  the  miners, 
finding  the  twenty-dollar  fare  too  high,  continued  to 
make  their  own  boats  at  Victoria,  and  to  navigate 
them  to  Yale.  In  July,  nearly  all  the  miners  had 
left;  the  majority,  so  ar,  in  boats  built  by  themsebos. 
One  authority  states  hat  hundreds  of  them  were 
never  heard  from  aftei  leaving  Victoria,  and  were 
supposed  to  have  been  di  wned  in  the  tide-rips,  or  in 
crossing  the  water. ^^  If  \  'ey  escaped  the  dangers  t»f 
the  gulf,  or  the  currents  and  counter-currents  of  the 

s"*  WndiUngtona  Fraser  Mines,  .5-10;  TarheWs  Vic.,  MS.,  2;  Nw/eiil'.t  1,'eyt. 
Ex.  Doc.  cj-i.,  35th  Uomj.,  2d  Scm.,  2;  Finltiynoii's  V.  I.  and  N.  W.  (.'ond,  MS., 
5(i-<}0.  Nugent  says  '  the  freiglit  per  ton  from  Victoria  to  Hope,  IGO  iiiileB, 
waa  $40,  and  from  Hope  to  Yale,  20  miles,  ^0.'  Nuijent'a  liept.,  4. 


■!    s 


TTW! 


ROAD -BUILDING. 


MH 


TTaro  archipelago,  it  was  only  to  encounter  the  swift 
current  of  the  Fraser,  with  its  occasional  sedgy  bor- 
ders, and  its  whirls  and  rapids  between  Hope  and 
Yale.  Thus,  over  many  a  manly  heart  so  lately  filled 
witii  hope,  rolled  tho  waters  of  oblivion.  By  mid- 
suiiiiner,  the  miners  had  crowded  all  the  bars  of  the 
Fraser  as  far  up  as  tho  Thompson.  They  climbed 
back  and  forth  over  the  cliffs  above  Yale,  carrying 
their  own  supplies  upon  their  backs.  At  length  a 
petty  Indian  war  broke  out,  which  drove  them  all 
down  to  Yale.^"  Tho  absorbing  topic  of  the  time  was 
the  solution  of  a  probl-j^a  calling  for  all  the  energies 
that  were  developed  by  tho  stirring  days  of  the  ex- 
citement— how  to  transport  supplies  to  the  front. 

It  soon  became  obvious  that  it  was  necessary  to 
have  this  done  in  the  cheapest  and  most  expedi- 
tious manner.  Some  returning  miners  were  guided 
by  Indians,  from  Lilloet  through  Harrison  Lake  and 
river,  and  over  the  Douglas  portages,  where  a  pack- 
road  loading  into  the  interior  could  be  constructed  at 
a  comparatively  moderate  cost.^  In  order  to  open  a 
trail  along  this  route  x)ouglas  hit  upon  the  following 
cxi»edient:  There  were  five  hundred  miners  at  Vic- 
toria on  their  way  to  the  mines.  It  was  proposed 
that  in  consideration  of  a  deposit  of  twenty-five  dol- 
lars by  each  person  accepting  the  terms,  and  an  agree- 
ment to  work  upon  the  trail  until  it  was  finished,  tho 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  should  transport  them  to  the 
poiiit  of  commencement  on  Harrison  River,  feed  them, 
and  at  tho  conclusion  of  the  work  furnish  them  there 
with  supplies  at  Victoria  prices,  or  return  the  money 
if  desired.  The  length  of  t'  ail  to  be  opened,  includ- 
ing the  lakes,  was  seventy  miles.  No  difficulty  was 
experienced  in  getting  the  miners  to  accede  to  this 
proj)osition.     The  money  was  paid  in,  and  the  work 

''^  Mallamlaine'a  F\r»t  Victoria  Directory,  14;  Waddington's  Fraser  Mines, 

^'Spence  in  VowelVs  B.  C.  Mines,  MS.,  27,  asserts  that  it  was  the  first 
route  utilized  for  the  transportation  of  freight  by  animals.  Early  doings  of 
course  are  now  ignored. 


1 

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THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 


executed  under  the  arrangement.  It  was  really  a  very 
pretty  by -play  between  credit,  cooperation,  and  labor. 
When  the  work  was  done,  tliough  they  had  given  tlie 
company  the  use  of  twelve  thousand  five  huadred  dol- 
lars, and  their  labor,  they  all  received  their  money  back, 
their  passage  being  a  sufficient  reward  for  their  lal)or, 
while  the  company  was  left  with  a  valuable  piece  of 
toll-road,  worth  much  more  than  the  transportation 
and  provisions  had  cost  them.  Those  who  became 
tired  of  the  bargain  before  the  trail  was  com[)]etod 
disposed  of  their  scrip  to  others  for  what  they  could 
get,  and  went  their  way  rejoicing.  Disagreements 
arose  at  the  end  in  regard  to  the  delivery  of  the  sup- 
plies promised  in  lieu  of  the  money  deposits,  the  miners 
claiming  that  the  freight  should  be  delivered  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  seventy  miles,  while  the  company 
claimed  the  agreement  required  of  them  only  to  (!(>■ 
liver  it  at  the  lower  end.  This  point  was  com])romise'l 
satisfactorily  to  both  parties  by  delivering  it  in  Uio 
middle.  Beans  at  the  time  were  worth  one  and  a  half 
cents  a  pound  at  Victoria,  five  cents  at  Port  Douglas, 
the  lower  end  of  the  trail,  and  one  dollar  a  pound  at 
the  upper  end. 

Nearly  all  the  provisions  on  the  Eraser  above  the 
canon  in  the  summer  of  1858,  with  the  exception  of 
tlie  little  packed  on  the  backs  of  the  miners  and 
Indians,  was  brought  there  from  the  upper  Coluinhia 
by  the  half-breed  traders  of  the  Colville  country. 
Between  the  gulf  of  Georgia  and  the  interior  i)la- 
teau  there  were  only  trails,  and  in  their  competition 
for  popular  favor  the  partisans  of  each  declared  th.e 
other  impracticable.'^'^  That  from  Whatcom  striking 
the  Fraser  at  Smess,  twenty-five  miles  above  Laiig- 
ley,  was  subsequently  used  for  local  travel  from  I'ni^et 
St)uud.  The  movements  from  Orejjon  to  the  Fraser 
mines  wen^  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  striking 
the  Fraser  near  the  mouth  of  Thompson  lliver. 
Though  an  effort  was  made  in  Minnesota,  where  tlic 

"  Overlaml  frmi  Minneaola  to  Fraxi'r  liivvr,  45-7. 


i!!-i 


FROM  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


367 


Fraser  excitement  was  also  felt,  to  inaugurate  travel 
by  way  of  St  Paul  and  the  Saskatchewan  River, 
none  but  trappers  and  explorers  of  the  hardier  sort 
ventured  the  route  till  a  later  date,  the  current  from 
the  Atlantic  States  flowing  through  the  established 
channels  to  Oregon  and  California.  Two  notable  in- 
land expeditions  from  Oregon  may  be  cited  as  ex- 
amples of  numerous  others.  Owing  to  the  dangers 
from  hostile  Indians  it  was  necessary  to  organize  and 
to  travel  in  force. 

David  McLaughlin's  company  made  their  rendez- 
vous at  Walla  Walla  early  in  July  1858.  In  ten  or 
twelve  days  one  hundred  and  sixty  men  were  gath- 
ered, all  well  armed  with  revolvers,  ninety  rifles  and 
twenty -five  other  heavy  arms  being  in  the  party. 
They  had  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  horses  and 
mules.  Before  starting,  Mr  Wolfe,  a  trader  from  Col- 
ville,  arrived  at  Walla  Walla  and  informed  them  of 
the  hostile  attitude  of  the  natives  along  the  pro- 
posed route,  advising  a  thorough  military  organiza- 
tion. Four  divisions  were  accordingly  formed  and 
placed  under  the  command  of  James  McLaughlin, 
Hanibright,  Wilson,  and  another.  The  Walla  Wallas, 
Palouses,  Okanagans,  and  other  tribes  were  hostile. 
The  party  passed  through  the  Grand  Coulee  to  Okan- 
agan.  On  their  way  over  the  Columbia  plains  a 
German  who  lagged  behind  was  seized  by  the  sav- 
ages and  killed.  Two  or  three  davs'  travel  after 
crossing  the  Columbia  near  tiie  boundary  line  on  the 
east  side  of  Okanagan  liiver,  tho  whole  party  was 
attacked  by  the  Indians  in  force,  posted  on  a  hill  be- 
hind rude  fortifications  on  each  side  of  the  road  where 
they  had  to  pass  through  a  canon.  McLauglilin  dib- 
coverod  an  Indian's  head  peering  over  a  rock  before 
the  firing  began.  The  men  took  promptly  to  their 
work  and  fought  till  night.  None  of  the  animals 
stampeded,  but  were  retired  in  good  order  with  the 
trains  to  tho  plateau  below.  While  the  riflemen  con- 
tinued after  night -fall  in  possession  of  the  ground 


1  ' 

i.. 

f  ;1 

i 
■I 

V 

i 

! 

ill 

! 

1  :  ' 
I 


>      f| 


.  I 


n   'u 


w 


368 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 


)>!■ 


i;  i.ii 


Mr 

m 

1    it 


l« 


"ill 


ill 


^!>ii' 


i 


facing  the  Indians,  a  detachment  prepared  rafts  to 
cross  the  river,  the  intention  being  to  flank  the  de- 
fences and  formidable  fastnesses  which  the  Indians 
had  evidently  prepared  for  tlien). 

Hurley,  Evans,  and  Rice,  all  three  Californians, 
were  killed,  and  seven  others  were  wounded,  but  re- 
covered. In  the  night  the  Indians  set  fire  to  the 
grass,  and  the  gold-hunters  set  counter-fires  without 
either  of  them  succeeding  in  burning  the  other  out. 
Next  morning  the  white  men  proceeded  to  bury  their 
dead,  and  discovered  that  the  Indians  had  abandoned 
their  stronghold.  It  had  about  a  hundred  breast- 
works, each  made  to  shelter  one  Indian,  and  was 
occupied  at  the  time  of  the  attack  by  eighty  savages. 
Two  or  three  days  after,  the  party  was  again  attacked 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Okanagan  River.  A  hun- 
dred  mounted  warriors  rode  down  upon  them,  tryiuf,' 
to  separate  the  company  from  their  animals;  their 
purpose  was  anticipated,  and  prevented.  After  some 
further  trouble  and  parley,  they  made  a  peace  witli 
the  hostile  tribe,  the  Okanagans,  and  the  gold-hunters 
continued  their  march  without  delay.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  peace  assented  to,  innnediately  afterward  sixty 
head  of  Wolfe's  cattle  were  stolen  by  the  Indians, 
and  a  detachment  of  McLoughlin's  men  surprised 
two  of  them  engaged  in  jerking  the  beef  from  the 
slaughtered  cattle.  They  were  taken  along  as  prison- 
ers, but  at  this  juncture  Chief  Trader  ^McDonald 
from  Fort  Colville  came  up  with  a  train  bound  for 
Hope,  and  at  his  request  the  Indians  were  discharged. 
The  same  Indians  afterward  robbed  a  Spanish  packer 
who  had  been  left  in  the  rear  attending  to  his  animals, 
and  tlie  savages  with  hostile  and  thieving  intent 
continued  to  follow  them  to  a  point  within  three  days' 
march  of  Thompson  River.  They  came  upcjii  tliat 
stream  twelve  miles  above  its  mouth. 

Joel  Palmer  and  thirty-five  others,  among  them 
P.  H.  Lewis,  went  to  the  Fraser  mines  from  ] Port- 
land with  wagons,  also  following  the  inside  or  plateau 


' 


d  sixty 

ndiiuis, 

.irprised 

cm  the 


INTERIOR  TRAFFIC. 


3G9 


route.  The  company  encamped  at  the  Dalles,  and 
departed  thence  in  July,  driving  their  own  teams  all 
the  way  through  to  the  Thompson.  There  were 
nine  teams,  each  consisting  of  three  or  four  yoke  of 
oxen,  the  majority  of  them  belonging  to  Palmer. 
Four  'boys'  from  Yreka,  California,  were  the  coop- 
erative owners  of  one  of  the  teams.  Provisions  con- 
stituted the  cargo,  three  thousand  pounds  to  the 
waii,()n.  The  route  was  by  way  of  Wallula  and  Okan- 
agau  to  Kamloop. 

Steamer  loads  came  from  California  to  Portland 
and  fitted  oat  at  that  place  for  the  inside  route.  (Jom- 
piinies  o''  four  hundred  and  five  hundred  men  accom- 
panied )y  pack-trains,  moving  more  rapidly  than  was 
possil)lc  for  the  wagons  without  a  road,  overtook  and 
passed  Palmer's  train  on  the  way.'^^  The  latter,  under 
Palmer's  experienced  generalship,  found  occasion  to 
make  use  of  all  the  arts  of  travel  in  the  form  of  the 
organized  semi-military  expeditions  developed  in  the 
Oregon  emigrations  of  1842-8.  At  the  point  of  rocks 
twelve  miles  above  Priest  Rapids,  the  country  was 
found  impracticable  for  three  quarters  of  a  mile  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river.  Waoons  and  freijjht  were 
accordingly  conveyed  around  this  in  canoes.  At 
Okanagan  the  Columbia  was  crossed  in  the  same  man- 
ner, the  cattle  swimming.  Two  canoes  were  lashed 
alongside  and  placed  endwise  to  the  bank;  the  wagons 
were  then  rolled  or  lifted  into  them  empty,  and  the 
freight  was  stowed  in  the  bottom  or  in  the  wagon- 
beds,  as  was  most  convenient.  Three  wagons  and 
thrir  eontents  were  taken  over  at  one  time  in  safety 
1)}'  lour  men,  one  each  occupying  the  bow  and  stern  in 
Itoth  canoes.^" 

A\  lien  the  expedition  reached  OkaTiagan  Lake  it  was 


m 

m 

q 

*f!l 

■\. 

. . ,' 

■  \ . 

i: 

'■'■       •      n  i  II  . 

'■     ■    n   HI 


v.y 


"  M'-J.'iUiihUn's  Ex.,  in  Oregon  Statesman,  Sept.  28,  1858;  Lewis'  Coal  Dis- 
wnVv,  MS.",  i;i-15. 

•"  I'lilnici;  ill  Orvijon  Statesman,  Fob.  14,  ISOO.     Palmer  wroto  a  foiir-coluiim 
.irtic'lr  j.'iving  tlie  results  of  his  expeditions  of  18.")8  and  18;VJ,  and  iiialcing  out 
tint  in  carrying  freiclit  to  the  mines  the  route  could  compete  witli  tlie  roads 
liicu  existing  along  Eraser  and  Uarriouu  rivers. 
Hist.  Bkit.  Cot.    24 


m 


370 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT. 


found  necessary  to  build  rafts  in  order  to  pass  some 
difficult  forest-covered  country,  cut  up  by  ravines. 
Wagons  and  freight  were  taken  upon  several  lar^^'e 
rafts,  poled  and  towed  along  shore  with  ropes,  while 
tlie  cattle  were  driven,  under  the  direction  of  ex- 
plorers, to  a  point  where  the  country  was  more  open. 
Palmer  had  a  party  of  men  in  advance  all  tlie  way, 
exploring  and  making  a  road,  or  cutting  timber  as  far 
north,  on  his  second  trip  in  1859,  as  Alexandria,  and 
later  to  Lightning  Creek,  where  he  established  a 
trading-post  and  sold  out  his  oxen  for  beef  ^' 

Douglas'  frequent  communications  to  the  colonial 
office,  touchmg  the  gold  discoveries  in  British  terri- 
tory, left  the  governtnent  prepared  for  action  as  soon 
as  the  news  of  the  breaking-out  of  the  Fraser  excite- 
ment and  the  exodus  to  the  north  had  reached 
England.  On  the  8th  of  July,  Sir  C.  B.  Lytton, 
secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies,  brought  the  matter 
before  the  house  of  commons  in  the  form  of  a  bill  for 
the  government  of  'New  Caledonia.'  Lord  Lytton 
in  presenting  this  bill  did  justice  to  the  subject  in  au 
able  speech,  pointing  out  the  importance  of  the  now 
gold-fields  as  a  part  of  the  British  possessions  in 
North  America,  and  of  the  empire  in  its  future  com- 
mercial relations  on  the  Pacitic.^'^  One  of  the  earliest 
comnmnications  of  Douglas  had  raised  the  question 
of  taking  advantage  of  the  gold  excitement  for  reve- 
nue. Bv  fore  the  Fraser  excitement  had  fairly  bi'gun, 
in  December  1857,  he  had  prescribed  a  monthly  tax 
of  ten  shillings  M.pon  every  miner,  afterward  increas- 
ing the  amount  to  five  dollars,  though  the  country  was 
not  under  his  jurisdiction  as  governor  of  the  colony 
of  Vancouver  Island,  and  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
had  no  rights  in  the  territory,  beyond  their  license 
to  trade.  If  the  motive  and  the  exceeding  of  his 
authority'  as  the  nearest  representative  of  the  crown 

*^Palmer'n  Waifon  Traim,  MS.,  55. 
^''  CornitHillis'  New  El  Dorado,  11-18. 


'I 


'i  * 


■^ 


nSCOVERY  OF  OOLD. 


371 


wore  not  approved  or  deemed  a  sufficient  excuse  in 
the  premises,  he  wrote  to  Labouchere  in  the  colonial 
department,  it  would  be  easy  for  Douglas  on  receiving 
tliu  colonial  secretary's  reply  to  permit  the  miners' 
license  to  become  a  dead  letter.  But  as  the  license 
and  other  similar  acts  in  regard  to  the  Mainland  were 
afterward  continued  in  force,  it  would  appear  that  the 
temporary  assumption  of  authority  by  Douglas  was 
overlooked,  if  not  approved. 

Additional  exactions  of  the  same  kind  were  im- 
posed upon  the  inflowing  masses  before  the  erection 
of  the  Mainland  region  into  a  colony.  Besides  the 
six  and  twelve  dollars  'sufferance'  for  every  open  and 
decked  boat  or  canoe  that  entered  the  mouth  of  Fraser 
River,  collected  by  the  gun-boat  Satellite,  the  treasurer 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  Finlayson,  who  ofti- 
ciated  at  the  same  time  as  customs  officer  and  treasurer 
of  the  colony  of  Vancouver  Island,  exacted  a  ten  per 
cent  ad  valorem  tax  upon  the  supplies  of  the  miners, 
comprising  goods  of  every  kind  that  went  to  the 
niine.s.^ 

Where  domination  was  so  autocratic  and  so  reti- 
cent as  that  exercised  by  the  fur-traders  under  the 
Douii^las  regime,  the  purest  motives  were  not  always 
ascril)(^d  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  for  their  acts. 
By  tlie  miners  it  was  thought  that  the  company  was 
averse  to  their  taking  possession  of  the  territory ;  that 
they  preferred  to  have  the  natives  find  the  gold  and 
bnng  it  to  them  with  their  furs,  receiving  therefor 
goods  at  exorbitant  prices. 

I'dwood  Evans  and  John  Nugent  both  appear  to 
have  had  the  idea  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany officials  knew  of  the  existence  of  the  gold  in 
the  valley  of  the  Fraser  for  several  years  before  the 
Fraser  excitement;  that  they  must  have  had  some- 
thing to  do  with  creating  and  exciting  the  rush,  but 
that  they  judiciously  held  back  till  a  certain  time, 
and  then  unscrupulously  fostered  the  excitement  to 

'' FinUvjmn's  V.  I.  and  B.  C,  MS.,  56-60. 


m  iH 


i : 


'! 


■'  '  't 


^  '-4 


i-  I 


: 


,  li 


.?  r; ,. 


iiy 


372 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  r,xcITEMENT, 


the  utmost.^*  But  it  is  not  difficult  to  interpret 
the  motives  that  governed  their  action  under  tho 
progress  of  developments,  without  indorsing  these 
clashing  opinions,  or  attributing  to  them  unworthy 
motives.  Douglas  had  reason  to  fear  the  American 
invasion,  for  he  had  seen  Oregon  pass  out  of  the  pos- 
session of  the  company  and  of  the  crown  by  a  similar 
peaceful  invasion. 

That  the  company  preferred,  were  it  possible,  to 
hold  the  Mainland  with  its  furs  and  gold  exclusive, 
there  can  be  no  doubt;  that  they  resorted  to  dishonor- 
able measures  when  they  saw  the  inevitable  uj^jii 
them  is  not  true.  Like  any  other  bloodless  and  mer- 
cenary association,  when  they  saw  their  fur-fiekl 
despoiled  by  invaders  whose  presence  the^  were 
powerless  to  oppose,  they  turned  to  the  best  account 
tl:  :)y  were  able  their  facilities  for  transportation  and 
trade,  which  was  unquestionably  their  privilege.  As 
I  have  before  observed,  I  can  but  regard  the  offictis 
and  servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  upon  the 
Pacific  Coast,  in  points  of  integrity  and  humanity,  as 
far  above  the  average  corporation  monopolist. 

In  California  it  implied  not  merely  the  loss  of  po]ni- 
lation  and  revenue,  but  of  business  and  of  comuurc  ial 
supremacy.  At  first  the  reports  were  considi-icd 
doubtful,  and  only  a  few  of  the  most  venturesome 
went  to  investigate  for  themselves;  and  when  tliey 
were  confirmed,  sceptical  writers  still  cited  Cold 
Lake,  Gold  Bluff,  Kern  River,  and  all  the  other 
total  or  partial  delusions  of  their  day.  When  the 
news  was  received  in  a  reliable  form,  and  from  persons 
well  known  in  California,  all  agreeing  that  there  \\as 
really  much  gold  in  tho  sands  of  the  Fraser,  and  that 
it  existed  in  extremely  fine  particles,  though  accom- 
panied  by  the  warning  that  the  high-water  season 


I   li 


!■■ 


8  , 


**  Evann' Frcuirr  Uiver  Exeitement,  MS.,  and  Nvgent's  Rept.  Ex.  Doc.  cxl, 
S5th  Cou'j.,  2d  Se^3.,  both  attribute  a  great  deal  to  the  manipulation  uf  tin 
company. 


THE  ORTHODOX  THEORY. 


373 


was  just  commencing,  which  would  render  the  bars 
(it'  the  rivers,  the  only  good  ground  so  far  known  in- 
acci'ssihle  for  several  months,  every  old  miner  in  Cali- 
fiunia  understood  the  significance  of  the  fact.  The 
tlu'ory  so  well  understood  in  every  gold-mining 
country  in  the  world,  of  fine  gold  necessarily  coming 
fioin  a  coarse-gold  region,  furnished  the  plain,  unvar- 
iiislu'd,  and  all-sufficient  cause  for  the  unparalleled 
St  mpede.  Adolpli  Sutro  at  the  time  called  attention 
to  the  fact  that  the  information  received  from  Fraser 
liiviT  alone  did  not  suffice  to  produce  the  extraor- 
(liiuuy  result;  but  that  the  miners  had  learned  to 
place  implicit  confidence  in  the  theory  of  fine  gold, 
the  fineness  corresponding  with  the  distance  travelled, 
aiul  that  the  bars  of  the  Fraser  were  understood  by 
ihv'.n  to  be  nothing;  else  than  the  farthest  tailinfjs  of 
11  sluice,  where  only  such  particles  were  found  as  were 
iiiiimte  enougli  to  be  carried  away  by  the  waters.  It 
was  concluded  by  many  of  the  most  intelligent  miners 
and  i)rospectors  of  California,  that  there  must  be  an 
extensive  gold-mining  district  in  British  Columbia, 
[)erliaps  hundreds  of  miles  above  the  bars  yielding 
the  fine  gold.^^ 

I  have  already  shown  that  to  test  this  theory  was 
not  a  matter  of  years,  but  the  season  rendered  it  im- 
possible at  tliis  time. 

For  some  time  past  attention  had  been  directed  to 
tlic  Fuca  Strait  by  geographers,  but  more  particular-ly 
to  Puget  Sound,  by  that  portion  of  tlie  Oregon  emi- 


i  ]' 

I" 
1  ■ 

1  i' 


l- 

i 

4 

m 


i.|; 


^  Sntros  Ret'iew  of  Franer  River  and  tlie  Gold  Pro/rpects  qf  New  Caledonia, 
in  S.  F.  Bulletin,  Aug.  27,  1858.  Finding  the  M-ater  high  over  the  liars,  the 
minors  hail  pressed  on  to  Yale  and  encountered  other  insurniountahlo  ol)sta- 
l'Il's,  tlie  great  Fraser  a  foaming  torrent  heunned  in  liy  perpendicular  rocks  on 
either  side.  Tlie  timid  turned  hack  and  denounced  the  theory  as  fiction. 
OtliiTs  waited  tlirougli  dreary  months;  but  a  daring  few,  with  a  fortnight's  or 
:i  miiiith's  provisions  strapped  on  their  hacks,  climhed  the  rocks  and  slopes  of 
tliu  Fraser  carton  seventy  miles  farther  to  La  Fontaine,  where  they  found 
t!'""!  dij;<;iiigs,  hut  only  to  prospect  them  before  they  were  obliged  to  liurry 
liuck  to  avoid  starvation.  'Fraser  River,' says  Sutro,  'has  been  put  down  iis 
a  iMiinliug  liy  the  majority  of  tlie  California  people,  and  wliy  ?  Have  they 
i::irriiil^  out  their  original  intention  to  explore  the  country  above  ?  No,  they 
Invf  not.'  Compare  Wrii/li/'s  Cariboo,  iiiOverlaiul  Monthly,  Dec.  18G9,  5'2i, 
fur  mi'unnatiou  of  this  motive. 


!    , 


it 


374 


THE  GREAT  GOLD  EXCITEMENT, 


gration  which  was  imbued  with  commercial  traditions 
or  influenced  by  nautical  antecedents.  Under  the  act 
which  initiated  the  Pacific  Railway  explorations  In- 
the  engineer  corps  of  the  army  between  1853  and 
1856,  Governor  Stephens  of  Washington  Territt)iy 
led  one  of  the  best  executed  series  of  explorations 
over  the  line  of  the  proposed  Northern  Pacific  Kail- 
way,  terminating  on  Puget  Sound.  Notwithstandiiii,' 
the  existence  of  gold  in  California,  it  was  believed 
by  many  that  Puget  Sound  was  to  be  the  terminus 
of  the  great  future  trunk  railway  of  the  northern 
states.^ 

The  immediate  effect  of  the  gold  excitement  was  to 
lay  the  foundations  for  the  Canadian  Pacific  and  North- 
ern Pacific  railways  as  commercial  enterprises,  eacli 
of  which  had,  however,  to  await  the  more  permanent 
kinds  of  mining  development  before  the  superstructure 
could  be  properly  carried  forward.  Evidently  the 
final  great  value  of  the  discovery  of  the  new  g(jld- 
fields  in  British  Columbia  to  the  colony,  to  the  Do 
minion  of  Canada,  and  to  the  Empire  of  Great  Britain, 
consisted  mainly  in  the  crowds  of  adventurers  that 
were  attracted  into  the  country,  from  whose  energetic 
proceedings  permanent  developments  were  to  foHow 
in  many  ways. 

Communications  for  traffic  and  general  intercourse 
thus  sprang  forward  at  a  bound,  and  the  country  was 


■'"In  the  midst  of  the  Fraser  excitement,  California  newspapers  quotiii 
Lieutenant  Maury's  opinion  on  the  siibject.  Tlio  great  tolegrapliio  pl.ittaii 
on  which  the  Atlantic  cable  was  laid  was  reported  by  Manry  to  exteml  uioiiinl 
the  world,  the  Minnesota  divide  between  the  gulf  and  Arctic  waters  foriiiiiiL' 
a  portion  of  it.  The  whole  country  between  Lake  Superior  and  I'uget  Suuinl 
was  claimed  to  be  less  barren  and  less  rugged  than  the  country  south,  ami 
coal  as  well  as  timber  was  known  to  exist  in  abundance  on  I'ugot  Soiuiil. 
Maury  showed  chat  the  course  of  a  ship  from  China  to  San  Franci.si:o,  '  iiiilil 
she  gains  the  offings  of  the  straits  of  Fuca,  would  bo  the  same  as  thou,i;li  slio 
were  bound  into  Puget  Sound  or  tlie  Columbia  River,'  and  that  the  nranst 
way  from  China,  Japan,  and  the  Ainoor  to  the  Mississippi  Valley  was  by  wiiy 
of  Puget  Sound.  Attention  was  also  directed  by  Maury  to  Mie  isotherms,  ami 
wind  and  ocean  currents  of  the  north-western  Pacific  coast.  Sec  Xi  I'H'I" 
Jmimnl,  June  11,  18.58,  and  Letter  to  President  of  St  Pmil  Chiiriilnr  of  Com- 
nierce,  Jan.  4,  1859,  ia  Hawlliui'  Coiijederatioii,  N.  A.  Provinces,  217. 


^  a  i 


nrwr. 


POSSIBILITIES. 


375 


transformod  as  by  magic  from  staid  savagery  to  pan- 
demonium. Agriculture,  and  shipping  to  carry  away 
the  products  of  the  soil  in  exchange  for  the  many 
returns  of  commerce,  became  a  possibility  for  the 
great  Northwest,  and  in  virtue  thereof  Vancouver 
Island,  commanding  the  north  Pacific  coast,  was  dis- 
tinctly outlined  as  the  England  of  the  Pacific.  So 
far  as  could  be  seen  into  the  immediate  future,  it 
then  appeared  superficially  that  only  gold  and  silver 
were  wealth.  What  varied  experiences  or  revolutions 
this  country  would  have  to  undergo  before  its  wealth 
ill  the  precious  metals  should  be  fairly  realized,  or  its 
metals  become  precious  in  fact  by  the  fulfilment  ot 
their  special  and  only  precious  function,  the  setting 
in  motion  of  human  industries,  were  at  that  time  as 
undefined  as  the  shadow  of  the  moon. 


!,  I 
! 


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11 ; '  Il 


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k 


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■  M 
-'ill 


CHAPTEK  XXI. 

DEATH  OF  THE  MONOPOLY— THE  CCLONY  OF  BRITISH 
COLUMBIA   ESTABUS-IED. 

i857-1858. 

Shall  the  Charter  be  Renf;wed? — DrscuasiON  of  the  Question  iv  Par- 
liament—Referred TO  A  Select  CoMMirrEE — AVho  Think  tuk  Char- 
ter   SHOULD   NOT    BE    RENEWED — (ioLD  AS   A   REVOLUTIONIST — ])()l(iLAS 

Stands  by  for  England — Late  Fur-factors— Dugald  McTavisii— 
William  Charles — The  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  Licensk  of 
Exclusive  Trade  with  the  Natives  of  the  Mainland  Revokkd— 
Repurchase  of  the  Island  op  Vancouver  by  the  Impeiual  (Gov- 
ernment— Change  of  Company  Organization- -Canada  PuKriiA.>iE.-i 
Rupert  Land  and  the  Northwest  Territory — Liberal  and  Hi- 
mane  Policy  of  the  Company  in  Regard  to  Gold-seekeus  and 
Speculators 

Nations  die;  worlds  grow  old  and  perish;  and  so, 
thank  God,  sooner  or  later  must  every  monopoly.  Not 
that  the  honorable  Hudson's  Bay  Company  now 
fails,  becomes  defunct,  or  otherwise  disappears.  It 
is  only  that  branch  of  the  association  which  nii^ht 
well  be  labelled  tyranny  and  despotism  that  is  now 
doomed.  The  adventurers  of  England  trading  into 
Hudson's  Bav,  trading  on  and  between  three  oceans, 
holding  as  a  hunting-ground  for  wellnigh  two  cen- 
turies an  area  equal  to  all  Europe,  must  now  step 
down  from  the  royal  pedestal  on  which  they  wore 
placed  by  Rupert  and  Charles,  and  become  as  any 
other  adventurers  trading  in  any  other  region.  In  ii 
word,  the  company's  exclusive  license  to  trade,  now 
expiring,  is  not  to  be  renewed;  the  country  between 
tlie  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  sea  is  to  be  thrown 
open  to  settlers,  and  the  Mainland  is  to  be  colonized 

(37fi) 


THE  EXPIRING  CHARTER. 


377 


and  have  spread  over  it  the  mother- wing  even  as  hith- 
erto it  has  been  extended  over  the  Island. 

Wo  have  seen  how  in  1821,  when  after  a  rivalry 
which  well  nigh  consummated  the  ruin  of  both,  the 
Northwest  and  Hudson's  Bay  companies  united  their 
iiitei'ests,  parliament  granted  the  now  association  the 
exclusive  right  to  trade  for  furs  in  the  region  west  of 
Rupert  Land  for  twenty-one  years,  and  how  in  1838, 
four  years  before  their  term  had  expired,  their  license 
was  renewed  for  another  twenty-one  years,  which  lat- 
ter term  would  expire  "in  1859. 

Throe  or  four  years  before  the  expiration  of  the 
trade  license  under  which  they  held  control  of  the 
Mainland,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  began  manoeu- 
vring for  continuance  of  power,  and  during  the  winter 
of  185G-7  the  directors  flatly  asked  the  government 
for  a  renewal  of  their  license.  If  they  were  to  retire, 
they  should  know  it;  and  if  the  imperial  government 
was  to  take  charge  of  affairs,  they  should  have  time  in 
which  to  prepare  for  it.  The  claims  of  the  company 
Were  then  laid  before  the  ministers,  who  referred  the 
matter  to  parliament. 

On  the  5th  of  February  1857,  Mr  Labouch^re  asked 
ill  the  house  of  commons  for  the  appointment  of  a 
select  committee  to  consider  the  state  of  those  British 
North  American  possessions  which  were  under  the 
administration  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  or  over 
which  they  held  license  to  trade. 

Lubouchere  said  that  although  the  extensive  re- 
gions referred  to  were  for  the  most  part  adapted  only 
to  fishing  and  fur-raising,  yet,  besides  containing  great 
mineral  wealth,  there  were  large  districts  fit  for  agri- 
culture, and  for  the  support  of  industrial  populations. 
Inil^crial  policy,  justice,  and  humanity  alike  prompted 
government  action.  Altliough  by  reason  of  long 
occupation  under  royal  charter,  their  claim  to  Bupert 
Land  might  be  deemed  valid,  it  was  not  so  with  regard 
to  the  region  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  their 
tenure  to  that  district  being  the  result  of  a  royal 


•     ; 

■ 

i  , 

.1 

i; 

t ' 

'■ 

■-.     I 

t    i 

.I 

l.ii^ 


■    i 

1 

! 

1 

i 

j 

■i^e 


878 


THE  COLONY  OF  BRITISH  COLU.MI5IA. 


^  «: 


J      S 


!   " 


1l 


license  f^ivin*^  fchnin  exclusive  trade  with  the  natives, 
and  this  license  would  now  soon  exi)ire.  So  far  as  lie 
knew,  the  company  had  performed  its  ohligations  to 
the  govermnent,  and  throughout  their  whole  doniiiin 
the  twelve  hundred  servants  of  the  comj)any  had 
treated  tlie  three  hundred  thousand  savages  under 
them  with  due  regard  to  humanity. 

Mr  Hoehuck  remarked  that  ho  did  not  like  to  soe 
a  country  such  as  the  United  States  grow  so  great  as 
to  become  insolent,  and  dominate  the  rest  of  the 
world ;  therefore  settlement  should  be  encouraged  in 
Canada  in  order  to  balance  this  power.  ^Ir  Adder! cy 
thought  every  one  would  anticipate  with  eagerness 
the  expiration  of  the  company's  license  which  should 
open  the  whole  country  to  settlement.  If  England 
did  not  do  it,  American  squatting,  and  annexation  to 
the  United  States,  would  be  the  result.  The  trivint' 
of  Vancouver  Island  to  the  fur-traders  was  the  ureat- 
est  l)lunder  a  colonial  minister  ever  connnitted.  For 
Nootka  Sound  Mr  Pitt  had  risked  a  Spanish  war. 
The  country  should  be  free  from  tlie  grasp  of  the 
mon(^poly,  he  thought,  at  any  hazard. 

Edward  Ellice^  next  rose,  and  remarked  that  the 

'  Edward  EUice,  membur  of  parliament,  and  for  half  a  century  or  iiioro  a 
proiniticiit  partner  in  the  Northwest  and  Hudson's  Bay  companies,  in  hi-i  tr.s- 
tiniony  before  the  select  committee,  afi'ected  to  regard  colonial  affairs  witli  iu- 
difl'erencc,  and  the  government  of  colouiea  as  detrimental  rather  than  otherwise 
to  the  interest  of  fur  companies.  If  Canada  co^'eted  the  management  of  Ucil 
lliver  affairs,  he  thought  there  would  I'u  no  difficulty  in  coming  to  terms  witli 
the  Hmlson's  Bay  Company.  The  coaipan;.'  W(  ro  then  in  possession  of  \'.iu 
couver  Island,  but  were  very  ready  to  ^;ivt  it  up;  if  the  government  did  udt 
deem  it  advisable  to  avail  itself  of  tli(!  services  of  the  company,  it  had  hotter 
assume  the  management  itself.  If  v.  j  .  a  wise  move,  he  thought,  on  l.nnl 
Grey's  part,  jKirticularly  in  an  economical  point  of  view,  the  grantini;  fif  tliu 
Island  to  the  company.  In  answer  to  the  question,  '  Do  you  tiiink  tiiat  the 
right  of  exclusive  trade  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  couli I  be  rendiTLil  ann- 
patible  with  the  territory  being  given  to  a  colony?'  Ellice  replied:  'Wliy 
should  it  not  be  so?  It  is  compatible  with  the  government  of  tl'.is  country, 
and  it  wouhl  be  compatible  with  the  government  of  a  colony.  I  do  not  tliinii 
that  it  shoid<l  exist  one  hour  longer  than  the  colony,  or  the  legislutiin'  or 
government  of  that  country,  thouglit  it  for  their  good.  The  Hudson's  Ikiy 
(.'ompaiiy  have  no  claim  to  it;  it  is  not  like  the  Hudson's  Bay  territory.  I 
may  add  that  beyond  the  Hudson's  Bay  coiiipaiiy  being  paid  for  tiK'ir 
outlay,  which  payment  they  are  entitled  to  under  tiie  agreement  with  the 
crown,  I  do  not  think  they  have  any  claim  upon  the  public  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  otherwise  than  as  you  may  think  it  for  your  interest 
to  employ  them.'  Jlouse  Commons  Kept.,  330.     Up  to  this  time  the  eonipauy 


jv4 


PAHLIAMENTARY  DISCUSSION. 


379 


slioiild 


]i()ii()ral)lo  j^cntloman  know  nothiiif^j  of  what  they  wore 
(lisciissuig,  olso  thoy  would  know  tlmt  northern  Noith 
Aiiu'rica  was  wliolly  unfavorahle  to  c'oh)nization. 
TIhm,  should  the  present  bonii^nant  rule  of  the  Hud- 
son's 13ay  Company  be  withdrawn,  how  would  they 
jrovcrn,  how  would  they  hold  the  country!"  Throw  it 
opfii  to  free-traders,  and  you  would  speedily  see  as  bad 
a  state  of  thin;^s  as  has  over  obtained  on  tlui  United 
Stati'S  border;  and  surely  the  imperial  money- vaults 
must  be  overloaded  wlien  statesmen  are  so  eager  to  set 
u[»  iiiid  kLsep  in  moti<m  civil  and  military  machinery 
tor  tlie  government  of  a  wilderness  of  savages  and 
wild  beasts.  On  behalf  of  the  directors  he  might  say 
that  the  ccjmpany  were  reaih'  for  the  fullest  investiga- 
tion and  the  fairest  adjustment. 

For  tlie  five  hundredth  time  in  public,  the  history 
of  the  company  was  reviewed  and  their  doings  dis- 
cussed by  Mr  Gladstone,  who  favored  investigation 
and  equitaLIu  and  amicable  adjustment.  Others  fol- 
lowed in  similar  strain  on  one  side  and  the  other; 


i  II  •» 


m 


lull  uxpcnilcd  in  bringing  out  settlers  and  coal-miners,  ami  iu  perfoi-niing 
till'  (itliLT  obligations  of  their  trust,  according  to  their  aououiit,  eighty 
thousand  pouuds.  All  was  outlay;  there  was  no  return.  Politically  tiie 
Lslaiid  was  an  interesting  possession;  its  position  was  superb.  t)pportunity 
was  thtTc  for  investing  money  in  improvements  to  an  unlimited  extent.  Rocks 
iiiiglit  1)0  turned  into  palaces,  forests  into  gilded  temples,  and  the  laud  and 
tlio  w:itLT  become  alive  with  industry.  But  the  wealth  requisite  for  all  tliia 
was  not  to  be  found  in  the  Island.  Like  thn  motlier  countrj',  it  must  have  in- 
t(Ti!st  elsewhere  to  become  great.  'The  sooner  the  public  rei'uter  into  pos- 
si'ssiiiii,  and  tlie  sooner  they  form  establishments  worthy  of  the  Island,  and 
Worthy  of  this  country,  the  l)otter.  From  all  accounts  whicli  we  hear  of  it,  it 
is  a  kiiiil  of  England  attached  to  the  continent  of  America.'  Eltice,  hi  I/oune 
( 'omiiiiiiin  Itiyt.,  335.  Either  the  eouipany  were  now  in  reality  becoming  tired 
of  tluir  bargain  in  regard  to  tlie  Island,  or  else,  foreseeing  they  could  liojd  it 
no  luiioLT,  tiiey  pretendeil  to  be  tired  of  it.  But  their  actions  did  not  always 
aciiinl  with  their  expressed  sentiments.  All  that  was  to  be  made  out  of  tiiis 
ooliiiii/atidu  scheme  they  had  made,  some  of  them  thouglit.  And  in  a  pecu- 
niary point  for  themselves  they  had  done  well.  There  was  profit  for  them 
m  loiiiuction  witli  their  other  business,  in  carrying  emigrants  in  their  own 
V(s>ch,  provided  there  were  any  to  carry,  in  manipulating  land  sah^s,  especially 
ill  st'tting  aside  the  l)e^t  part  of  tin;  Island  for  themselves,  and  in  performing 
vaiioiis  little  duties  for  the  government.  An  account  like  this  with  tlie 
govuriuncnt  was  exceedingly  convenient  in  many  ways;  it  grew  oil  their  books 
rasily  anil  naturally,  and  assisted  the  coniiiany  in  carrying  out  its  plans  in 
iiiaiiy  wiiya.  But  now  all  hi'  I  been  done  that  there  was  to  do.  The  settle- 
1111  lit  hail  been  begun,  but  the  settlors  were  dissatisfied.  Tlie  plan  was  iu 
fit't  a  failure.  Clearly  it  was  now  to  the  interests  of  the  company,  so  some 
lit  tlicni  arjjUed,  to  give  up  the  Island  and  get  their  money  back. 


t!^ 


h-i 


v. 


380 


THE  COLONY  OF  UKITISII  COLUIvlWA. 


V    I 


after  wliich  the  vote  was  taken,  and  the  motion  sus- 
tained.^ 

The  governor-general  of  Canada  was  notified  of  the 
intention  of  government  to  institute  this  inquiry,  in 
order  that  an  opportunity  might  be  afforded  that 
coh)ny  of  giving  such  information  and  advanciii*,' 
sucli  t)pinions  as  they  might  deetn  proper.  Accoid- 
ingly  Chief-justice  Draper  was  commissioned  by  the 
government  of  Canada  to  watch  proceedings.  The 
legislative  assembly  of  Canada  likewise  appointed 
a  conunittee  of  their  own  to  investigate  these  same 
affairs,  a  full  report  of  which  was  laid  beft^re  the  par- 
liamentary committee.  The  law-officers  of  the  crown 
were  freely  called  upon  from  time  to  time  during  the 
investigation  for  their  opinion  respecting  title  uikI 
various  points  connected  with  the  company's  charter. 

After  sitting  for  nearly  six  months,  the  prorogation 
of  j)arlianient  occurring  in  the  mean  tune,  and  sub- 
jecting twenty-four  witnesses  to  the  most  searchiui^ 
examination,  the  committee  found  the  territory  owr 
which  the  company  exercised  rights  to  be  of  three 
descriptions:  the  land  held  by  charter,  and  called 
Ilupert  Land;  the  land  held  by  license,  called  the 
Indian  territory;  and  the  land  held  by  crown  grant 
for  purposes  of  colonization,  which  was  Vancouver 
Island.  The  wishes  of  Canada,  the  committee  said, 
to  annex  such  territories  as  were  available  for  settle- 
ment should  be  met.  The  Red  Iliverand  Saskatchewan 
districts  should  he  ceded  to  Canada.  The  connection  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  with  Vancouver  Issland 
should  be  terminated,  and  means  provided  for  tx- 
ti>nding  the  colony  over  the  whole  or  any  portion  of 
the  Mainland.  Such  portions  of  tlie  Hudson's  l>ay 
Company's  territories  as  were  not  I'ecjuired  for  settle- 
ment, it  would  be  well  to  leave  in  the  liands  of  the 
company  with  their  present  rights  of  exclusive  trade 
with  the  natives.' 

^See  ITiiuKunVn  rarlianieiifn,-ji  Dvlxifen,  3d  ser.,  cxliv.  210-41;  cxlv.  i'T; 
Leri'n  Annuls  n/  JiritMi  Liyifhnoii,  iv.  2i;4-.3!). 

* Tho  result  of  the  laborii  of  this  conunittee  is  a  folio  volume  of  547  pagia, 


fifffl 


w 


m 


DKATH  OF  THE  MONOPOLY. 


381 


Indeed,  the  company  had  no  objections  at  this  time 
to  the  government  assuming  control  of  the  whole 
country,  provided  the  license  of  exclusive  trade  with 
the  Indians  on  the  Mainland  was  left  them.  There 
was  little  danger  of  an  immediate  influx  of  settlers, 
uiilfss  some  excitement  should  spring  up  like  tliat 
wliich  did  in  fac'  foUow;  so  that  if  the  expense  and 
responsibility  of  protection  could  be  thrown  upon  the 
jroverument,  while  the  profits  of  trade  should  be  left 
oxelusively  with  them,  nothing  would  suit  them  bettm'. 

If  gold  should  be  found  in  any  quantities  on  the 
Mainland,  as  it  was  even  riow  talked  about  on  the 
Island,  that  region  would  be  lost  to  the  fur-trader  in 
any  event.  Even  were  the  government  willing,  a 
reekU'ss,  promiscuous  population  would  not  long  suV)- 
niit  to  the  arbitrary  rule  of  a  private  corporation.  All 
this  the  company  foresaw,  and  shaped  their  policy  ac- 
cordingly. 

And  now  suddenly  in  these  primeval  shades  each 
man  finds  lilmself  in  a  whirl  of  unrest.  The  cold 
and  barren  desolation  of  New  Caledonia  is  all  at  once 
transformed  into  a  field  of  glittering  promisi;,  of  prom- 
ise so  radiant  as  to  draw  imuimerablc  human  bats 
from  every  (piarter  into  it.     The  position  of  Douglas 

entitled  Reyort  from  the  Schrt  CoinmitU'o  on  thr  Ihuhnn's  Bay  Compnii;/,  to- 
iji'thir  vitli  t/if  I'roceedhiijs  of  (hi'  ('oiniiiilti'i',  Miniitct  of  Kndrinr,  Ajipviidix, 
uiid  Iiiilfj:  Onlcrcd  hi/ the  JloilM' 0/  Coiiiiiioiis  to  he.  /^rmlcd  ,')'/  July  aiid  II 
Aw111.1t  lS'i7.  Till!  coiuiiiittee  Cdiissistcd  of  niiu^ti'iin  person",  as  folluv.s:  Jloiiry 
Liiliinu'lK'ro,  chairman;  Messrs  (Jlailstone,  Rooluick,  Lowe,  (Jrogaii,  (iri'j^soii, 
Fitzwilli.iin,  (iurney,  llfrl)ert,  MatlK^soii,  Blacl'mrii.  CJiristy,  Kiiiiiairil, 
Kllice,  Viscounts  Goderich  and  Saiidon,  Sir  .[olm  I'lkin^ton,  and  Lords  RiH- 
sc'll  and  Stanley.  The  committee  sat  from  tho  ISth  of  February  to  the  lilst 
ot  July,  and  examined  '24  ])ersons,  namely,  J'llin  Ri, ■<.■<,  J.  H.  Lefoy,  .loliu 
K.ie  Sir  ( leorgo  Simpson,  William  Kcriia^han,  C.  W.  W.  Fitzwilliam,  Alex- 
.111. Irr  Isliister,  (r.  O.  Cori)ett,  Sir  .John  Richardson,  J.  F.  Crofton,  Sir  (leorjio 
Hick,  .lames  Cooper,  W.  H.  Draper,  David  Andiu'sou,  Joseph  Maynanl,  A. 
K.  Itii'lu',  David  lEerd,  John  Miles,  ,lolm  MeLoughlin,  Jlichanl  Hlansliard, 
\\  illiam  I'ahhvell,  Richard  Kinj;,  .James  Tv  iiiiaiit,  and  Edward  Klliee.  These 
gt'iitlrMien  were  all  cither  .  crts  in  Hudson's  l?ay  Comiiany  ati'airs,  or  had 
lii'i'U  in  some  way  conneci,  ■ '  ■  .th  the  company.  Some  of  them  were  aeiidetit- 
a'lly  in  Liuidou  at  the  time,  some  were  there  hy  appointment,  and  some  were 
liuinianent  residents  of  P^nBlaml.  There  were  aniing  them  those  hr-.th  in  favor 
"f  a  continnanee  of  the  license  Bystem  and  those  opposed,  to  it.  A  largo 
mass  of  valiialilo  evidence  was  drawn  from  tluse  witnesses,  of  which  I  have 
made  free  use  in  writing  this  history. 


'f!l 


1 


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'  'i, 

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j'; 

;  !! 

h 

it  ^, 


882 


THE  COLONY  OF  BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 


becomes  an  exceedingly  important  one.  The  north- 
west fur-fields  seem  doomed.  Beside  this  tempest, 
the  occupation  of  Oregon  was  summer  quiet.  What 
shall  the  governor  say  to  these  panting  new-comers; 
what  shall  the  chief  factor  do?  The  company,  with 
the  license  of  trade  as  its  only  weapon,  cannot  hold  at 
bay  the  hungry  thirty  thousand.  They  must  be  per- 
mitted ingress,  else  they  will  obtain  it  without  per- 
mission; they  must  be  overawed  and  governed,  else 
they  will  riot  in  lawlessness.  Months  must  elapse 
before  action  here  can  be  directed  by  imperial  powers, 
and  meanwhile  to  hesitate  is  to  be  lost. 

In  this  emergency,  as  he  is  the  chief  and  almost 
sole  representative  of  the  British  crown  on  the  North- 
west Coast,  Douglas  determines  to  act  for  his  govern- 
ment in  matters  pertaining  to  the  Mainland,  as  best 
he  may,  until  definite  instructions  reach  him.  He 
will  levy  contributions  for  the  benefit  of  his  govern- 
ment on  those  entering  the  domain  for  its  treasures, 
and  maintain  order  among  the  uncouth  comers  to  the 
best  of  his  ability. 

As  from  the  depths  of  primeval  slumber  affairs  now 
awake  to  the  wildest  activity.  There  is  no  further 
need  of  anxiety  over  the  absence  of  colonists.  Who 
would  have  thought  as  the  company  were  bringing 
out  here  a  farmer  and  there  a  coal-miner,  religiously 
entering  all  expenses  in  the  colonization  account  to 
be  presented  to  the  crown  on  that  fearful  day  of  reck- 
oning, to  see  so  soon  these  thirty  thousand  thus  madly 
pressing  forward,  well  nigh  burying  both  company  and 
crown  beneath  their  too  heavy  presence? 

Head  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  affairs  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  after  the  retirement  of  Douglas,  was 
Dugald  McTavish,  chief  factor  in  charge,  with  Tolniie 
and  Finlayson  as  associates,  the  three  comprising  the 
board  of  management.  To  the  succeeding  manager  at 
Victoria,  Mr  William  Charles,  I  am  indebted  for 
many  favors.     In  ransacking  for  me  the  company's 


THE  NAME. 


tss 


archives,  in  bringing  from  distant  posts  the  fort  jour- 
nals, and  in  the  generous  sympathy  he  has  ev^jr  ex- 
tended to  my  work,  he  has  won  my  lasting  gratitude.* 

When  the  investigation  of  the  attitude  and  conduct 
r^  the  company  was  first  approached,  the  question  with 
tue  imperial  government  was  whether  the  exclusive 
license  to  trade  with  the  natives  of  the  Mainland 
should  be  revoked  at  the  expiration  of  the  term 
granted  the  company  for  the  colonization  of  Van- 
couver Island.  The  publication  of  the  gold  discovery, 
and  the  influx  of  population,  however,  put  an  entirely 
diffo'-oit  opect  upon  affairs.  The  fur-trade  in  its 
aiic!  ;nt  ^  'lortions  was  at  an  end,  and  the  prevention 
of  Jemoraxtzation  and  disorder  was  as  essential  to  the 
coinpaiiy  as  to  the  crown.  It  was  better  on  both 
sides  that  all  exclusive  rights  of  the  monopoly  on  the 
Mainland  should  at  once  and  forever  cease. 

Hence  on  the  2d  of  August  1858  parliament  passed 
an  act  to  provide  for  the  government  of  British  Co- 
lumbia, by  which  name  hereafter  should  be  designated 
the  territories  between  the  United  States  frontier  on 
the  south  and  Simpson  River,  now  Nass  River,  and 
the  Finlay  branch  of  Peace  River  on  the  north,  and 
between  the  Rocky  Mountain  summit  and  the  sea,  in- 
cluding the  Que?ii  Charlotte  and  all  other  adjacent 
islands,  except  '^'^  ancouver  Island,  and  investing  the 
queen,  by  orde?'  in  c  mncil,  with  power  to  appoint  a 
governor,  pn  vi^c  i"r  the  administration  of  justice, 

'Dugald  McTaVio!:  was  i^aior  r.icmbcr  of  the  board  of  management  from 
1859  till  November  18Gi),  w'..  '  ..o  was  called  to  England.  He  was  a  nephew 
of  John  George  McTavish,  anil  brother  of  William  McTavish,  who,  prior  to 
the  transfer  of  the  north-west  territory  to  the  dominion  government,  was 
govprnor  of  Hudson's  Bay  Company  aflairs  at  Red  River.  Dugald  McTavish 
came  to  the  Columbia  in  1840,  and  was  stationed  at  different  times  at  V'  n, 
Vancouver,  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  and  Verba  Buena.  Ho  died  in  his  bathing- 
room  in  Montreal,  about  1873.  He  'was  a  bachelor  who  could  at  anytime 
start  upon  a  journey  at  a  half-hour's  notice.  An  excellent  accountant,  an 
oflitt'  man,  and  had  long  been  manager  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  ailairs 
at  tiio  Sandwich  T-il,i,„dj,  He  was  a  clear-headed,  able  man,  small,  stout, 
compuetly  built,  ;o  head,  largo  perceptive  organs,  dark  complexion,  large 
light  tycs,  a  vp!  \  .  ^otioal  man,  not  much  imagination  about  him.  Sold  out 
\  CI  lia  Ikiena  fo  a  >! '  before  the  gold  excitement,  as  agent  for  the  company. ' 
Tiilmie's  J  list.  Pu-.p.'  .  .  nd,  Mrf.,  51.  See  also  Anderson's  Northweal  Coant, 
MS.,  82-3. 


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334 


THE  COLOXY  OF  BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 


make  laws,  and  establish  a  local  legislature.  One 
month  later  the  license  of  exclusive  trade  granted  tho 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  for  twenty-one  years  from 
the  30th  of  May  1838,  with  right  of  revocation  ro- 
served,  in  so  far  as  it  ^^"'ered  the  territories  com- 
prising the  colony  of  British  Columbia  was  revoked. 
James  Douglas  was  appointed  governor  of  British 
Columbia,  his  commission  for  Vancouver  Island  boin<r 
renewed. 

This  is  the  :  s  •■  '^f  the  great  monopoly  as  such.  There 
is  a  vast  mei  ..  machine  in  fair  runninj;  order 

which  still  offcre; .  aat  advantages  to  the  old  associca- 
tion,  but  there  are  here  no  more  exclusive  privileges 
for  them.  Their  million  or  two  of  square  miles  of 
domain,  with  their  several  hundreds  of  pacified  nations, 
are  now  free,  nominally  and  actually  open  to  any 
others  of  the  British  nation  for  purposes  of  hunting, 
trading,  or  colonizing  on  the  same  terms  as  at  present 
enjoyed  by  the  late  monopolists.  But  for  some  years 
in  certain  back  parts  of  this  region,  such  is  the  in- 
fluence exercised  by  the  company  upon  the  natives, 
such  the  advantages  of  their  established  posts,  tlieir 
knowledge  of  the  country,  their  facilities  for  commu- 
nication, that  this  abrogation  of  their  former  rights 
makes  but  little  difference  and  is  hut  little  felt.  Com- 
petitors sometimes  enter  the  field,  but  almost  as  often 
withdraw  baffled.  In  the  more  proximate  precincts, 
however,  in  mining  and  agricultural  settlements,  and 
about  some  of  the  northern  seaports,  where  inter- 
lopers and  squatters  now  begin  in  a  restricted  way 
to  plant  themselves,  their  autocratic  rule  rapidly  de- 
clines. By  law  they  are  now  simply  subjects  of 
Great  Britain,  possessing  no  more  rights  than  other 
subjects. 

A  letter  was  directed  to  Governor  Douglas  by  Jolni 
Work  and  Dugald  McTavish,  chief  factors,  under  <iate 
of  November  24,  1858,  calling  the  governor's  atten- 
tion to  an  accompanying  list  of  claims,  consisting  of 
fourteen  forts,  including  New  Fort  Langley,  with  tho 


■^pl 


THE  GOVERNMENT  TAKES  VANCOUVER  ISLAND. 


385 


surrounding  lands,  asking  that  the  same  might  bo  in 
due  time  confirmed  to  them  by  her  majesty's  govern- 
ment. 

With  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  the  company's 
exclusive  license  to  trade  with  the  natives  of  the 
Mainland,  the  imperial  government  repurchased  the 
company's  rights  in  the  Island  of  Vancouver  for 
£57,500,  the  last  instalment  of  which  was  paid  the 
6th  of  October  1862.  An  indenture  of  relinquishment 
of  rights  was  executed  on  the  3d  of  April  18G7,  the 
company  retaining,  besides  the  fort  property,  certain 
town  lots  and  farming  lands  amounting  to  several 
thousand  acres. 

By  18G3  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  stations  in 
British  Columbia  were  reduced  to  thirteen,  as  follows  : 
Fort  Simpson,  W.  H.  McNeill  in  charge;  Fort 
Langley,  W.  H.  Newton;  Fort  Hope,  W.  Charles: 
Fort  Yale,  O.  Allard ;  Thompson  River,  J.  W.  McKay ; 
Alexandria,  William  Manson;  Fort  George,  Thomas 
Charles;  Fort  St  James,  Peter  Ogden;  McLeod 
Lake,  Ferdinand  McKenzie;  Connolly  Lake,  William 
Tod;  Fraser  Lake,  J.  Moberly;  Fort  Babine,  Gavin 
Hamilton;  Fort  Shepherd,  A.  McDonald.  Among 
the  above  traders  are  many  names  long  familiar  to  us, 
but  which  at  this  day  belong  mostly  to  the  sons  of 
those  wo  first  knew.  In  Fort  Victoria  and  other  posts 
on  Vancouver  Island  the  amount  invested  in  185G  was 
£75,000. 

Ill  1871  the  organization  of  the  company  was 
changed;  there  were  more  factors  and  traders  and 
fowur  clerks,  and  lessened  operations  and  expenses. 
In  tact  the  association  now  partook  more  of  the  nature 
of  a  copartnership  than  of  a  corporation.  Meanwhile, 
Canada  purchased  the  company's  right  to  Rupert 
Land  and  the  Northwest  Territory,  and  out  of  the 
purchase  made  the  province  of  Manitoba. 

During  the  incipient  stages  of  the  government  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  wore  of  far  more  use  to  the 
government  than  the  government  was  to  them.     "At 

Hirr.  Butt.  Col.    23 


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3S6 


THE  COLONY  OF  BRITISH  COLUMBIA. 


this  moment,"  writes  Douglas  to  Lytton  the  2r)tli 
Octohcr  1858,  "I  am  making  use  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company's  estabhshments  for  every  pubHc  office, 
and  to  their  servants,  for  want  of  other  means,  I  com- 
mit in  perfect  confidence  the  custody  of  the  public 
money." 

It  was  but  human  nature  for  the  foreign  rabble, 
gold-hunters  from  California  and  elsewhere,  to  cry 
down  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  cursing  it  as  an 
all-devouring  monopoly,  and  holding  up  the  fairest 
transactions  as  atrocious  tyrannies. 

How  ignorant  and  unreasonable  men  are!  Had 
they  not  l^een  blinded  by  wrath  and  stupidity  these 
wise  ones  might  have  seen  that  now  for  the  first 
time  on  the  Northwest  Coast,  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  had  ceased  to  be  a  monopoly.  It  is  hut 
fair  to  say  that  in  this  emergency  the  company 
behaved  liberally,  nobly.  Never  at  any  time  did 
they  seem  to  desire  to  take  unfair  advantage  of  the 
necessities  of  others,  but  employed  their  power  and 
position  to  keep  the  prices  of  supplies  within  reason- 
able bounds. 

Undoubtedly  they  reaped  a  rich  harvest,  as  was 
their  right.  Their  system  of  trade  was  attended  by 
large  accumulations  of  merchandise,  a  year's  sui)ply 
or  more  being  kept  always  in  store  against  emergency. 
When  they  saw  the  incoming  multitudes  they  re[)len- 
ished  their  forts  from  their  abundant  resources.  Know- 
ing the  country,  and  being  provided  with  means  of 
transportation,  they  were  assuredly  in  a  condition  to 
compete  with  any.  But  the  Scotchmen  were  slow 
and  careful  by  nature,  and  it  was  against  fur-hunt- 
jng  tradition  to  advance  prices  at  once  five  or  ten 
fold.  And  the  only  way  the  hot  speculators,  who 
were  the  loudest  in  their  denunciations  of  the  com- 
pany, could  carry  prices  to  the  desired  height  was 
first  to  exhaust  the  company's  supply  by  buying  it, 
and  so  control  the  market  for  the  season,  which  was 
in  many  instances  done.     Douglas  even  went  so  tai 


T»| 


m 


he  2r,th 
iludson's 
lie  office, 
s,  I  com- 
le  public 

1  rabble, 

3,  to  cry 

it  as  an 

le  fairest 

el  Had 
ity  these 
the  first 
on's  Bay 
It  is  but 
company 
time  did 
ge  of  the 
ower  and 
n  reason- 

t,  as  was 
tended  by 
''s  supply 
nergency. 
sy  re[)len- 
i.  Know- 
means  of 
ndition  to 
tverc  slow 

fur-hunt- 
ve  or  ten 
tors,  who 

the  coni- 
eijiht  was 
buying  it, 
ivhich  was 
ent  so  far 


POSITION  OF  DOUGLAS. 


387 


as  to  refuse  permits  to  steamboats  charging  exor- 
bitant freights.* 

It  could  scarcely  be  expected  otherwise  than  that 
Douglas  and  the  company  would  eventually  quarrel. 
The  monopolists  were  grasping  upon  principle,  inordi- 
nately grasping,  for  had  they  not  before  this  been  fre- 
quently dissatisfied  with  the  half  of  North  America? 
They  had  quarrelled  with  McLoughlin,  their  best  man 
on  the  Northwest  Coast,  quarrelled  with  him  because 
of  his  innate  nobility  and  manhood,  which  could  not 
descend  to  the  plane  of  their  mercenary  abasement; 
and  now  they  quarrelled  with  their  second  best  man, 
because  he  could  not  perform  impossibilities,  because 
he  would  not  risk  his  position  and  popularity  with 
the  imperial  government.  He  had  been  made  gov- 
ernor of  two  colonies,  with  a  double  salary.  Lytton 
had  praised  him,  though  he  had  early  warned  him 
not  to  allow  the  fur-traders  to  get  the  better  of  him ; 
and  he  would  not  give  him  as  much  of  the  mother's 
money  as  he  would  like.  But  Douglas  as  usual  held 
fast  to  the  stronger;  as  in  the  troubles  between  his 
old  friend  McLoughlin  and  the  company  lie  had  stood 
by  the  company,  so  now  in  the  disagreements  between 
the  company  and  the  government  regarding  the  lands 
claimed  round  the  forts,  and  expenses  of  colonizing 
Vancouver  Island,  Douglas  stood  by  the  government. 
He  stood  by  the  government  because,  first,  it  was 
right,  and  secondly,  no  fur-trader  could  knight  him. 

'For  revocation  of  license  see  B.  0.  Acts  and  Ordinances,  1858.  'The 
company  liad  obtained  a  charter  for  Vancouver  Island  on  condition  of  pro- 
moting its  colonization ;  but  it  being  evident  that  they  were  unable  or  un- 
williu','  to  do  this  the  license  was  witlidrawn,  compensation  being  made  them 
for  tiie  amount  they  had  expended  in  the  attempt,  amounting  in  all  to  £100,- 
000.'  llritln/i  A'orth  Am.,  2.54.  This  writer  is  somewhat  confused  in  las  facts. 
See  also  Ohjmpia  Club  Convs.,  MS.,  19,  20;  Deans'  Settlement,  V.  /..  MS.,  5  ; 
Tiick'n  Northwest,  03;  Wculdington'a  Fraser  Mines  2(1-7;  Howard  and  Bar- 
n(tr«  JJir.,  1803,  144;  U.  S.  Ev.,  II.  B.  Co.  Claims,  78:  Finlaysoirs  V.  I., 
M.S.,  10;{;  TarheWs  Victoria,  MS.,  4;  Dow/las'  Private  Papers,  MS.,  1st  son 
90-lOS.  A  copy  of  the  relinquishment  of  rights  may  bo  found  in  Lamjevin' s 
Hfjit.,  '2:t7-40.  For  discussions  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  affairs  in  the 
coloiiiua  .see  Victoria  Gazette,  July  7,  Aug.  31,  Sept.  2-5,  and  Oct.  5,  1858;  and 
for  (U.siiissions  in  parliament  see  Hansard's  Par.  Deb.,  cxlviii.  1200-9,  1308  j 
cxlix.  1404;  cli.  1788-1844;  clu.  1070-7;  clxvii.  407-9,  1404-12. 


I 


';i;^ 


i:l^. 

I 

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I            'C- 

'4 

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1 

i 

m 


E. 


ii 


1%^' . » 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

GOVERNMENT  OP  THE  MAINLAND. 

1858-186.3. 

AlTTHORITY     AT    VICTORIA    I)lSREOARDEI>    BY   THF.    FiRST   COMKIW — Tlni-flLAS 

Looks  into  Affairs — What  thk  Natives  Think  of  It — Douglas  as 
Law  and  Magistrate  Maker— India.v  Wars — Overturks  ok  the 
Imperiai,  Oovernment  to  Doi,'(;i,AS — Revenue— Loan— rum,ic  Lanhh 
— Miners'  License — The  British  Cry  Economy — I'rniNo  Tiiincs  is 
Ordf.r — ^Tiie  Unauthorized  Acts  of  Douc.la.s  Leoalized — Akkivai. 
of  BRrrisH  Vessels  ok  War — Men  of  Authority  Appear — TheUmtkii 
States  Represented— Inauguration  of  the  Governor  at  Lani:i.ky— 
The  Moody-McGowan  Affray — New  Westminster  Founukh-Ofki- 
CER.S  OF  the  New  Government — Smu  soling. 

In  the  beginning  of  May  1858,  information  roiicliod 
the  factor-governor  of  Vancouver  Island  tluit  swarms 
of  small  craft  from  the  United  States  shores,  laden 
with  passengers,  arms,  and  merchandise,  were  iiiter- 
ing  Fraser  liiver  in  violation  of  her  majesty's  customs 
laws,  and  to  the  damage  of  tlie  lionorable  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  Wherefore,  on  the  8th  of  this  month 
he  issued  a  proclamation  warning  all  persons  tiiat  any 
vessels  found  in  British  northwest  waters  after  t'oui- 
teen  days,  not  having  a  license  from  the  Hudson  s 
Bay  Company  and  a  sufferance  from  the  customs  offi- 
cer at  Victoria,  should  be  declared  forfeited,  and  he 
called  on  Captain  Prevost  of  H.  M.  S.  ^Satellite  for 
men  sufficient  to  enforce  the  measures  proclainu'd. 

Then  the  factor-governor  proposed  to  the  agents  ot 
the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Company  that  they  sIkjuU 
place  steamers  on  the  route;  carry  Hudson's  Bay 
(company's  goods  into  Fraser  River,  and  no  others; 
carry  no  passengers  except  such  as  had  a  gold-niininij 

(388) 


ill 


COMMERCIAL  MEASURES.  888 

license  and  permit  from  the  Vancouver  Island  govern- 
ment and  compensate  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  by 
the  payment  of  two  dollars  for  each  passenger  carried 
—if  so  the  Pacific  Mail  Company  might  monopolize 
the  traffic  for  one  year.  It  was  certainly  very  pret- 
tily arranged,  and  no  wonder  Douglas  hoped,  in 
writing  to  Lord  Stanley  the  19th  of  May,  "from  its 
so  thoroughly  protecting  every  interest  connected 
with  the  country,"  that  it  would  meet  his  approval. 

The  factor-governor  would  do  this  for  his  company 
and  his  country  if  he  could;  for  he  was  now  con- 
vinced that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  closed  the  gold- 
fit'lds  against  foreigners,  and  there  remained  as  alterna- 
tives whether  they  should  enter  and  help  themselves 
free  of  duty,  or  be  made  to  pay  for  the  privilege. 

Although  invested  with  no  specific  authority  to  act 
for  the  imperial  government  upon  the  Mainland, 
James  Douglas  was  the  man  to  whom  all  looked, 
both  in  England  and  in  America,  as  the  one  to  as- 
sume control  of  affairs  in  the  present  emergency.  As 
governor  of  Vancouver  Island  he  v»  as  the  nearest  to 
Fraser  River  of  any  representative  of  the  queen,  and 
as  chief  fur-factor  he  had  exclusive  right  of  access  for 
the  purpose  of  trading  with  the  natives.  It  was  but 
natural  and  right,  therefore,  that  he  should  regard 
the  interests  of  his  sovereign  in  the  premises,  as  well 
as  those  of  his  company. 

With  the  originating  and  executing  of  much  that 
was  wise,  and  which  permanently  remained,  there  is 
little  wonder  that  he  fell  into  some  errors.  For  exam- 
ple, in  his  declaration  that  no  goods  should  be  carried 
to  the  Mainland  except  by  or  for  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  and  that  no  shipping,  save  the  company's 
'essels  or  those  sailing  under  the  company's  permis- 
sion, should  carry  passengers  thither,  he  somewhat 
overshot  the  mark ;  he  forgot  that  it  was  only  exclu- 
sive trade  with  the  natives  that  his  company  could 
claim,  and  that  so  long  as  strangers  did  not  so  traffic, 
their  right  was  as  full  and  free  to  go  anywhere  and 


: 


>  ■  iJ. 


!    ;,.! 


I '  -11 


390 


CrOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


^-^/f 


take  whatever  they  should  please  as  was  that  of  the 
fur- traders. 

Very  sound  in  many  matters,  however,  was  the 
practical  mind  of  the  factor-governor.  He  knew  ho 
should  be  safe  enough  in  asserting  the  dominion  of 
the  crown  over  the  gold-fields,  in  declaring  all  lands 
and  minerals  the  property  of  the  government  in  fee ; 
thouffh  what  kind  of  rischteous  robbery  that  should 
be,  others  besides  savages  might  wonder.  For  where 
was  the  European  sovereign  who  ever  yet  had  taken 
offence  at  the  assertion  of  his  rights  to  Ameriean 
lands  or  gold,  by  whomsoever  made? 

He  stationed  the  Satellite  at  the  mouth  of  Fraser 
River  with  revenue  officers  on  board  to  collect  toll 
from  those  entering  the  territory;  he  called  the 
Plumper  to  assist  in  enforcing  his  regulations,  and 
employed  the  company's  vessel,  the  Otter,  in  the  gov- 
ernment service;  and  he  notified  the  fur-traders  at 
the  several  posts  along  the  boundary  to  watch  inroads 
in  that  direction,  though  in  all  this  he  was  wrong,  for 
he  had  no  right  to  enforce  a  tax  for  entering  the 
country;  any  one  might  enter,  only,  until  the  com- 
pany's exclusive  license  should  be  annulled,  none 
might  trade  with  the  natives;  and  as  for  the  license 
duty  which  he  saw  fit  to  impose  on  miners,  that  could 
be  legally  collected  from  those  who  actually  did  mine, 
and  not  from  those  who  simply  entered  the  domain. 
But  to  govern  this  rabble,  so  he  argued,  would  cost 
money,  and  the  rabble  themselves  must  pay  the 
charge;  at  all  events,  he  would  try  it,  though,  as  a 
matter  of  fact,  he  was  soon  checked  in  this  proceeding". 


Early  in  the  season  Governor  Douglas  went  over 
to  the  Maudand  to  see  for  himself  the  workino.s  of 
this  wonder.  Ever  alive  to  the  maintenance  of  peace- 
ful relations  with  the  natives,  he  made  that  matter  his 
special  care.  And  he  acted  none  too  soon;  for  how 
could  this  uncouth,  obstreperous  element  from  the 
purlieus  of  civilization  bo  turned  into  quiet  abori;;inal 


ATTITUDE  OF  THE  NATIVKS. 


:«ii 


liuntinjif-grounds  witliout  oollisiou  with  the  natur.il 
loid-i  of  tlie  domain? 

Tlio  simple  savages  believed  the  gold  their  own; 
they  were  not  ver.sed  in  the  laws  of  Christian  nations 
that  made  might  riglit.  In  their  own  crude  way,  they 
wcio  well  aware  that  they  mu;st  defend  their  domain, 
i'hii  their  neijjfhbors  would  take  it.  But  this  was 
saviigism,  in  which  were  no  betterments  mculcatmg 
precepts  of  love  and  honor  and  happy  future  reward 
Lorjointly  with  rum  and  strange  diseases.  The  fur- 
tnuiers  had  taught  the  natives  to  regard  them  as 
iViriHls  who  had  come  among  them  to  do  them  good, 
to  bring  them  blankets,  and  guns  to  kill  the  deer, 
that  thereby  they  might  the  more  comfortably  pro- 
vide for  their  families  They  paid  for  what  they  got, 
and  dealt  justly  with  them;  so  that  they  had  come  to 
royurd  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  as  their  friends 
and  allies.  With  regard  to  strangers  it  was  quite 
dlH'erent. 

Those  who  came  into  the  country  by  the  route  east 
of  the  mountains  struck  the  Fraser  at  two  points, 
iiainely,  Lytton  and  the  Fountain.  There  they  began 
to  dig  for  gold  without  a  license,  and  there  Douglas 
found  them,  and  made  them  pay.^  The  natives  knew 
and  cared  nothing  for  any  license  imposed  by  others; 
it  was  they  who  must  have  pay  for  their  gold,  or  for 
their  sticks  or  stones  should  foreigners  desire  such  ar- 
ticles, even  as  they  had  always  received  pay  for  their 
fui's,  and  if  white  men  would  not  treat  them  fairly  in 
the  matter,  they  would  fight  for  it. 

^[eanwhile  Douijlas  ascends  the  river  in  the  Otter 
with  the  Satellite's  launch  and  uii;  in  tow.  At  Fort 
Langley,  where  it  Avas  thought  probable   might   be 


I 


-ralmor,  in  the  Orer/on  Statesman,  Feb.  14,  ISOO,  charges  upon  Douglas  tho 
nintivo  of  securing  to  his  company  the  traliic  which  wouhl  accrue  hy  forcing 
till'  lorcigri  mining  population,  so  far  as  poasible,  to  enter  througli  tho  front 
giti',  namely,  hy  way  of  Victoria,  rather  than  of  obtaining  revenue  for  tlie 
goviiiiinent.  In  this,  however,  I  must  differ  from  him.  1  find  nothing  in 
the  iDiiihict  of  Douglas  to  warrant  tlio  suspicion  of  any  desire  on  his  part  t< 
f  iviu-  nil  justly  either  the  company  or  the  goveru:iient  o:io  ajainst  the  other. 
t^cc  l'.:j,cr,i  li.  C,  pt.  i.  1-15  et  sen. 


392 


OOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


t  m 


'mm 


^.rmi 


,..,.. 


the  Mainland  metrojjolis,  lie  finds  sj)oculators  seizini,' 
lands  and  staking  out  lots."^  Sixteen  uidicensed  caiiocs 
aie  there,  which  he  takes  into  custody,  hut  rekuMs 
them,  and  grants  passes  on  the  payment  of  five  dol- 
lars for  each  canoe.  The  owners  of  certain  mercliaii- 
dise  for  trade,  found  there,  fare  worse,  their  goods 
heing  seized  and  lifdd  as  contraband.  With  a  warn- 
ing to  the  squatters  against  tlieir  illegal  and  fruitless 
]iroceedings,  he  continues  his  journey  toward  Fort 
J  [ope  on  the  27th  of  May,  stopping  frequently  to 
converse  with  the  excited  peoj)le  who  pass  and  repass 
him  on  the  way."* 

Letters  are  received  from  Mr  Walker,  in  charge  at 
Fort  Hope,  saying  "that  Indians  are  getting  plenty 
of  gold,  and  trade  with  the  Americans.  Indian  wages 
are  from  three  to  four  dollars  a  day.  Letters  from 
Fort  Yale  dated  18th  inst.  state  that  there  are  miners 
working  two  miles  below  Fort  Yale,  who  are  makini,' 
on  an  average  one  and  a  half  ounces  a  day  each  man. 
The  place  is  named  Hill  Bar,  and  employs  eighty 
Indians  and  thirty  white  men.  Pierre  Maquais  has 
built  a  log-house  and  store  below  Fort  Yale,  and 
another  store  about  five  miles  bej'ond  the  fort.  York 
has  put  up  a  log  boarding-house  a  short  distance 
beyond  the  fort."  Thus  the  fur-trade  is  forever 
ruined,  the  natives  themselves  having  caught  the 
gold  infection  as  badly  as  others. 

Before  the  queen's  authority  reaches  them,  after 
the  old  California  fashion  the  miners  of  Hill  l^ar 
iuauourate  self-ijovernment.  On  the  21st  of  Mav  are 
l)osted  laws  refifulatin""  niininof  claims  on  that  bar.  A 
claim  consists  of  twenty-five  feet  frontage;  one  man 

"Several  applications  for  preemptions  of  land  rights  wore  made  li,\'  par- 
ties desirous  of  settling  on  Fraser  Pivcr.  Refused  to  entertain  tlie  sanl  ap- 
plications  for  want  of  authority,  'ihinkwe  ougiit  immediately  to  ooiiiiiH'iiie 
the  sale  of  land,  for  if  we  refuse  to  make  sales,  people  will  s(piat  on  tviry 
pirt  of  tiie  country,  and  there  will  lie  a  groat  difficulty  in  ejecting  tli'  iii. 
l)ianj  of  Gold  J)ixroirnj  on  Frawr  Hirer,  in  Dniii/lnji'  I'rirnte  J'dpirs,  MS., 
l:jt  ser.  90.  .James  H.  liay  staked  off  1,200  acres,  and  Ijegan  sellin.;  lots. 
f'ictoria  Gazelfe,  Sept.  14,  1858. 

"  He  is  much  interested  in  returns  from  the  mines,  and  his  diary  is  fu.ll  of 
statistics  on  that  subject. 


i.y|.i!ii.iip 


EXPEDITION  OF  DOUGLAS. 


aes 


can  hold  two  claims,  one  l)y  proomption  and  one  by 
jmrchaso,  provided  he  works  both;  any  white  man 
taiif,'ht  stealing,  or  molesting  Indians,shall  be  punished 
as  a  committee  of  the  miners  shall  direct;  he  who  sells 
(•r  gives  spirits  to  the  natives  shall  for  the  first  otFenco 
pay  one  hundred  dollars,  and  for  the  second  offence 
shall  be  driven  from  the  bar.  For  mutual  safety  a 
captain  and  two  lieutenants  are  elected  and  endowed 
with  power  absolute.  And  of  this  first  meeting  of 
law-makers  thereabout,  P.  H.  Furness  is  president, 
and  George  W.  Tennent  secretary. 

Arriving  at  Fort  Hope  on  the  29th,  Douglas  makes 
his  head-quarters  there.  Owing  to  the  mineral  dis- 
coveries in  this  vicinity,  Hope  is  now  the  most  impor- 
tant place  on  the  Mainland,  and  serves  for  present 
and  practical  purposes  as  the  capital  of  the  count  y. 
It  is  here  the  queen's  representative  sets  up  his  little 
i,n)vernment,  and  publishes  a  plan  for  establishing 
order  and  administering  justice  on  Fraser  River. 

J3ouglas  now  calls  at  the  several  mining-camps  in 
the  vicinity.  Gold  is  everywhere  plentiful;  more 
[ilcntiful  the  miners  think  than  formerly  in  California; 
strange  some  one  should  not  have  found  it  before. 
Pi'ovisions  are  scarce ;  pork,  coffee,  and  flour  each 
1)110  dollar  a  pound,  and  that  with  the  fur-trading 
])osts  so  near. 

At  Fort  Yale  he  meets  a  number  of  chiefs,  Copals 
of  Spuzzum,  Tellatella  Quatza  of  the  falls,  and  Lay- 
kootum  of  Sposun,  and  converses  with  them  upon 
the  strange  destiny  so  suddenly  falling  upon  their 
country.  To  keep  any  of  his  men  he  is  obliged  to 
raise  their  wages  ten  pounds  per  annum,  but  where 
this  sum  could  be  dug  out  of  the  ground  in  a  single 
(lay,  the  increase  of  wages  proved  a  temptation  only 
to  the  more  stolidly  virtuous.  As  revenue-officer 
i'or  the  district  of  Yale  he  appoints  an  Englishman 
luiuing  there  named  Richard  Hicks,  with  a  salary  of 
£40  a  year,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  revenue  of  the 
i:uuntry. 


Ml 


!i|| 


•  n 


'  t, 


i  f- 


f  ih 


<.v  h  . 


394 


lOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


At  Hill  Bar,  besides  creating  George  Perrier,  a 
British  subject,  justice  of  the  peace,  he  appointed 
Indian  magistrates,  who  were  to  bring  to  justice  any 
members  of  their  tribes  charged  with  offences.  For 
this  atom  of  authority  every  chief  was  ready  to  sub- 
scribe himself  a  slave. 

Other  things  were  also  talked  about  at  this  camp  at 
Hill  Bar.  The  natives  were  now  threatening  to  sweep 
the  country  of  the  white  men,  whose  presence  became 
every  day  to  them  more  distasteful.  Bands  were 
arming  at  various  points,  and  no  small  tumult  had 
been  raised  at  this  bar.  Douglas  called  up  the  sav- 
ages and  lectured  them  roundly ;  to  the  white  men  he 
talked  as  plainly;  then  he  went  his  way  hoping  all 
would  be  well. 

But  all  was  not  well.  Within  a  fortnight  a  hun- 
dred natives  appeared  at  Robinson  Bar,  armed,  to 
fiffht  the  eifijlity  white  men  there.  Some  half-breeds, 
who  felt  themselves  agofrieved  in  the  settlement  bv 
the  miners  of  a  dispute  about  a  claim,  retired  in 
wrath,  and  told  the  Indians  that  the  white  men  had 
prohibited  all  but  themselves  from  working  there. 
When  they  were  assured  to  the  contrary,  they  laid 
down  their  weapons  and  went  to  work  beside  the 
white  men  in  apparent  peace;  but  the  stripped  and 
headless  bodies  of  prospectors  and  straggling  miners 
that  came  floating  down  the  Fraser,  told  of  the  in- 
auguration of  a  new  era  in  British  Columbia  society.^ 

The  Oregonians  and  Californians  who  came  to  the 
mines  by  the  plateau  route  in  July  encountered  tho 
alternative  of  returning,  or  fighting  their  way  through 
the  hostile  tribes  on  the  Okanagan,*^  while  the  IIiul- 
son  Bay  traders  from  Colville  were  moving  through 
the  same  country  and  encountering  the  same  bodii  s 

*  Victoria  Gazette,  July  '29,  1858;  Pajiers  li.  C,  pt.  i.  10;  Oood'a  B.  C, 
MS.,. '-.7-8. 

^  Mr  Tucker,  fonnerly  of  Tehama,  California,  at  Yale  Aug.  17th,  rcpurtcil 
that  lie  had  left  the  Dalles  with  a  party  f^\  100  men  and  400  animals,  and 
that  they  had  a  severe  fight  with  the  Ii  Jians  near  Fort  Okanagau.  tlirco 
whites  heing  killed  and  six  wounded  hcforu  the  Indians  were  beaten  'ill',  Vic- 
toiia  (jttzctte,  Aug.  '2'^th,  1858. 


ifrnfF 


•'!'  I 


INDIAN  HOSTIUTIES.  396 

of  Indians  unmolested.*  In  the  canon  of  the  Fraser, 
disputes  between  white  and  red  frequently  arose  about 
oiuioe  transportation  and  mining-ground,  and  in  con- 
s('(juenoe  of  the  scarcity  of  the  means  of  subsistence. 
The  strife  led  to  retaliations,  and  there  came  a  time 
^vllen,  through  evil  counsels,  possibly  derived  by 
affiliation  from  the  plateau,  it  appears  to  have  been 
decided  upon  l)y  the  Indians  to  forcibly  arrest  the 
advance  of  the  miners  above  the  caiion.  Demonstra- 
tions in  force  had  been  made  by  them  on  several  occa- 
sions, but  open  hostilities  were  prevented  for  some 
time  through  the  personal  intervention  and  influence 
of  (governor  Douglas,  with  miners  as  well  as  Indians. 
Finally,  about  the  7th  of  August  1858,  two  Fronch- 
iiuMi  were  killed  on  the  trail  above  the  Big  Canon,  and 
when  the  news  reached  Yale,  a  party  of  forty  miners 
organized  immediately,  under  Captain  Rouse,  and  left 
with  j)acks  on  their  backs  to  force  a  passjige  to  the 
folks.  At  Boston  Bar  they  were  induced  to  com- 
l)iiie  with  the  miners  who  had  gathered  there  to  the 
mnnber  of  one  hundred  and  fifty.  On  August  14th, 
the  hostile  ndians  were  encountered  near  the  head  of 
J^ig  Canon,  and  a  three  hours'  fight  ensued,  wherein 
Seven  braves  were  killed.  All  the  Indians  in  this 
|iart  of  the  canon,  whether  hostile  or  peaceable,  were 
thcreup'Mi  driven  out,  and  the  company  returned  to 
Yale.' 


''•  It  linos  not  fnllnw  that  the  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  cmm- 
luiiu'uil  tho  hdstilu  attitude  of  thu  Indians,  uor  were  they  suspeoti'd  <it  doing 
Oil  the  contrary,  it  was  tlirough  their  intluenue  that  an  Indian  war  was 
iiidud  on  the  British  side  of  the  houmhiry  line.  On  the  Atiierican  side, 
\  lie  en^jagements  took  place  hi'tween  Coioiiel  Steptoe  and  the  Indians  of  tiio 
i|»r  t'oluin))ia,  who  were  aetti.tted  liy  tiie  feeling  that  the  Anierii:aiis,  liiing 
lileis,  ami  not  merely  traders,  should  be  opposed,  and  preveuted  from 
lupying  tiio  country. 

'  It  is  evident  tiiat  the  Indians  were  not  prepared  for  a  commencenient  of 

lund  hostilities  at  this  time.     Tliiir  ciiastisement  had  been  haslened  by  the 

lit  acts  of  a  few  thieving  and  lighting  liiaves,  who,  relying  on  the  goiural 

siiticction  among  the  Indians,  liad  imposed  upon  tiie  miners  to  a  degree  that 

aiue  unbeari'ble.     Three  accounts  wire  piibli.shed  of  the  expedition  after- 

d,  varying  somewhat  in  details.     One  announced  the  return  of  tiic  last  of 

lille  company,  on  the  10th,  bringing  in  as  prisoner  the  chief  Copals.   Smith, 

I  xpri'ssman,  attributed  the  immediate  c  luse  of  tlie  tight  near  Boston  liiir 

I  lohbery  eoniniitted  on  an  Irisiiman  at  S[(uzzuin,  and   he  re]iorted  that 

II  Indians,  one  white  man,  and  a  white  woman,  from  Hill's  Bar,  were  killeil, 


396 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


JIfc 


Meanwhile  the  miners  carae  flocking  into  Yale  from 
the  surrounding  camps,  awl  on  August  17th  over  two 
tliousand  attended  a  meeting  to  consider  the  manner 
of  dealing  with  the  Indians  The  majority  were  in 
favor  of  a  demonstration  in  force,  partially  to  overawe 
tlie  renegades  in  the  camps  of  tlie  well-disposed  Ind- 
ians, but  mainly  to  reopen  communications,  to  exact 
assurances  of  good  behavior  by  every  efFecti"«'e  peace- 
able means,  and  to  cliastise  such  bands  as  they  m' 
encounter  which  could  not  be  dealt  with  in  any  other 
manner.  This  policy  found  expression  simply  by  the 
election  of  its  representative,  H.  M.  Snyder,  to  a  cap- 
taincy, and  by  the  enrolment,  under  his  command, 
(m  the  17th  and  18th,  of  the  largest  number  of  men. 
A  minority  were  in  favor  of  teaching  the  Indians  a 
severe  lesson  of  the  sort  jusL  administered  by  Captain 
House;  and  for  their  commander  they  elected  Captain 
Graham. 

Over  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  enrolkd, 
three  fourtlis  under  the  leadership  of  Snyder,  and  of 
his  aid,  Captain  John  Centras,  who  represented  the 
French  Canadians.  Without  deciding  upon  a  plan  of 
cam])aign,  the  Avhole  party  set  out  the  same  day,  })r()- 
vided  in  part  with  arms  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany's establishment  and  carrying  a  few  days'  ])rovisi()n. 
They  camped  for  the  night  at  Spuzzum  rancJiiria, 
where  the  force  was  increased  to  nearly  two  hundi'cd 
men  from  amongf  the  lar^e  number  of  miners  who  had 
abandoned  tlie  u|)i)er  bars  to  seek  refuge  here.  Sn3'dt'r 
now  called  a  meeting,  and  represented  the  necessity  for 
united  action  in  order  to  carry  the  expedition  to  ii 
speedy  and  successful  close.  He  also  pleaded  in  favoi' 
of  conciliatory  measures,  and  after  some  discussion, 
he  managed   to  overrule  the  blood-thirsty  policy  of 

after  which  tlio  Indicin  camps  ■n'orc  Imrncd,  According  to  James  Stewart,  nine 
Indians  were  killed,  one  of  them  a  chief,  several  were  wounded,  and  thn  (i 
taken  ])risoner8.  (^uite  a  ninnher  of  packagca  of  powder  and  lead,  supiiosiil 
to  have  been  furnished  liy  the  ChincHe,  were  found  in  the  Indian  caii^is. 
Three  rmtcherUix  were  burned  above  the  Big  Caflon,  and  two  belov.  Siiyilirn 
Letter  from  Yuk;  Aug.  ITtli,  in  I'ictoria  dutelte,  Aug.  24,  1858. 


k    -K 


m. 


m 


CAPTAINS  SNYDER  AND  GRAHAM. 


397 


(Jraham,  and  to  gain  an  almost  unanimous  ay)proval 
tor  his  own  plan.  By  this  vote  he  was  practically 
recognized  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  expedition.* 
Snyder  now  proceeded  with  the  main  portion  of 
tlio  expedition  to  Long  Bar,  where  a  treaty  was  made 
with  the  most  troublesome  of  the  tribes,  who  pro- 
fessed a  desire  for  peace.  Five  natives  were  there- 
upon sent  with  a  white  flag  down  through  the  canon 
to  Graham's  party,  which  was  met  four  miles  above 
wliere  they  had  promised  to  wait.  Graham  took  the 
Hag,  threw  it  on  the  ground,  trampled  it  under  foot, 
and  camped  on  the  spot.  During  the  night  an  attack 
was  made  on  the  camp,  and  Graham  and  his  lieuten- 
ant fell  at  the  first  fire.  This  act  is  supposed  to  have 
been  prompted  by  the  outrage  on  the  tlag,"  and  may 

*Ono  report  dividea  them  into  four  companies:  Captain  Snyder's,  with  51 
iiicn;  Captain  Centraa',  with  72  men;  Captain  (irahaiii  s,  with  20  men,  moatly 
fnim  Wliateom;  and  Captain  (lalloway's,  with  about  the  same  number. 
Aiiutlier  account  gives  Snyder  75  men,  and  mentions  two  other  companies  of 
'JO  men  each;  all  of  wliom  left  Yale  on  the  18th  with  five  days'  provisions. 
Tlie  organization,  in  the  manner  of  an  army  of  foreigners  commanded  by  a 
fdi'uiyner,  was  not  wholly  to  the  liking  of  the  cautious  Hudson's  Bay  men  at 
Yale,  who  characterized  Snyder's  expedition  as  a  mob  acting  without  author- 
ity. iV.  T.  G.,  Yale,  Aug.  28th,  cor.  Victoria  Gnzetti;  Sept.  1,  1858.  The 
Vh-tona  Gazette  of  August  25th  gives  the  captains  now  as  Snyder,  Graham, 
and  Yates,  and  places  the  total  force  at  104  men.  A  little  below  the  Spuzzum 
riiiicltcrii,  Snyder  fell  in  with  some  Indians,  and  persuaded  the  chief  to  call 
tliiiii  all  together  to  have  a  talk.  He  with  Centras and  an  interpreter  accom- 
|iiiiiied  the  chief  down  the  river  two  miles,  when  the  latter  gave  a  whoop,  and 
instantly  about  70  Indians  emerged  as  if  by  magic,  out  of  the  rocks.  Theae 
wna  peaceable  Indians,  simply  alarmed  at  the  attitude  of  aCFairs,  and  in 
liiiliiig.  Tliey  were  delighted  with  Snyder's  reassurances,  and  bouml  them- 
sthes  to  keep  the  peace.  At  the  ruiichi'ria  Snyder's  comniaml  found  500 
Mliite  men,  the  greater  part  of  whom  had  come  down  the  river  on  account  of 
tliti  ludiiin  diHiculties.  From  this  point  the  force  M'as  increased  to  ISO  men 
ill  all,  who  i)roceeded  toward  the  Big  Canon,  Y'ale.  Victoria  Gazette,  Sept.  1, 
ISJS. 

"Tlie  first  report  as  published  by  the  Victoria  Gazette,  Aug.  25,  1858,  says 
tliat  at  the  raiiclteria  near  Cliina  Bar,  Snyder  called  togi'tlier  2.K)  Indian.i, 
maile  a  treaty  with  them,  and  h'i't  a  letter  for  Graham  inlorming  him  of  tlu; 
t  u't.  On  the  2jth  (iraham  arrived  at  the  s.ame  place,  Snyder's  command 
li  iviiig  g()no  on.  The  Indians  lioi.ited  a  white  flag,  and  showed  Graham  tho 
I'tttT.  Tiie  party  camped  at  the  raiicheria  with  four  or  live  men  out  as  sin- 
tiius.  At  night  they  were  suddiidy  attacked,  and  Graham  and  his  lieutenant 
^MTc  killed  at  the  first  fire.  The  news  of  this  so  far  inaccurately  related 
I  Vent  as  it  reached  Y'ale  and  Victoria  was  in  the  first  few  days  exaggerated 
i'ltip  a  general  mas.sacre.  All  but  two  of  ( rraham's  men  were  reported  killed. 
A  ( iernian  who  escaped  into  the  bushes  was  said  to  have  witnessed  the  In<l- 
1  HIS  mutilating  38  of  the  bodies,  and  tlirowing  them  into  the  river.  In  con- 
liiiiiation  of  the  alleged  massacre,  sixteen  of  the  bodies,  many  of  them 
li  ■tiipitated,  were  reported  to  have  been  picked  up  along  the  river,  including 


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398 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


account  for  the  fact  that  only  the  leaders  were  killed. 
At  China  Bar,  Snyder's  command,  August  19tli. 
adopted  a  resolution,  the  matter  having  been  duly 
submitted  to  them,  that  in  consequence  of  the  report 
believed  by  many  that  the  Chinese  had  been  sellinu; 
ammunition  to  the  Indians,  if  not  inciting  them,  the 
former  should  all  go  below,  while  they  were  assured 
possession  of  their  claims  as  soon  as  peace  could  be 
established.  Snyder's  party  left  on  the  20th,  accom- 
panied by  the  chief  of  the  tribe  above  the  Big  Canon. 
Boston  Bar  and  all  the  bars  above  the  rancher la  were 
found  deserted.  Nineteen  miles  above  China  Bar  an- 
other tribe  was  brought  under  regulations  by  a  treaty. 
On  the  21st  two  more  tribes  signed  treaties  of  peace, 
and  shortly  afterward  Snyder's  command  fell  in  witli 
Spintlum,  a  noted  Thompson  River  chief,  accoin[)a- 
nied  by  six  other  chiefs  and  three  hundred  Indians, 
and  speeches  were  made  which  were  considered  very 
sensible  on  both  sides,  regretting  the  overt  acts  of 
the  bad  white  men  and  bad  Indians.  On  the  22d  of 
August,  Snyder  and  his  men  reached  Thompson  River, 
made  treaties  of  peace  with  several  additional  tribes, 
and  at  2  p.  m.  on  that  day  they  began  the  return  niareli, 
impelled  thereto  chiefly  by  the  lack  of  provisions. 
Yale  was  reached  on  the  25th.  Five  chiefs  of  those 
with  whom  treaties  had  been  concluded  accompanied 
the  party  voluntarily,  Snyder  pledging  himself  for 
their  safety.  Two  thousand  Indians  in  all  had  sub- 
mitted betw^een  Spuzzum  and  the  Forks. 

In  the  course   of  the  whole   campaign   thirty-one 
Indians  were  killed,  nearly  all  by  the  rifle  company  in 

the  bodies  of  Johnson  of  Whatcom  and  Miller  of  Yale.  From  a  later  account 
it  appeared  that  a  party  of  Indians  who  wore  returning  from  a  scout  at  11  i'.  m.  , 
aiKi  unaware  of  the  treaty  formed,  finding  (Jrahani's  company  uanipud  ikmi- 
tlie  rdiirlieria  referred  to,  at  once  fired  upon  them,  but  that  the  friendly  Lwl- 
ians  whom  Snyder  had  met  the  day  before  as  promptly  interfered.  Of  t'no 
eight  bodies  of  white  miners  that  were  taken  out  of  the  river  on  the  I'.tth  a:i  1 
26th  of  August  and  later,  some  were  drowned,  and  only  part  of  theiu  vtro 
headless.  Victoria  Oazette,  Aug.  26,  1858.  This  unfortunate  event,  insteiiil  of 
still  further  rousing  the  blood-thirsty  minority  composed  chiefly  of  theWliat- 
com  m"r.,  tended  ratlier  to  conciliate  them  to  the  peaceful  policy  of  Snyilii', 
whose  plans  were  no  longer  interfered  with. 


SLAUGHTER  OF  THE  INNOCENTS. 


S99 


their  onslaught  at  the  beginning.  The  Indians  killed 
ore  innocent,  the  killing  of  white  men  was  traced  by 
Sii„'der  to  the  Big  Canon  tribe,  enemies  of  the  tribe 
bel()V> ,  whose  rancherias  had  been  burned  by  the  rifle 
company.^" 

No  sooner  had  the  expedition  returned  than  the 
miners  were  again  at  work  on  their  claims;  and  the 
trail  was  again  crowded  on  the  25th  of  August  with 
individual  miners  carrying  their  packs  up  the  river 
toward  Lj'tton."  The  Indians  above  Yale  were  re- 
ported to  be  quieter,  friendlier,  and  more  accommo- 
dating in  the  first  week  of  September  following  the 
campaign  than  they  had  been  at  any  time  since  the 
ofold  excitement  began.  The  Indians  along  the  Fraser, 
indeed,  proved  themselves  useful  ever  afterward  in 
keeping  order  among  the  miners,  by  rendering  assist- 
ance in  the  arrest  of  gamblers  and  other  outlaws  who 
upon  occasion  saw  fit  to  move  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
local  masfistrates.^^ 

Douglas  wrote  the  colonial  office,  August  27th,  that 
he  proposed  to  make  a  journey  to  the  front  himself, 
accompanied  by  thirty-five  sappers  and  miners,  and 
twenty  marines  from  the  Satellite,  though  he  con- 
.sidered  that  force  "absurdly  small  for  such  an  occa- 
sion." But  as  the  occasion  for  it  had  passed,  tlie 
Soldiers  and  sailors  were  not  called  into  action  at  this 
tune,  nor  until  January  1859,  when  arose  the  Mc- 
(;lowan  alarm,  to  be  hereafter  described,  of  which  the 
present  sudden  development  of  armed  forces  may  have 
laid  the  foundation  in  part. 

'"  During  the  progress  of  the  campaign  and  for  three  weeks  in  August  end- 
ing with  the  return  of  Snyder'd  expedition,  the  hodies  of  wliite  men  in  o 
iiinro  or  less  mutilated  and  only  partially  recognizable  condition  were  daJi/ 
lished  out  of  the  river  and  picked  I'.p  along  its  banks.  In  the  origin  of  these 
(litiieulties  it  was  conceded  that  the  wliites  were  not  free  from  blame.  On  the 
21th  the  men  marched  38  miles  over  the  worst  part  of  the  cafion  trail  under 
tlie  iueuutive  of  hunger,  their  provisions  having  by  that  time  entirely  given 
out.  Yale  cor.  Virtoria  OazeUe,  Sept.  1;  al.^o  Aug.  26,  27,  28,  1858. 

^^rirtortn  Oazett,-.,  Aug.  2(5,  27,  28,  and  Sept.  1,  7,  1858.  Tlio  Yale  cor- 
lespondunt,  'T.  W.  (!.,'  of  the  OazeUe,  Aug.  23th,  dated  the  start  and  return 
"t  Sriyder's  expedition  a  day  later  than  the  oliicial  report,  which  I  have  as- 
siuiii'd  to  he  correct. 

^■Allans  Carbioo,  MS.,  19. 


I!       I. 


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400 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


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ti» 


In  the  mean  time  Douglas  had  returned  to  Victoria. 
On  the  9th  of  June  1858  James  Yates,  fur-trader,  and 
five  others,  petitioned  him  on  behalf  of  the  public, 
who  had  met  four  days  before,  to  remove  the  restric- 
tions imposed  upon  trade  by  the  fur  company ;  but  he 
reAised,  As  the  miners  were  suffering  for  food,  he 
permitted  the  Surprise  and  the  Sea  Bird  to  make 
each  one  trip,  and  for  the  present  no  more. 

In  July,  Sir  E.  B.  Lytton,  secretary  for  the  col- 
onies, writes  asking  Douglas  in  case  he  is  appointed 
governor  of  the  Mainland  at  a  salary  of  £1,000  per 
annum  for  six  years,  if  he  will  sever  his  connection 
with  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  Puget  Sound  companies. 
Lytton  likewise  propose;,  to  send  out  an  engineer 
officer  with  two  or  three  subalterns  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  sappers  and  miners,  to  survey  the  parts  of 
the  country  most  suitable  for  settlement,  designate 
where  roads  should  be  made,  and  suggest  a  site  for 
the  seat  of  government.  Lytton  further  insists  on 
kind  treatment  of  the  natives,  and  that  no  jealousy 
be  shown  Americans;  he  suggests  a  council  of  advice 
to  be  formed  partly  of  British  subjects  and  partly 
of  foreigners. 

Although  tlie  revenue  collected  by  impost  was  con- 
siderable, it  was  regarded  as  too  small  in  the  present 
emergency  by  Douglas,  who  asked  the  home  govern- 
ment first  for  money,  and  next  to  guarantee  a  loan. 
Both  of  these  requests  were  at  first  refused,  but 
finally  permission  was  granted  to  borrow  one  hundred 
thousand  pounds  at  six  per  cent. 

Amonof  the  first  suGfsrestions  of  the  colonial  score- 
tary,  was  that  public  lands  should  be  sold,  and  tov,  iis 
laid  out,  and  the  lots  disposed  of.  Douglas  was  not 
slow  to  act  on  the  hint.  He  sent  Pemberton  and  had 
town  sites  surveyed  beside  the  forts  of  Langley,  Hope, 
and  Yale. 

The  government  price  of  land,  except  town  sites 
and  mineral  lands,  which  were  to  be  sold  by  auction, 
was  fixed  at  ten  shillings  an  acre,  half  cash  and  half 


ii'-pj 


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ctoria. 
ir,  and 
public, 
•estric- 
but  he 
30cl,hc 
1  make 

he  col- 
pointed 
)00  per 
nectiou 
ipanics. 
nffhicer 
lundrcd 
aarts  of 
esignate 
site  for 
Lsists  on 
jealousy 
f  advice 
partly 

was  con- 
present 
govern- 
a  loan. 
sed,  but 
hundred 

al  secre- 
id  tov,  as 
was  not 
and  had 
y,  Hope, 

iwn  sites 
auction, 
and  half 


DOUGLAS'  SECOND  SURVEY. 


401 


in  two  years.     The  miners'  license  was  five  dollars 
monthly. 

Lytton  never  failed  to  instil  into  the  mind  of  Doug- 
las the  colonial  principle  of  self-reliance.  A  youth- 
ful and  vigorous  community  must  find  means  to 
defend  itself,  to  govern  itself,  and  to  improve  itself 
The  mother  would  hold  over  it  a  ready  protecting 
hand,  but  the  child  must  learn  to  walk  by  itself  Any 
course  tending  to  engender  ill-feeling,  or  to  bring 
about  a  bloody  conflict  between  the  government  and 
the  adventurers  should,  if  possible,  be  avoided.  But 
in  the  event  of  the  failure  of  pacific  measures,  and  the 
inability  of  the  colonial  government  to  maintain  order 
and  dot'end  itself,  England's  sword  would  always  1  e 
ready.  The  infant  colony  should  not  burden  itself 
with  debt;  the  officers  should  work  together  in  har- 
mony; free  representative  institutions  should  be  es- 
tablished, but  in  this  as  in  all  things  precipitate  action 
should  be  avoided.  The  electoral  franchise  should  be 
framed  to  suit  the  community. 

In  a  second  visit  Douglas  arrived  at  Fort  Hope 
the  3d  of  September  in  the  steamer  Umatilla,  and  was 
received  with  demonstrations  of  respect.  The  governor 
was  much  interested  in  the  cutting  of  a  road  from 
Hope  to  Yale.  He  saw  Spintlum,  chief  at  the  Forks, 
as  the  place  at  the  junction  of  Fraser  and  Thompson 
rivers  was  then  known,  then  the  objective  point  of  the 
gold-seekers,  and  after  making  him  a  present  instructed 
liini  how  he  should  treat  the  minors.  For  the  estab- 
lislnuont  of  public  government  measures  were  taken 
on  the  Gth  in  the  appointment  for  Fort  Hope  of  one 
justice  of  the  peace,  two  regular  and  ten  special  con- 
stables; for  Fort  Yale,  one  sub- commissioner,  ten 
troopers,  and  ten  special  constables;  for  the  Forks, 
one  sub-commissioner,  ten  troopers,  and  a  warden  of  the 
river.    He  committed  King  for  the  murder  of  Eaton''* 

^'Dniiiilan'  Private  Paperfi,  MS.,  ser.  i.  103.    A  case  of  stabbing  .irisinfr  out 
01  an  old  quarrel.    King  was  convicted  of  manslaughter  and  sentenced   to 
iMiispi.rtation  for  life.    Victoria  Gazette,  Sept.  IG,  1858;  I'aixrx,  li.  C,  pt.  ii.  4. 
Hist.  Uwt.  Col.    26 


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402 


GOVERNMENT  01'  THE  MAINLAND. 


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on  the  testimony  or  six  witnesses  from  Hill  Bar,  and 
visited  Murderer  Bar.  On  the  7th  Douglas  gave 
directions  to  lay  out  the  town  of  Hope,  granting  titles 
to  lots  by  sufference,  terminable  at  one  month's  notice, 
the  monthly  sum  of  ten  dollars  paid  by  the  occupant 
to  be  considered  as  part  of  the  purchase-money  when 
valid  conveyance  was  made." 

Wednesday,  15th  September,  "met  the  people  and 
read  them  a  short  address,"  Douglas  writes.  "Gave 
notice  of  the  opening  of  court  to-morrow.  Granted 
permission  to  occupy  town  lots.  The  document  issued 
is  not  a  lease  at  all,  but  simply  permission  to  occupy 
the  land  on  certain  conditions ...  If  administered  with 
economy,  a  very  moderate  sum  will  be  required  to 
meet  the  expenses  of  the  government.  The  chief  ex- 
penses will  be  the  salaries  of  the  different  officers,  and 
some  necessary  improvements,  such  as  court-houses, 
roads,  etc.,  which  will  cost  a  considerable  sum,  and 
providing  public  buildings.  The  revenue  of  the  country 
will  fully  meet  that,  and  soon  yield  a  large  excess  for 
other  purposes."  Douglas  was  attended  at  this  time 
by  George  Pearkes,  crown  solicitor,  who  presided  at 
Fort  Yale,  bringing  several  offenders  to  justice,  B. 
C  Donnellan,  formerly  of  the  police  force  in  San 
Francisco,  was  made  chief  of  police  there,  and  P.  B. 
Whannell  justice  of  the  peace.  At  Lower  Fountain- 
ville,  a  trader,  Alexander  McCrellish,  was  appointed 
police  magistrate. 

The  4th  of  September,  the  governor  proclaimed 
at  Fort  Hope  that  any  person  convicted  before  a 
magistrate  of  selling  or  giving  spirituous  liquors  to 
the  natives  of  Fraser  River  or  elsewhere  would  bo 
mulcted  in  the  penal  sum  of  from  five  to  twenty  pounds. 
Aliens  might  hold  lands,  subject  to  forfeiture  by  the 
crown  at  any  moment,  for  three  years,  after  which 
time  they  must  become  naturalized  British  suljjects, 

'*  'Front  street  to  l>o  120  feet  wide,  the  other  main  streets  to  be  1(X)  feet. 
and  the  cross  streets  to  be  80  feet  broa'l.'  Douglcu'  Private  Papers,  MS.,  ser, 
i.  102-3. 


WAYS  AND  MEANS. 


403 


or  lose  their  lands,  or  convey  them  to  British  subjects. 
Tlie  22d  of  December,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the 
new  government,  Douglas  imposed  by  proclamation 
at  Victoria  a  duty  of  ten  per  centum  on  all  articles 
not  otherwise  specified,  entering  British  Columbia." 
The  port  of  Victoria,  which  was  free,  as  concerned 
Vancouver  Island,  was  declared  the  port  of  entry  for 
British  Columbia,  and  a  collector  of  customs  was  ap- 
pointed. 

On  the  4th  of  October  Douglas  answered  Lytton, 
agreeing  to  withdraw  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany, promising  to  sell  his  Puget  Sound  stock,  and 
to  accept  the  office  of  double  governor.  But  £1,000  a 
year  was  too  ridiculously  small  a  salary  for  so  high  an 
office,  he  said.  He  supposed  the  government  wished 
its  chief  officer  to  live  in  a  manner  befitting  the  posi- 
tion, which  would  cost,  he  estimated,  at  least  £5,000 
per  annum.  And  for  general  purposes  he  thought 
parliament  should  grant  the  new  gold  colony  either 
as  a  gift,  or  as  a  loan,  £200,000. 

In  reply  Lytton  talked  economy  as  usual;  hoped 
that  the  colony  would  want  nothing  given  it  outright 
by  the  imperial  government  but  the  governor's  salary, 
which  for  the  Mainland  and  Island  should  not  excetd 
£1,800,  except,  indeed,  the  excess  be  raised  by  the 
colony,  in  which  event  England  was  not  at  all  par- 
ticular how  much  he  got.  The  imperial  government 
would  advance  the  money  to  pay  the  engineers  sent  out 
from  England,  but  it  must  be  in  due  time  refunded. 

In  the  main  the  secretary  sanctioned  the  unauthor- 
ized proceedings  of  Douglas;  he  acknowledged  his 
difficulties  and  praised  his  zeal.  Nevertheless,  he 
warned  him  against  the  use  of  his  authority  as  gov- 
ernor for  the  profit  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 

'*  Flour  paid  2«.  Id.  a  barrel;  bacon,  48.  2d.  per  100  lbs.;  spirits,  4».  2d.  a 
gallon;  wines,  2«.  Id.  a  gallon;  ale,  G^d.  a  gallon;  beans  and  pease,  6Jd.  per 
100  Iti8.;  barley  and  oats,  Q^d.  per  200  lbs.  Coin,  quicksilver,  fresh  meats  and 
vegetables,  timber,  hay,  wheat,  books,  .-p.d  baggage  were  free.  The  duty  on 
spirits  waa  advanced  the  following  year  to  6«.  'id. 


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404 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


In  the  first  flush  of  the  Fraser  Kiver  discovery,  and 
while  yet  the  hallowed  exclusiveness  of  the  compiuiy 
was  not  seriously  disturbed,  Douglas  proclaimed  that 
for  vessels  other  tlian  their  own  to  navigate  tlio 
Fraser  was  an  infrinerement  of  the  rijjlits  of  the 
company.  This  Lytton  flatly  denies;  the  rights  of 
the  company  extended  to  exclusive  trade  with  tho 
natives,  and  to  nothing  else.  So  when  Douglas 
ordained  that  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamship  Cotupuny 
sliould  carry  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  goods  and 
no  others,  and  passengers  having  a  miner's  liccnsi! 
and  no  others,  the  secretary  said  no ;  men  might  wish 
to  go  there  for  other  purposes  than  to  mine  or  trado 
with  the  natives,  and  the  fur  company  nmst  not  j»re- 
vent  them.  Miners'  licenses  were  well  enough,  but 
they  must  be  required  of  those  intending  to  mine. 

On  the  17th  of  October  tliere  arrived  at  Esquinialt 
H.  B.  M.  ship  Ganges,  three  decks,  eighty-four  guns, 
and  seven  hundred  and  fifteen  men,  in  which  Admiral 
Bayncs  came  from  Valparaiso  to  command  the  na\al 
fleet  which  was  to  guard  the  newly  found  wealth  of 
British  Columbia,  The  admiral  called  on  the  yov- 
ernor,  and  the  Satellite  fired  her  guns;  then  all  ^vas 
calm;  and  in  the  forest  the  wild  beasts  revelled  in 
unwonted  freedom,  while  savage  and  civilized  alike 
scrambled  for  gold.  The  Ganges  sailed  for  Valparaiso 
in  December.  The  steam  frigate  Tribune,  Captain 
Hornby,  and  the  steam  corvette  Pleiades,  Ca]»taiii 
Michael  de  Coucey,  anchored  in  Esquinialt  Haihor 
on  the  14th  of  February  1859;  also  the  ship  TJtcuncs 
City,  with  government  stores. 

On  the  8th  of  November  Chartres  Brew,  of  tlie 
Irish  Constabulary,  who  had  served  with  distinction 
in  the  Crimea,  came  to  Victoria  under  appointment 
to  organize  a  constabulary  police  in  British  Colundiia. 
Joseph  D.  Pemberton  was  colonial  surveyor,  under 
whose  auspices  was  established  a  land-office  at  \  ic- 
toria,  where  districts  were  laid  out,  and  one-hundre<l- 
acre  sections  oflfered  at  fixed  rates.     Pemberton  was 


•'■w 


ANOTHER  NOTABLE  EXCURSION. 


405 


nominated  survcryor-general  of  the  Mainland,  but  the 
colonial  secretary  made  other  arrangements.  W.  T. 
U.  Haniloy  was  appointed  by  the  queen  collector 
of  customs  for  British  Columbia,  and  later  (jr.  H. 
Caiy  was  sent  out  as  solicitor-general.  Travaillot 
and  Hicks  were  nominated  assistant  comnjisioners 
of  crown-lands  at  Thompson  River  and  Yale,  and  W. 
H.  Bcvis  revenue  officer  at  Langley. 

Owinnf  to  the  larije  number  from  California,  Oretjon, 
and  Washington  among  the  ranks  of  the  gold-seekers, 
it  w;is  deemed  advisable  by  the  United  States  govern- 
ment that  a  commissioner,  or  special  agent,  should  be 
appointed,  the  result  of  which  was  the  sending  of 
Jolm  Nugent  to  British  Columbia. 

At  a  dinner  given  him  on  the  eve  of  his  departure 
by  liis  countrymen  at  the  Hotel  de  France,  Victoria, 
the  10th  of  November,  Mr  Nugent  paid  a  high  com- 
pliment to  Captain  Prevost  and  his  officers  of  the 
ISatclliie,  who,  while  true  to  the  interests  of  their  own 
government  in  guarding  the  peace  of  the  Mainland 
(lurinn^  the  heat  of  the  j^old  excitement,  had  not  been 
unmindful  of  those  of  the  subjects  or  citizens  of  other 
government.^.  The  United  States  steamer  Active  had 
tak(Mi  her  station  in  Victoria  Harbor  the  2d  of  Au- 
gust previous. 


:%: 


:i;i 


:i  * 


Again,  on  the  17i/h  of  November,  in  company  with 
Rc:ir-iidmiral  Baynes,  David  Cameron,  chief-justice 
of  Vancouver  Island,  and  Matthew  B.  Begbie,  chief- 
justice  of  British  C(jlumbia,  embarked  on  board  H. 
B.  ;M.  steamer  Satellite  for  Eraser  Iliver,  the  Otter 
attending.  At  the  mouth  of  the  River  was  moored 
tlie  Ucavcr,  and  at  Langley  the  Recovery,  now  turned 
iato  a  revenue-cutter  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 
Arrived  at  Fort  Langley,  Begbie  and  others  holding 
imperial  appointments  took  the  oaths  of  office,  and 
Douglas  was  sworn  in  as  governor  of  British  Columbia. 
Proclamations  were  read  revoking  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company's  license,  indemnifying  past  irregularities, 


< 


4 

'  !  *  -ill 

>i  I  ill! 


:35=?*??t 


Rj.il 


i  •' 


400 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


Mi 


P 


i!  ;;■ 


and  adopting  English  law.  Guns  were  fired,  fluj^s 
Haunted,  and  amidst  a  drizzling  rain  mother  Engluiul 
was  delivered  of  a  new  colony. 

Thus  the  Mainland  wilderness,  called  by  the  t'ui- 
traders,  according  to  its  res[tective  parts,  New  CaL- 
donia,  and  tiie  districts  of  Thompson  River,  tlic 
Columbia,  and  the  like,  was  erected  into  a  crown 
colony  under  the  name  of  British  Columbia,'®  with  tor 
a  time  the  governor  of  Vancouver  Island  its  govetiiof, 
and  the  capital  of  Vancouver  Island  its  capital,  Wil- 
liam A.  G.  Young  acting  as  colonial  secretary. 

Such  acts  as  had  been  performed  by  Douglas,  or  hy 
his  order,  for  the  collection  of  reveime  and  the  maiii- 
tenence  of  order  while  the  country  was  yet  without 
law  or  established  government,  were  by  proclamation 
of  the  governor  made  valid.  English  law  was  then 
declared  in  force  in  British  Columbia,  and  the  gov- 
ernor, by  proclamation,  was  enabled  to  convey  crown- 
lands. 

After  Hope,  Langley  was  for  a  brief  period  distin- 
guished as  the  capital  of  the  Mainland.  The  former 
site  of  the  old  fort  and  the  land  about  it  was  sur- 
veyed by  Pemberton  and  Pearse,  and  laid  out  as  a 
town,  to  which  was  given  the  name  Derby.  On  the 
25th,  2Gth,  and  2Dth  of  November  the  lots,  sixty- 
four  by  one  hundred  feet,  were  sold  by  auction  at 
Victoria  at  an  upset  price  of  one  hundred  dolhirs. 
Adjoining  the  town  site  were  ten  square  miles  of 
land  reserved  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  The 
sale  occupied  three  days.  About  400  lots  nui-e 
sold  at  from  $40  to  $725,  aggregating 
pretty  sum  for  a  piece  of  swampy  wh 
Derby  was  at   this   time   to  be  the  ci. 


,  'I 
but 
tlio 


il  ot 

'* Several  names  were  suggested  by  various  persons  for  the  M.iinlai  In 
parliament,  Hansard's  Pur.  Del).,  ili.  1347-8,  PauiHca  was  proposed,  ^""w 
thought  the  extension  of  ih'i  teviT!  New  Caledonia  over  the  Mainlaini  .ipiMn- 
priate.  But  the  name  Columlna,  from  the  advent  of  the  Nortliwe.st(  tuiiiaiiy 
to  the  present  time,  had  been  the  favorite  appellation  for  a  large  and  |ii(inii- 
uont  part,  and  often  at  a  distance  for  tlie  whole,  of  the  Northwest  t'ou^t,  aiiJ 
BO  British  Columbia  beuame  the  favorite. 


if! 


the  <(()V- 


VOODY,  fJOSSET,  AND  CRICKENKR. 


407 


Mainland,  and  play  the  Sacratnento  to  Victoria's  San 
Francisoo." 

Uithard  Clement  Moody,  colonel  of  royal  engineers, 
was  !sent  out  Ijy  Secretary  Sir  Edward  liulw  er  J^ytton, 
Stpteniber  1858,  as  chief  conimisHioner  oi'  lands  an(l 
works,  and  ottice  for  the  sale  of  public  lands  and  tlu; 
direction  of  public  works,  with  a  dormant  commission 
as  lieutenant-governor  of  British  Columbia,  to  ad- 
minister the  government  of  the  colony  in  case  of  the 
iiwapacity  or  absence  of  the  governor.  He  was  also 
cli  'f  in  conunand  of  the  royal  engineers  destined  lor 
British  Columbia,  his  b;- cond  being  J.  M.  Grant,  who 
arrived  at  Victoria  with  the  first  detachment  of  twelve 
iiK'ii  on  the  8th  of  November;  the  main  body  connng 
loiiiid  Cape  Horn  in  the  Thames  Cliij.  Among  the 
otHcers  were  H.  R.  Luard,  A.  R.  Lempriere,  H.  S. 
I'alnuT,  and  Siddell,  surgeon.  Moody's  regimental  pay 
Avas  .t';^'30,  and  his  colonial  allowance  .£1.200,  making 
l'l,j;'('  per  annum.  Begbie's  salary  was  £800.  vVt 
till.,  Lme  Moody  was  senior  officer  commanding  all 
liLi'  majesty's  land  forces  in  British  Columbia  and 
Vancouver  Island.  It  was  expected  that  the  royal 
t'li^iueers  would  act  in  a  military  as  well  as  in  a  civil 
(•a[iacity,  as  occasion  required.  Among  them  were  a 
few  ex})erienced  in  cavalry  and  artillery  drill  who 
mi'dit  form  a  nucleus  for  further  increasing  the  mill- 
tary  force  of  the  colony  by  enlistments  of  disappointed 
British  gold-seekers,  should  occasion  require.  Those 
\v1h»  came  with  Grant  were  first  stationed  a  Langley, 
and  material  was  furnished  with  which  to  build  thcm- 
srlxes  houses. 

AFoody  arrived  Christmas-day,  took  the  oath  of 
ottico,  Cameron  administering  it  the  4th  of  Janaary 
1H5!),  and  domiciled  himself  for  the  tim>3  being  at 
Victoria,  With  Moody  came  W.  Driscoll  Gosset, 
tn'asurer   of   British    Columbia,    and    B.    Crickener, 

'  '  Provi  I  failure,  and  many  persons  lost  money  purchasing  lots  which 
tunifd  out  1.1  no  value.'  FiiiUiiisoiiH  V.  A,  MS.,  (iO.  Tenders  were  asked  in 
■liimiary  for  building  a  church,  parsonage,  ci.urt-house,  and  jail  at  Lanyky, 
wliicli  naturally  excited  the  people  to  e.xpect  great  things  of  the  place. 


™Fi 


f  ■    i; 
I  i;   ilfi 


•  '  \'^ 


I: 


nil! 


mv':\ 


■  ■■   !    ;     r 
,'i  \ 

408 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


iIh' 


I 


r>'?'.S'"J'iii 


afterwards  chaplain  at  Yale.  The  Plumper,  Captain 
Ilichards,  formerly  there  in  1857  to  determine  lIic 
point  at  which  che  49th  parallel  touched  the  sea,  and 
tli'^  boundary  line  thence  to  Fuca  Strait,  had  since 
assisted  the  Satellite  in  her  duties,  and  was  in  the 
present  emergency  generally  useful. 

The  rumors  of  the  miners'  disturbance  at  Yale,  in 
which  figured  Edward  McGowan,  of  inglorious  mem- 
ory, brought  the  Plumper  to  Derby  only  to  find  that 
Moody,  with  twenty-five  of  his  engineers,  had  gone 
before  in  the  Enterprise.  Between  the  fiery  justice  of 
Begbie,  who  was  present,  and  the  span-new  arms  cif 
the  engineers,  the  roughs  of  Hill  Bar  had  nothing 
to  say,  and  soon  her  IMajesty's  forces  were  permitted 
to  fall  back  to  Hope,  where  they  found  the  Plumper 
awaiting  them. 

The  story  is  told  in  this  wise,  and  begins  back  with 
the  opening  of  this  memorable  season  of  1858.  The 
boundary  line  not  being  then  clearly  plain  in  the 
minds  of  some,  there  were  those  who  believed,  or 
aflt'ectcd  to  believe,  that  the  lower  Fraser,  including 
Langlcy  and  Hope,  were  in  United  States  territory. 
The  fur  monopoly,  the  restrictions  on  shipping,  tlie 
duties  on  goods,  and  the  tax  on  miners  had  rendered 
the  government  at  Victoria  very  unpopular  among 
the  adventurers,  who  were  accustomed  to  think  and 
act  for  themselves.  On  various  occasions  during  the 
spring  and  summer,  in  a  spirit  of  bravado  rather  than 
of  open  resistance,  the  inco'.ners  had  quietly  defied 
the  authorities,  who  in  return  held  the  rude  strangers 
in  some  little  awe.  Not  that  Douglas  entertained 
any  lears  as  to  the  result  in  case  of  war.  In  various 
ways  he  hold  the  miners  at  a  disadvantage.  Besides 
the  force  which  at  any  moment  might  be  brou<;hc 
i'rom  the  British  men-of-war  at  the  mouth  ot  the 
I'iver  and  at  Victoria,  he  could  have  cut  rlf  their 
supplies  of  food,  and  have  turned  in  upon  them  ten 
thousand  savages.  But  such  measures  were  not  foi"  a 
moment  to  be  thought  of;  Douglas  and  Lytton  wen; 


LAW  IN  THE  MINES. 


409 


1)t»th  decidedly  oj)p()sed  to  bloody  encounters  except 
a.s  a  lost  resort. 

Acting  with  his  accustomed  prorn})tness  and  pre- 
cision fortunately,  American  ideas  were  not  allowed 
belligerently  to  germinate  in  British  Columbia;  so 
tiiat  the  present  incident,  dignified  at  the  time  by  the 
woid  'outrage,'  was  the  only  occasion  of  a  combined 
niilitary  and  naval  campaign  in  the  settlement  of  the 
rountrv. 

1 1  ill  Bar  was  now  the  richest  and  most  populous 
inining  camp  on  the  river,  and  the  head-quarters  in 
tlu!  nature  of  things  of  the  opposition  element.  This 
tonsisted,  firstly,  in  village  rivalry,  and  secondly,  in 
the  ascendency  of  the  foreign  element,  which  pro- 
tL'.stid  against  the  onerous  restrictions  by  which 
DougLis  had  aimed  to  prevent  the  country  from  being  i 
(|uite  overrun  and  ruled  by  the  Americans.  Yale  was 
tiiii>t'rvative  and  commercial;  Hill  Bill  was  inhabited 
I'xclusivi.'ly  by  miners,  and  was  consc^mently  radical, 
if  not  I'evolutionaiy,  regardless  of  every tuing  in  fact 
l)ut  gold,  with  fair  })lay  as  its  single  tenet  serving  as 
a  i-ndv.  of  law.  Under  such  conditions,  nothing  beyond 
a  piL'toxt  was  wanting  to  create  an  event  character- 
istir  of  the  situation.  First  there  grew  up  a  rivalry 
l»it\NH'en  the  mao'nates  who  served  as  maj>'istrates 
•  it"  the  two  places.  In  December  1858  the  resident 
magistrate  of  Hill  Bar,  Perrier,  took  occasion  to  claim 
ju^i.^diction  over  a  prisoner  named  Farrell,  i'rom  tlie 
J3ar,  whom  his  constable  had  arrested  for  an  ollencc 
ciiuiinitted  at  Yale.  He  was  incarcerated  at  Yale  by 
tlic  rival  magistrate,  Whannell,  who  in  the  exercise 
of  liis  judgment  and  jirerogatives  considered  it  also 
iii-^  duty  to  arrest  and  to  incarcerate  for  contempt  of 
ftiiirt  the  arresting  constable  of  Justice  Perrier,  and 
til  refuse  to  give  up  either  of  his  prisoners. 

Tu  enforce  the  majesty  t)f  the  law,  as  administ(M'ed 
at  Hill  J]ar,  Justice  Perrier  thought  proper  to  swear 
ill  special  constables  ti'om  the  Bar,  to  recover  his  own 
constable  by  force,  and  to  bring  the  original  prisoner, 


m 


.1 


/ 


•H'i 


i'M 


410 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


Farrell,  ■with  the  rival  Justice  Whanncll,  iin(](^r  a 
charge  of  contemjit  before  the  court  at  Hill  Bar.'^ 
Among  the  specials  so  sworn  was  a  miner  from  Hill 
Bar,  who  had  attained  some  notoriety  as  an  object 
of  attention  from  the  Vigilance  Commiite  of  San 
Francisco,  an  ex-judge  of  California,  the  redoubtable 
Ned  McGowan. 

The  posse  from  Hill  Bar,  under  the  leadership  of 
special  constable  Kelly,  effected  the  removal  of  the 
three  prisoners.  Whether  from  his  notoriety  as  a 
rough,  or  tlie  part  enacted  by  him  as  a  special 
constable,  McGowan  was  made  out  to  have  figured 
conspicuously  in  the  affair,  l)ut  further  than  counte- 
nancing the  transaction,  and  guiding  it  within  lawful 
bounds,  such  docs  not  appear  to  have  been  the  fact. 
Meetings  were  held  both  at  Yale  and  at  Hill  ]3ar 
for  the  jmrpose  of  supporting  their  respective  jus- 
tices. At  Hill  Bar  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  placed 
themselves  'under  arms'  in  the  cause  of  magisterial 
dignity  as  represented  by  Justice  Perrier.  Fan  ell 
was  tried  according  to  law  at  Hill  Bar,  and  fined 
seventy -five  dollars;  the  Yale  constable  was  released, 
and  Justice  Whannell  was  adjudged  guilty  himself  of 
contempt,  and  fined  fifty  dollars,  and  then  allowed  to 
return  to  his  bench  at  Yale.  The  outraged  niaiiis- 
trate  of  Yale  next  invoked  the  aid  of  the  army  and 
navy.     Despatches  were  sent  down  the  river  to  the 

'^  The  particulars  of  the  origin  of  this  early  case  of  mutual  contcnuit  in  tlio 
li.'gal  history  of  the  colony  are  as  follows:  Farrell  ami  Burns,  two  iiiinerM  tmiii 
Hill  Bar,  on  the  Uath  of  Deceiiiher  1858,  went  to  Yale  ami  got  drunk.  Tiny 
went  into  a  harher's  shop,  where  they  fell  into  an  altercation  with  the  prn- 
prietor,  a  colored  man  name<l  Dickson,  who  was  sevenly  heaten  by  a  ]iistiil 
m  tlie  hands  of  Farrell.  t'oniplaint  having  been  made  before  Justice  \\  h;in- 
nell,  warrants  were  issued  for  the  arrest  of  the  offenders.  Tlie  Yale  const  iMi' 
iiot  being  able  to  make  the  arrest,  the  Hill  Bar  constable.  Hicks,  belonuini.' tn 
I'crrier's  court,  arrested  the  miners,  and  brought  them  before  .Justice  \\  li:iii- 
nell  at  Yale,  but  saying  sometliing  wliich  offended  Wliannell,  was  liiuisilf 
locked  up  with  his  prisoner.  Justice  I'errier  then  issued  a  warrant  fur  thu 
arreso  of  Justice  Wliannell  for  contempt.  Kelly,  the  special  wlio  w;is  ik'- 
puted  for  the  service,  along  with  McCJowau  and  others  from  Hill  Bar,  maiiafitil 
the  business  bo  well  that  no  violence  was  done,  nor  was  tlie  letter  of  tlie  law 
transgressed.  Mcdowan  took  care  to  participate  in  the  proceedings  only  as 
adviser  and  spectator.  The  difficulty  arose  from  the  overbearii'.g  nianiiiT, 
und  perhaps  also  the  want  of  legal  knowledge,  of  the  justice  at  Yale.  \'ii'lork 
OnzcUv,  Jan.  8,  2'_',  1859. 


'i 


ON  THE  WAR  PATH. 


411 


offoot  that  the  notorious  ex-judge,  an  outlaw  of  the 
wtnst  character,  was  at  the  bottom  of  it  all,  and  the 
ringleader  of  a  dangerous  body  of  men  of  his  own 
stripe,  and  of  American  sympathizers  who  had  vio- 
lently rescued  a  criminal  from  the  clutches  of  the 
law  at  Yale.  Hill  Bar  was  reported  to  be  the  hoad- 
(juarters  of  *'.:-^  desperate  a  gang  of  villains  as  ever 
went  unhanged. "^^  The  gold  commissioner  at  Hope 
notified  the  governor,  who  applied  to  Colonel  Moody 
of  the  army,  and  to  Captain  Richards  of  the  navy,  for 
assistance  in  the  maintenance  of  the  law.  Stories 
were  rife  of  the  deeds  by  which  the  supposed  ring- 
leader of  the  incipient  rebellion  had  gained  his  noto- 
riety. Several  companies  of  marines,  sappers,  miners, 
and  ])olice  were  sent  to  Hope  and  Yale  to  unravel  the 
farce. 

Early  in  January  1859,  Moody  started  from  Lang- 
ley  with  the  company  of  engineers  stationed  there, 
numbering  twenty-five,  who  had  just  arrived  in  the 
colony,  forming  the  advance  guard  for  the  scene  of 
action.  Prevost,  of  the  Plumper,  sent  a  party  to 
supjiort  Moody,  and  lieutenants  Gooch  and  Mayne 
embarked  with  a  hundred  marines  and  sailors  from 
the  Plumper  and  Safellitc,  taking  also  a  field-piece. 
This  detachment  proceeded  as  far  as  Langley  in  the 
Plinnper,  Moody  having  gone  on  in  the  steamer  En- 
krprise,  the  only  steamer  on  the  river  at  the  time 
oa] table  of  navigating  above  Langley.  Mayne  was 
si'ut  on  with  despatches  from  Richards,  re(;[uesting 
instructions.  The  police  force  under  Brew  joined  the 
excursion. 

Mr  Yale,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  oflicer  in 


^  ;Wlil 


HI 


"  Victoria  Oazette,  Jan.  11,  1859.  A  later  issue  of  the  saino  jnunial,  on 
Jan.  l,')tli,  gave  the  transaction  quitu  a  dillurt'iit  cdloiiiig,  anil  tho  IJar  a  hct- 
tc  I  iiaiiiu.  Justice  IVrrier  canio  out  in  a  (lef<;nce  of  Hill  Har  as  an  niinsually 
(ir.lrily  jilacu,  and  cxnlaiiicil  fiirtlicr  that  it  was  liy  tiie  iusi<lioiis  ailvii;t;  <il  an 
inilu  i.liial  not  named  tliat  ^Vilanncll  had  conunittc  1    the  acts  whijh  caused 

the  denoueineiit 
i\e  stopjied  ou 

',   in    I'iclorni 

(Invth;  I.'ob.  1,  1S5<J 


inilu  i.lual  not  named  tliat  ^Vilanncll  had  conunittc  1  the  acts  v 
till'  ditliculty.  This  person  proceeded  down  the  river  after  the 
ill  the  courts,  and  '  i)y  his  lying  and  drunken  reports  wherever  i\: 
Ins   way  to  Victoria,   caused   serious  alarm.'     I'orrier'a   letter, 


412 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


!vfU'4lt    til 


V        t 


III 


cliarge  at  Fort  Langley,  supplied  Maync  with  a 
canoo  and  nine  stout  paddlcrs,  four  half-breeds  and 
five  Indians,  under  the  command  of  Mr  Lewis.  ]^i'- 
forc  starting,  Mr  Yale  harangued  the  crew  to  imi)rt'ss 
tliem  Avith  the  importance  of  the  service,  and  presented 
each  niiin  with  streamers  of  bright  red,  blue,  and  yel- 
low ribbons,  which  were  attached  to  their  caps  as  a 
substitute  for  war-paint.  Travelling  through  the  ni^lit 
in  midwinter,  among  floating  blocks  of  ice,  the  Indiaiis 
chanting  dolefully  to  the  movement  of  their  paddles 
as  tlicy  passed  the  miners' cabins  on  the  shore,  the  suc- 
cessive camps  were  startled  and  the  sleepers  awakened 
to  conjure  visions  of  murder  as  the  only  probable 
cause  for  such  a  movement  at  such  a  time. 

The  gold  commissioner  at  Hope  was  surprised  at 
the  promptness  with  which  liis  requisition  for  troops 
had  been  honored  by  the  governor,  and  was  apparently 
a  little  embarrassed,  having  learned  in  the  mean  time 
that  the  rebellion  was  cxaircrcrated,  and  that  the  feel- 
ing  of  the  mining  population  at  Yale  and  elsewhere 
had  been  grossly  misrepresented.  Leaving  Grant  and 
the  engineers  at  Hope,  Moody,  Begbie,  and  ]\Iayiie 
accompanied  the  commissioner  in  his  canoe  to  Yale 
for  a  parley. 

The  town  was  quiet,  and  Moody  was  surprised  on 
entering  it  to  meet  a  reception  the  most  cordial, 
accompanied  by  lusty  cheering.  Finding  the  situa- 
tion })oaceful,  and  the  next  day  being  Sunday,  bloody, 
instead  of  projecting  redoubts  and  parallels,  per- 
formed divine  service  in  the  court-house — the  first 
occasion  of  public  Christian  worship  in  the  town  of 
Yale.  But  after  church  Moody  crossed  tlie  path 
of  Ned  McGowan.  The  consequence  was,  that  Mc- 
Gowan  said  something  and  did  something  which  was 
construed  as  insulting,  as  an  unprovoked  assault  upon 
the  majesty  of  the  law  represented  in  the  person  of 
]\[oody.  I'robably  it  was:  Ned  was  fully  capable  of 
sucli  things.  Finding  sundry  other  suspicious  circuui- 
stances  significant  of  insubordination  on  the  pait  ot 


']m 


it; 


Ki 


NED  THE  UBIQUITOUS. 


413 


with  a 
ietls  ai)(l 
is.  Ec- 
I  impress 
resented 
and  y cl- 
aps as  a 
:,lie  night 
!  Iiuliaii.s 
■  paddh'S 
,  the  sue- 
Avakened 
probahle 

prised  at 
or  troops 
iparently 
lean  time 
,  the  feeh 
;lsewhei'( 
Jrant  and 
d  !Mayne 
to  Yale 

prised  on 

cordial, 

10   situa- 

,  Moody, 

els,   ]Hi'- 

-the  first 

town  of 

the    path 

that  y\c- 

hich  was 

ault  ujxtii 

^iers(»n  of 

apahle  of 

IS  cireuni- 

e  pari  ot 


^[eGowan's  friends,  Moody  directed  Mayno  to  drop 
(juickly  down  tlie  river  at  night  and  order  up  the 
forces.  TliG  utmost  precaution  was  taken  to  maintain 
soo'ecy.  Allard,  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  es- 
taldisiiment,  had  a  small  canoe  launched  in  the  dark- 
ness and  taken  a  mile  down  tlie  river  to  a  point  on  the 
right  bank,  wlierc  May  no  embarked.  The  latter  was 
afraid  even  to  light  his  pipe  until  he  had  passed  Hill 
Bai',  fearing  that  he  would  be  stopped  by  the  mob. 
But  the  miners  had  the  advantage  of  him  in  this 
movement,  being  well  aware  of  it,  and  consideraldy 
aiiuisetl  thereat.  To  the  surprise  of  every  one,  how- 
ever, Grant  and  the  whole  body  of  engineers  aj)- 
pearcd  at  Yale  the  next  Uiorning  by  daylight.  Tlie 
tlotilla  of  canoes  lay  bows  on  beneath  the  bluff. 
When  the  sleeping  diggers  awoke,  the  atmosphere 
aj^peared  belligerent.  Meanwhile,  Mayne  sped  on  to 
Langley  on  board  the  Enterprise,  arriving  the  same 
afternoon. 

x\t  nightfall  the  Enterprise  was  turned  up  the 
river  with  the  marines,  sailors,  police,  and  the  tield- 
pieee  on  board.  At  Hope  the  officer  in  chai-ge  re- 
ceived despatches  from  ]Moody  to  the  effect  that  only 
the  marines  were  to  be  sent  on  to  Yale. 

Wlien  they  arrived  at  Y'ale  the  next  morning  they 
found  tlie  war  was  over.  McGowan,  having  enjoyed 
the  sensation,  paid  the  gold  commissioner  a  formal 
visit,  tendered  a  gentlemaidy  J^pelogy  for  his  assault 
oil  Moody,  proved  satisfactorily  that  he  had  been 
acting  only  the  part  of  special  constable  uudi'r  the 
orders  of  the  magistrate,  committed  himself  frankly 
into  tlui  hands  of  justice  for  making  the  assault  under 
sup|iosed  provocation,  and  paid  his  fine.  With  ehar- 
acteristie  impudence,  he  then  t(»ok  u|)on  himself  to  do 
the  lionorsof  Hill  Bar.  Conducting  J^egbieand  Mayno 
over  the  diggings,  he  washed  some  dirt  for  their  en- 
lightenment, and  joined  by  a  dozen  otliers,  gave  them 
a  elianipagne  collation,  which  all  enjoyed.  And  so 
the  affair  passed  off.     Perrier  and  his  constable  were 


1  ■  i 


I 


414 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


>', 

1, 

'  _     1 

■  f 

t 

( 

» 

-fm 


■  <,  ■ 

m 

\  ■ 

dismissed  from  office  for  straining  a  point  of  loj^'al 
dignity.^" 

The  fears  of  Douglas,  concerning  the  danger  to  ])c 
apprehended  from  the  unchecked  hfe  of  the  early 
mining  period  in  these  parts,  appear  to  have  been 
allayed  after  the  event  just  described.  In  his  de- 
spatch of  January  22d  to  the  colonial  office  toucJiin;,' 
the  "  outrage  at  Yale,"  he  testifies  to  the  fact  that 
the  Americans  and  other  foreigners  had  developed  a 
state  of  feeling  of  the  best  description.  "Their  nutii- 
bers,"  he  says,  "are  now  so  much  reduced  that  tlio 
danger  of  insurrectionary  movement  on  their  part  is 
not  imminent." 

McGowan's  career  in  this  part  of  the  world  w;i.s 
brought  to  a  conclusion  by  shooting  at  a  man  at  Hill 
Bar,  but  though  he  missed  his  mark,  he  rcmenihend 
the  cut  of  Begbie's  features,  and  deemed  it  valor  t;) 
depart,  which  he  did,  escaping  across  the  boundary."' 

On  his  way  up  the  river.  Moody  had  closely  siru- 
tinized  the  banks  with  a  view  to  the  best  site  for  tiie 
metropolis  of  the  Mainland.  He  did  not  like  Derby ; 
perhaps  because  of  its  distance  from  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  of  the  swampy  character  of  the  ground 
thereabout,  of  the  difficulty  of  approach  by  sea-going 
vessels ;  perhaps  because  Douglas  had  selected  it,  and 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  had  ten  square  miks  of 

^  Mayncs  B.  C. ,  58--70.  Dowglas  said  Whannell  was  not  properly  supimrteii 
by  the  t'Drt  Yale  police,  wlio  fell  away  at  tlie  tir^t  appearance  of  daiigir. 
Despatch  Jan.  8,  iHiy.*,  to  tlie  colonial  office,  in  B.  Col.  Papers,  ii.  .">.")-(>. 
Tlic  movement  from  Hill  Bar  was  evidently  organized  and  timed  with  a  view 
of  preventing  the  chances  of  a  collision. 

■•"  Mayne  comments  appreciatively  upon  McGowan's  gentlemanly  tiMits 
and  on  his  published  MUtobiograpliy.  While  at  Hill  Bar  lie  wa.s  the  uwiur 
of  a  rich  claim,  and  popular  among  his  fellows.  Not  having  either  tlic  luve 
or  fear  of  British  rule  in  his  heart,  he  was  a  character  obnoxious  to  tlie 
authorities  at  this  juncture.  It  the  course  of  this  difficulty  he  had  ulsd  a 
personal  altercation  witli  M.  \V.  Phifer.  See  Victo)-ut  Odzclfv,  .Ian.  '."2,  1^"'S 
and  in  San  Frnnchco  Bvlktin,  Feb.  28,  1859,  article  entitled  'Ned  Mctinwaii 
and  his  colony,'  in  which  a  writer  speaks  of  the  judge  as  '  lord  of  the  niaiior.' 
who  'entertams  on  behalf  of  his  subjects  all  distinghished  strangers  ,i"'r- 
sonal  like  or  dislike  of  the  host  is  not  considered .  .  .pledges  the  (piecn'^hi  ilth 
in  champagne. .  .Tliere  was  a  row  ImtMcGowan  apologized  and  pledged  liim- 
sjlf  against  any  recurrence,' 


!       -Ml 


FOUNDING  OF  NEW  WESTMINSTER. 


415 


land  in  reserve  adjoining  it.  Of  what  avail  were  the 
royal  engineers  with  their  technical  training  if  they 
could  not  see  further  into  tlie  mysteries  of  forest- 
taiiiing  and  empire-building  than  common  fur-traders? 

()u  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  just  above  the 
delta,  a  high  beach  had  been  noticed,  a  beach  which 
was  tliought  a  fitting  place  for  an  imperial  city.  The 
a[)pr()ach  from  either  direction  was  mognificent,  and 
any  ship  that  could  enter  over  the  bar  at  the  mouth 
of  tlio  river  might  moor  beside  its  wharves.  True, 
the  expense  of  city-building  there  would  be  greater 
than  at  Derby ;  the  former  spot  was  high  and  thickly 
forested,  while  the  latter  was  low  and  open ;  Ijut  surely 
gold  was  now  plentiful  enough  to  allow  them  to  choose 
the  best. 

80  that  when  the  Plumper  dropped  down  the 
sneani  some  fifteen  miles  from  Derby  to  the  beach 
hefore  mentioned,  it  was  determined  that  both  from 
geographical  and  strategical  points  of  view,  this  was 
the  best  place  on  the  river.  The  men  therefore  were 
put  to  work  cutting  trees,  and  soon  a  field  of  stumps 
appeared  which  outnumbered  the  houses  built  for 
twenty  years  and  more.^^  To  this  imperial  stunip- 
ticlJ  was  given  at  first,  and  until  her  majesty  should 
indicate  her  royal  pleasure,  the  name  Queensborough ; 
hut  when  such  pleasure  was  known,  it  was  called  New 
Wostininster."^ 

Notice  was  given  by  the  governor  the  14th  of  Feb- 
ruaiy  1859,  that  it  was  intended  immediately  to  lay 
(mt,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  lower  Fraser,  the  site 
of  a  city  to  be  the  cai)ital  of  British  Columl)ia,  the 
lots  to  be  sold  by  auction  in  April,  one  fourth  of  them 
to  be  reserved  in  blocks  for  purchasers  in  other  parts 
of  her  majesty's   dominions.     Purchasers  of  lots  in 


:      1             :■!,; 

f 

■;M 


4=  i 

■1^ 


-' '  Dr  C'aini)l)ell  and  I  went  to  examine  a  part  a  little  north  of  where  the 
town  stiiails,  and  so  thick  was  the  bush  that  it  took  us  two  hours  to  force  our 
way  ill  rather  less  than  a  mile  and  a  lialf.'  May  tie's  B.  C,  72. 

'On  the  2()th  of  .Fuly  1859,  it  was  publicly  proclaimeil  that  the  town  here- 
tiifiirr  known  as  Queensborough  or  Queenborough  should  be  hereafter  called 
Ntvv  Westminster. 


'it*     '      "  A 

1,'  '  t     '  i 


H' 


41tt 


GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


Derby  the  November  previous  were  at  the  same  time 
informed  that  tliey  might  surroiider  such  lots  and 
receive  their  equivalent  in  Queonsborough  property. 
Already  a  revenue  officer  was  stationed  near  Queenis- 
borough  to  collect  tolls  from  tliose  faiHn<^  to  call  for 
that  purpose  at  Victoria,"^  and  from  the  15th  of  Juno 
the  port  of  Queensborough  was  the  publicly  declared 
port  of  entry. 

Returning  to  Victoria,  the  Plumjtcr  spent  a  week 
surveying  the  harbor;  then  on  the  10th  of  April  .slic 
sailed  for  Nanaimo,  crossed  thence  to  tlio  mouth  of 
the  river,  embarked  from  her  the  marines  brought 
out  by  the  Tribune,  and  witli  twenty  engineers  landed 
them  at  Queensborough,  which  place  was  already  tliu 
military  head-quarters  of  British  Columbia.  Pitching 
their  tents  a  mile  east  of  the  town  site,  thoy  joined  in 
the  work  of  clearing.  Grim  as  was  the  pleasure  of  in- 
experienced axemen  in  felling  trees,  that  labor  was 
light  as  compared  with  removing  the  logs,  stumj)s, 
and  the  network  of  roots  which  the  centurii's  liad 
been -v^  caving  underground.  Nevertheless  a  churcli, 
a  treasury,  and  a  court-house  soon  disputed  possession 
witli  the  bears;  also  dwellings,  restaurants,  stores,  and 
wharves. '"^^ 

And  so  affairs  continued  until  the  first  gold  Husli 
had  passed  away.  Moody  took  up  his  residence  at 
New  Westminster,  built  the  government  liouse  then, 
opened  roads,  and  sold  lands,  33ouglas  spending  nu)st 
of  his  time  at  Victoria.'^''     More  gun-boats  were  wanted 

^*  Open  linats  not  carrying  liquors,  nor  more  than  400  Iba.  of  provisions  for 
oach  passengir,  .inil  not  having  clearoil  at  Victoria,  vero  now  alloW(ul  to  pat^s 
up  tlie  rivor  by  paying  forty  shillings,  and  livo  shillings  for  evury  passenger. 

-•'Tiio  salo  of  ((•uuenshorough  lots  diil  not  taku  place  until  tlie  1st  of  .hiii. , 
at  wliich  time  l:$2  lots  Oti  by  YA'l  feet  found  purchasers  at  prices  from  iifllO  tn 
!|!il,375  oacli,  aggregating  over  iiHOjOtX).  This  for  the  first  day  only;  at  tliu 
second  (hiy 's  sale  an  equal  number  of  lota  was  disposed  of,  but  at  lower  prices. 
ViHoriit  (Idzdle,  June  2,  1859. 

■^"For  the  government  of  the  colony  of  British  Columbia  the  following  pro- 
visional appointnicnts  were  made  bydovcriior  Douglas,  between  January  1 
and  June  80,  1850;  Stipendiary  magistrate  and  justice  of  the  peace  at  (,>ueeiis- 
borough,  W.  K.  Spanhling;  at  Langley,  Peter  O'Reilly;  at  Lilloet,  Thoiiiiis 
IClwyn;  at  Lyttou,  il.  M.  Ball,     iligh-siierilf  at  I'ort  Douglas,  Charles  .'^. 


INCORPORATION  OF  THE  METROPOLIS. 


4i: 


1)V  Douglas,  and  tlie  Tcrmafjant,  Topazr,  and  Clio  woro 
onK'ivd  to  join  the  nortli-west  s(iuadron. 

J II  regard  to  revenue  and  expenditure,  tlianks  to 
tlic  paternal  precepts  of  the  secretary  of  the  colonies 
evi'i'  inculcating  self-support  and  cconoiny,  these  were 
\wll  managed.  Including  mining  and  spirit  licensees, 
(ustonis  duties,  and  sales  of  lands  and  town  lots, 
iiiid  aiter  ]>aying  for  road-liuilding  and  otlier  public 
wiifks,  extra  pay  for  services  performed  by  the  >SViA"/- 
Jitc  and  the  Plumper,  government  expeditions,  and 
saliitits  of  magistrates  and  otlier  officials,  there  was  a 
balance  on  the  8th  of  April  185'J  of  over  £8,000  in 
t'avdr  of  the  colony. 

Humggling  was  practised  largely  from  the  first  ap- 
iiearance  of  tlic  »jold  fever.  Particularlv  along  tlie 
I  iiitcd  States  border  it  was  found  impossible,  where 
all  was  Jiurry  and  helter-skelter,  and  goods  were  carried 
(111  nu'u's  backs  as  well  as  by  horses  and  canoes,  to  })re- 
veiit  large  quantities  of  merchandise  from  jiassing  the 
line  untaxed.  So  great  became  this  contraband  traf- 
lic,  that  a  serious  commercial  depression  which  pi'e- 
\ ailed  at  New  Westminster  in  the  winter  of  18G0-1 
was  charged  directly  to  it.  This  view  of  it,  however, 
the  yovi'rnor  did  not  take,  but  thought  it  rather  the 
result  of  over-importation. 

In  the  summer  of  18(10  the  itdiabitants  of  New 
Westminster  asked  the  privilege  of  incorporating  their 
town,  appointing  umnicij)al  officers,  taxing  themselves, 
and  improving  the  metropolis.  Tlie  ])owers  of  the 
•  euiieil,  which  was  to  ccmsist  of  st^ven  members,  were 
limited  on  the  one  side  by  the  commissioner  of  lands 


5 


/  I: 


iilii^ 


Niccill.  At  Fort  Yale,  assistant  gold  cominissioiior,  E.  H.  Saumlurs;  chief 
ilirk  iiiliiiiiul  store tary's  ofiice,  C'liarlos  OodiI;  eliief  clerk  of  the  treasui-y, 
•Inliii  (oojier;  dork  in  the  custoiii-hoiiso,  W.  U.  Mcl'rua;  registrar  of  tlie 
suproiiic  court,  A.  I.  Bllshby;  revenue  oltieer  at  Laiigley,  C'liarles  Wyl.lc. 
"till  r  uiiiccr.s  were  apiioiiieil  at  other  times  and  places  a-i  necessity  seemeil  to 
ilimainl.  Colonial  otlicers  residing  at  New  Westminster  in  the  autumn  <  f 
ISOll  wint  U.  ('.  Moody,  lieutenant-governor,  military  commander,  and  com- 
inissiiincr  of  lands  and  works;  Matthew  IJ.  Begl)ie,  ju  Igi^;  Chartres  Brew, 
iliiff  inspector  of  jiolice;  W'.  D.  (iosset,  treasurer;  F.  O.  Clandet,  assayer; 
<'.  A.  i'.iiron,  melter;  Wyniond  Handey,  collector  of  customs;  W.  R.  Spauld- 
iiiL',  i"istinaster. 

lIisT.  BniT.  Col.    27 


>    i' 


f{ 


418 


OOVERNMENT  OF  THE  MAINLAND. 


and  works,  aiul  on  tlio  other  by  the  tax-payers.  Tlic 
proposed  tax  for  each  of  two  years  was  two  per  e(;nt 
on  tlie  assessed  value  of  town  proj)erty.  The  i;()v- 
crnor  reeoniniended  the  measure,  antl  it  was  duly 
proclainietl  at  Victoria  on  the  Kith  of  July  18G0.  To 
begin  with,  it  was  ordered  that  upon  notice  given 
ever}  man  should  fell  the  trees  on  his  own  lot. 

Lytton  asked  Douglas  what  they  should  do  with 
the  Indians,  and  if  they  had  not  better  settle  them  in 
villages,  and  give  them  law,  taxation,  religion,  and 
work.  Douglas  answered  yes;  that  is  the  best  that 
can  be  done;  with  them,  better  than  the  United  States 
way,  that  and  a  land  reserve  with  civilized  self-suji- 
porting  savages.  The  natives  themselves,  had  tluy 
been  asked,  might  have  solved  the  dilHculty  bettir 
than  any  kingdom  or  republic,  better  than  any  min- 
ister or  governor  in  Christendom.  "Let  us  alone," 
they  would  have  said,  '*or,  if  you  will  not,  what  mat- 
ters it  by  what  rules  of  strangulation  you  rob  and 
murder  us?"^' 

'^'Further  reference  may  be  made  to  De  CosniM,  Onr.  B.  C.,  MS.,  pa.'isini; 
( 'nnpi-r'-i  Mm:  Muttcru,  MS.,  l.'i-17;  Olinipia  Ciuh  <'niirs.,  MS.,  1",(;  f.Vxx/'x 
Ji.  ('.,  MS.,  (i:i;  EriiiLs' FriM-r /iiiH;i;  MS.,'l2-ii0i  L<iihieviii.-i lleiil.,  I;  MrT„rid:< 
Di'p.,  pa.ssini;  Jt.  B.  Co.  Ei\,  in  //.  B.  Co.  Claims,  58;  l>nwilii.s  ,-I(/(/;v.«.m  <  nml 
Mem.,  51;  AiimiU  lirit.  Lc;/.,  viii.  1G0-.5;  B.  C.  AcU  mid  Or.,  lJS.')8-7(>;  //'Hi- 
sird's  Pm:  />ih.,  cli.  l.'U7-8;  cliv.  522-5,  vote  .i'42,'.)i)8  for  s\ipi)(>rt  of  govern- 
luent,  1189-95  ami  1401;  clx.  13G.3-1,  .£15,00:)  more  vote^l  midst  nmili 
gniinliling;  clxiv.  1028;  clxvii.  49G-7;  clxxii.  514-17,  where  coiniiliiiiit.> 
against  goveriinieut  officers  of  Vancouver  lalantl  arc  iutroiluced;  /■'()/•/».<' 
7i'-.wf;/,  Ajm.,  17;  MrDoiiiil<t':<  B.  C,  .374-7;  CoiicW-i  J/isf.  L'li;/.,  viii.  5'J.'i; 
Corniridli.^  Neir  El  Dnnido,  13;  Mallitndiiinc'x  Fii:ti  I'/c.  J)!i:,  12;  Biif.  Ccl. 
ntiiK  jS.W'.s-,  passim;  Victoria  Gazette,  July  28,  Sept.  21-:{,  30,  0''t.  1,  ami 
Nov.  18-25,  1858,  and  March  10,  May  12,  14,  17,  19,  and  .Tunc  4,  IS.V.i; 
Jfihhen's  Ciiide  B.  C,  1;  B.  C.  Cohiiiit,  May  19  and  Dec.  22,  1871;  TaiiUw'.< 
Brit.  Am.,  VA,  14;  liarrett-Lennard's  Trnv.,  299-307;  Marjie'i,  B.  C,  c.,  .\iii.; 
Gov.  Gazette,  1803-4;  Tolmie's  C.  P.  Jiailwui/  Route,  Int.;  TarbeWs  I'tchri", 
MS.,  5. 


^ 

i:    \4 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

ADMINISTRATION    OF   JUSTICE. 
185G-1880. 

JnSTlCB    WTTHOUT     FoRM  —  iNAtJOURATION     OF     THE     JUDICIARV     SYSTEM  — 

JuiiisDiCTioN  OF  Canadian  Courts  Withdravvn— Pearkes  Drafts  a 
Plan  for  the  Mainland — Lytton  Refers  the  Matter  to  Beobie— 
The  Gold-fields  Act— Appointment  of  Matthew  Baillie  Begbie — 
Ox  Uniting  the  Courts  Disestablished  and  Rkokoanized — Need- 
ham  Declines  to  Rktir"  -Two  Courts  both  Supreme — Character 
OK  Beobie — He  Assists  Douglas  in  Organizing  Government — Jus- 
tice AT  Cariboo— Jurors  Rebuked — Stipendiary  Magistrates — 
Justice  at  Kootenai  and  Metlahkatlaii — Convict  Labor— Nobles 
along  the  border — vigilance  committee. 

We  have  seen  the  forms  of  justice,  or  rather  justice 
without  form,  as  administered  by  the  factors  and 
traders  of  the  fur  company,  by  poor  Blanshard  who 
could  not  afford  to  keep  a  judge,  by  the  petty  justices 
of  the  Island  and  Mainland,  and  by  the  brother-in- 
law,  Chief-justice  David  Cameron.  And  must  we 
confess  it,  that  although  far-reaching  and  strong 
enough,  justice  hitherto  has  been  barely  respectable, 
appearing  oftener  in  elk-skin  than  in  ermine,  and  quite 
frc(|uently  with  gaunt  belly  and  tattered  habiliments. 
Now  we  come  to  the  refined  and  assayed  article;  no 
more  retired  drapers,  but  a  genuine  judge,  stamped 
sterhng  by  her  Majesty's  commissioner,  and  bearing 
upon  his  brow  nature's  most  truthful  impress. 

The  administration  of  justice  under  a  formally  con- 
stituted judiciary  began  with  the  order  in  council 
of  April  4,  1856,  wherein  her  Majesty  created  the 
supreme  court  of  civil  justice  of  the  colony  of  Van- 
couver Island  with  a  chief-justice,  registrar,  and  sher 

(419) 


:.l!l 


!i  H 


II 


m 


m  fi  ti 


m  \ 


420 


A I  ).M  I N ISTU  ATION  O  F  J  U.STICK. 


iff.  By  patcMit  from  tlio  governor,  tlic  luiictions  of  tin; 
chiof-justk'u  were  ttxtiiiidcd  to  <Tiiniiial  casuH;  ]\v.  acted 
also  us  judge  of  the  vico-adiiiiralty  court  of  \'im- 
(!ouvcr  Island.  l*rior  to  tlio  estahlisIiiiK'nt  of  a  h'^is- 
lativo  council  and  aasernbly,  tlio  statutory  laws,  as 
W(!ll  us  till)  coininou  law  of  I'JiL;laiid,  were;  in  fonc 
Of  the  supremo  court,  tlioro  wore  two  branches,  tin; 
suj.rcmo  tribunal  and  tlio  summary  or  inferior  couit, 
the  latter  having  original  jurisdiction  in  sums  not 
(exceeding  fifty  pounds.  On  N'^ancouver  Island  there 
was  a  j)olice  magistrate  and  constabulaiy  force,  and  at 
Victoria,  Esquimalt,  Xanaimo,  and  Jiarday  Sound 
there  were  in  all  six  or  seven  persons  holding  eoin- 
niissions  as  justices  of  the  peace;  in  1802  there  were 
three  practising  barristers,  and  four  ])ractising  sctliei- 
tors.  In  the  province  of  British  Columbia,  in  1873, 
there  were  three  supreme  court  and  fivecountv  iud^i  s. 

Tlio  act  of  parliament  ui  the  2d  of  August  ISoH, 
authorizing  the  establishment  of  a  colonial  govern- 
ment for  the  Mainland,  annullisd  the  jurisdiction  ot 
the  courts  of  Canada,  which  had  hitherto  extended 
over  this  region. 

On  being  asked  to  draw  up  a  j)lan  for  a  judiciary  on 
Fraser  llivcr,  (jroorgc  Poarkes,  crown  solicitor  of  N'aii- 
couvcr  Island,  appointed  by  Douglas,  })ro})osed  a  su- 
premo court  with  a  chief-justice  and  two  puisne  judges, 
holding  7/m  j^riws  and  assize  in  the  several  districts, 
a  registrar,  a  district  judge  presiding  at  the  court  of 
quarter-sessions,  two  or  more  justices  of  the  peace, 
a  high-sheriff  for  each  district,  and  an  efficient  con- 
stabulary. Being  referred  to  Lytton  for  his  ai)prov,iI, 
the  secretary  for  the  colonies  remarked  tliat  it  ap- 
peared well  adapted  to  the  purpose,  being  sim[)le  and 
practical,  but  that  Begbie  had  by  that  time  arrived, 
and  that  it  might  as  well  bo  referred  to  him. 

Acting  upon  the  suggestion  of  Lytton,  made  tlie  _!d 
of  September  1858,  on  the  Ijlst  of  August  followini^' 
was  instituted  by  proclamation  at  Victoria  the  gold- 
fields  act  of  1859,  under  which   gold  commissioners 


"'',  1 


WW^}\ 


fJOLl)  COMMISSTONKU. 


421 


ii|i|)()iiitc(l  by  tlio  govortior  iiil;;iit  };;rant  lironsoH  to 
iiiiiii'  fi>r  ()iu3  y<'fir  for  Hvo  pounds,  which  j^avo  the 
iiiiiuT  ]iol(liiiij^  it  tho  exclusive  ri^'lit  to  liis  chiini  ihii'in^ 
till'  time  covered  by  the  hceiise.  Ijcasos  of  aurifi>rous 
l;ui(ls  iiii_tj;lit  likewise  he  i-ranted  by  the  gold  comniis- 
sidiier  for  a  term  of  years. 

In  so  wild  and  extended  an  area,  with  population 
(liit'iinL;'  liither  and  thither  before  whirlwinds  of  ex- 
citement, tlie  creation  of  this  otKce  was  a  most  wise 
aiiil  luMieficent  measure.  Such  an  olHce  properly  filled, 
iuid  its  duties  [)ro[terly  enl'orced  by  the  United  States, 
Wduld  have  saved  to  society  some  of  the  worst  features 
of  tli(>  California  '4'.)  Inferno. 

In  the  absence  of  other  imperial  authority,  execu- 
ti\i'  or  judicial,  tlu;  jj^oh'  <'onnnissioner  was  both  gov- 
ciiKii-  and  iud<re.  He  was  sxuardiau  of  a;overnment 
inti'i'ests  and  custodian  of  govermnent  proju-rty  within 
liis  jurisdiction.  In  such  places,  where  one  but  not 
biitli  the  offices  of  gold  commissioner  and  justice  of 
tlif  peace  were  filled,  the  former  fulfilled  all  the  func- 
tions of  the  latter,  and  vice  versa,  appeal  being  Iiad  to 
tlic  supreme  court  iVom  pc!nalties  beyond  thirty  days' 
iiii|uisomncnt  or  a  fine  of  twenty  pounds.  Mining 
disputes  were  determined  absoluti'ly  by  the  gold  com- 
missioner, who,  without  a  jury,  was  sole  judge  of  law 
iind  facts.  In  the  larger  districts,  nuning  boards  were 
instituted,  consisting  of  six  or  twelve  members,  elected 
l»y  the  free  miners,  with  power  to  make  and  execute 
iiiining  regulations,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
fi^overnor. 

I  nder  tlie  gold-fields  act  of  1859,  it  was  ordaincuj 
that  mining  claims  must  all  be,  as  nearly  as  possible, 
rectangular  in  form,  marked  l>y  four  pegs,  the  size, 
wlieu  not  otherwise  locally  established,  to  be  for  dry- 
(liugings  twenty-five  by  thirty  feet,  or  if  bar-diggings, 
ii  stii])  twenty-five  feet  in  width  across  the  bar  fioin 
lii.uh-water  mark  down  into  the  river;  quartz  claims 
oiic  hundred  feet  along  the  seam.  The  first  discoverer 
of  a  mine  was  entitled  to  two  claims,  or,  if  a  party  of 


!■' 


>    ^!, 


m 


■ii 

ill 


ii 


422 


JiDMINISTRATION  OF  JUSTICE. 


four  or  fi/c  were  first  discoverers,  then  a  claim  and  a 
lialf  each.  Claims  um.st  be  registered,  and  could  only 
be  legally  transferred  by  entry  at  the  gold  commis- 
sioner's office.  Ditch  and  leased  auriferous  lands  wviv 
under  seven  s^jecial  regulations. 

Simultaneously  with  the  appointment  c>f  Douglas 
as  governor  of  the  ^Mainland,  that  is  to  say,  the  -Id 
of  Septend)er  1858,  a  commission  was  issued  by  the 
imperial  government  to  Matthew  Baillie  Begbie  as 
chief-justice  of  Jiritish  Columbia,  since  which  tiniu 
to  the  present  writing,  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of 
consolidation  and  confederation,  he  has  continued  to 
hohl  it. 

It  was  proclaimed  by  the  governor  at  Victoria  the 
8th  of  June  1859,  that  this  should  be  the  supreiiic 
<'ourt  of  civil  justice,  with  jurisdiction  in  criminal 
cases  as  well.  Begbie  was  at  first  commissioned  only 
for  the  JVIainland,  and  early  in  18G0  he  took  up  liis 
residence  at  New  Westminster;  but  after  no  small 
talk  amotig  the  magnates  of  tlie  tliree  governmnits, 
home  and  (;oIonial,  he  became  chief-justice  of  the 
whole  of  l^ritish  Cohnnbia,  superseding  Xeedham  at 
Victoria,  where  he  afterward  ri.'sided. 

Accompanied  by  his  high-slieriff,  Nicoll,  and  1)V  lils 
clerk  and  registrar,  Bushby,  the  28th  of  March  1851), 
Mr  Justice  Begbie  began  a  notable  journey,  notahlr 
by  reason  of  tlie  shortness  of  the  journey,  and  for  the 
length  of  its  description.^  A  report  of  tl.e  tri')  was 
athlressed  to  Governoi'  J)ouglas,  who  sent  it  to  tlir 
duke  of  Newcastle,  who  gave  it  to  the  geograpl ileal 
society  j)eoph^,  who  printed  it,  wliich,  when  (ione, 
nothing  more  remaintxl  to  be  said  of  it;  for  the  iuCoi- 
mation  it  contains,  however  interesting  at  the  tinu^ 
is  of  little  present  or  permanent  value. 

David  Cameron  was  }H>rmitted  l)y  act  of  the  I  i  tli  ot 
March  18G4,  to  retire  from  the  judiciary  of  Vaiieuu- 
ver  Island  on  a  pension  of  five  hundi'ed   pounds  ster- 

'It  ouuiipiiiM  oluvuii  pages  iif  thu  Loiulon  (Iroij.  Soi\,  Jounml,  xxxi.  '.Mi   W 


MATTHEW  BAILLIE  BEGBIE. 


423 


Ym^  per  annum,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  general  revenue 
of  the  colony. 

A  little  tracasserie  attended  Needham's  retire- 
nu'iit.  The  act  of  union  terminated  the  court  offices. 
Mutice  to  that  effect  was  served,  amonjj  othei's,  on  Berj- 
l)ic  and  Noedham,  but  accompanying  Begbie's  notice 
v.as  his  commission  as  judge  of  British  Colundjia. 
Xcedham  took  exceptions  to  Governor  Seymour's 
abolition  of  the  office  of  chief-justice  on  the  Islait'^ 
and  appealed  to  England,  and  for  a  time  he  managed 
to  sustain  himself  in  his  position.  An  anomalous  b*tate 
of  affairs  ensued.  For  a  time  there  were  two  dis- 
tinct judicial  establishments,  with  nothing  coordinate 
or  subordinate  between  them;  each  was  independent 
of  the  other,  and  neither  possessed  jurisdiction  further 
than  before  the  union.  Begbic  was  the  c onmiissioned 
judge  of  British  Columbia,  and  Needham  was  liold- 
iiig  court  upon  the  strength  of  what  was,  jirior  to 
the  union,  chief- justice  ot  Vancouver  Island.  The 
source  of  the  trouble  was  in  the  framiuix  of  the 
union  bill,  which,  while  consolidating  every  other 
brancli  of  the  colonial  govermneut,  left  the  courts  as 
distinct  as  ever.  The  Island  office  was  finally  in  due 
form  abolished,  and  Sir  Matthew  reigned  alone 

Probably  more  than  to  any  one  [)ei\son  the  com- 
monwealth of  British  Columi);-:.  owes  obligation  to 
]\lr  Begbic  for  its  healthful  ordinances,  for  the  wise 
and  liberal  provisions  of  its  government,  and  for  the 
almost  unbroken  reign  of  peace  and  oi-der  during  his 
long  term  of  office.  Moi'e  than  any  person  I  have 
mot  in  my  long  historical  pilgi'image  from  JJarieu  to 
Alaska,  he  was  the  incarnation  of  justice,  the  embodi- 
ment of  that  restraining  influence  which  society  is  so 
strangely  forced  to  place  upon  its  mend)ers,  a  man 
niost  truly  saiis  pcur  ct  sans  veprocJie.  Setting  asido 
lii>  early  training,  his  education,  which  gave  liim 
j,n'eat  advantage  over  lii-^  associates,  and  plai-'i  g  liini 
up(»n  the  ])lane  of  inherent  manhood,  there  w-  re  none 
to  match  him.     Physically  as  fearless  as  Tod,   Mc 


m 


424 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  JU8.ICE. 


Tavisli,  vv  Yale,  in  that   liisj^hest  attribute  of  liuiiiuii- 
ity,  moral  courajj^e,  lie  i'ar  surpassid  Douglas. 

In  studying  tlic  requireiiicnts  of  the  colon}-,  in 
maturing  plans  ft)r  the  administration  of  aifairs,  and 
in  bringing  in  and  })unishing  otfenders,  Mr  Beobic 
was  ever  active.  "Although  invested  with  the  vecv 
important  offieo  of  judge,"  wrote  Lytton  to  ]Jouglas. 
'•he  will  nevertheless  have  the  kindness,  for  the  pres- 
ent at  least,  to  lend  you  his  g^Micral  aid  for  the  cmih- 
pilatiou  of  tlu!  necessary  laws."  which  was  efficiently 
and  faithfully  done.  For,  rtj>orting  to  the  earl  of 
Newcastle  the  i!()th  of  January  I8G0,  the  govenidr 
says:  "The  da v  after  the  arrival  of  ^Fr  Be<>bie,  the 
judge,  he  accompanied  me  to  British  Columbia,  and 
after  his  return  to  Victoria,  he  was  of  the  greatest 
assistance  to  me  in  discharging  the  functions  of 
attorney-general,  which  office  he  kindly  fulHlled  witli 
the  concurrenci'  <^'<i  her  majestVs  «:i)\'ernment.  Sin<c 
the  arrival  at  Victoria  of  the  artitorney-general.  Mr 
Begbie  has  passed  long  p-riodw  in  and  has  been  on 
circuit  over  the  greater  portion  of  British  Columbia, 
and  his  personal  connnunica^-ions  to  m(>  upon  his  return 
have  been  most  valuable,  auil  have  a^^isted  me  mati  - 
rially  in  framing  laws,  and  in  adapting  the  general 
system  of  government  to  tiie  at^tual  requirements  of 
the  peo{)le." 

He  was  an  i'ccentric  man,  but  his  eccentricities 
seemed  always  to  take  a  sensii)le  direction.  I  nlikc 
Needham,  he  came  to  tlije  colony  while  yet  his  brain 
was  activ(^  and  his  thoughts  original  and  frt'sli.  and 
before  being  wholly  and  Iiojh  lessly  bound  to  tho  mi- 
vice  of  foolish  traditions.  He  was  an  ardiiit  ln\<  r  .if 
nmsic,  and  also  of  athlt-iic  sports." 

It  is  ini[M)ssible  that  such  a  man  should  live  M'itii<'Uf 


-On  till)  L'iHii  lit  .liuuiary  18">0  tlio  Victciria  J'liilluirmoiiic  ScH'u.'ty  v  .- **• 
ifiiiizcil,  with  till'  I'liiiM-jiistiff  jh  prcsnloiit;  Sil.in  I''niiikliii,  viift'-jiri-  .iiiit: 
Arthur  1>.  Busliliy.  .seuivtiirv;  AloXiimhir  F.  Main.  tri«»«ur»-r:  .Joliii  lJi»iii>.  ri>n- 
liiictor;  ami  AiLiiiixtuM  IVliilK-rtnii,  ,\.  V .  Alidirsnii,  Jiia«-j»li  t'urtiT.  .I.niiis 
l/'iiilu  15.  W.  I'i'aisi!,  Liiinit y  Franklin,  ami  iI.i*ii«b  F.  (  rowly,  4irii  t'lrs. 
Vktai>iit,  (iazettt:,  Fub.  1.  ISoH. 


D.  G.  FOKBES  MACDONALD. 


linking  enemies.  Every  bad  man  was  his  enemy. 
Every  sycophant;  every  pohtician  whose  ambition  was 
greater  than  his  honesty ;  every  coward  who  dare  not 
maintain  the  right  in  the  face  of  pubhc  opinion;  every 
schemer  for  personal  profit  or  advancen)ent  at  the 
(■x])oi)se  of  pubhc  good — these  and  the  hke  were  his 
natural  opponents.  With  Douglas,  who  loved  too 
wtll  at  times  to  try  to  reconcile  public  polity  to  per- 
sdiKil  caprice  or  interest,  and  at  other  times  would 
itrnoie  legal  forms  altogether,  he  was  not  always  on 
the  best  of  terms.  As  to  the  succeeding  governors, 
who  were  most  of  them  professionyl  politicians,  serving 
tor  place  or  pay,  he  troubled  himself  but  little  about 
thcin.  His  own  duty  was  always  plain,  and  he  did 
it;  and  the  service  he  rendered  was  a  fit  .sequel  to 
that  so  well  begun  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 
Consid -viicx  the  circumstances  surroundinii'  the  beojin- 
niiig,  ti'i^  ^1  iruly  \vild  men  and  the  unruly  gold-gath- 
iTcis,  society  during  these  incipient  stages  was,  I  say, 
a  marvel  of  order  and  obedience  to  law. 

It  is  trn.e  that  when  lawless  men  first  flocked  in 
all  •111''  the  Fraser,  and  bejjan  shootinsf  natives  after 
tlieii'  old  fashion,  with  as  little  compunction  as  they 
would  shoot  deei',  the  Indians  retaliated,  and  between 
the  two  there  were  many  murders.  But  when  the 
luiiicrs  found  by  experience  that  crimes  committed 
updu  the  ])erson  of  a  savage  were  as  swiftly  and  as 
scMiicly  punished  as  were  crimes  committed  by  sav- 
ai![es,  tliey  were  more  careful  how  they  threw  their 
shots  about. 

1  have  found  no  on«  nioro  readj'  to  find  fault  with 
the  administration  of  justice,  as  ind<3od  with  most 
other  matters  in  the  early  days,  than  D.  G.  Forbes 
i\Iacdonald,  who  with  many  initials  of  honor  to  his 
riuuc  wrote  a  book^  on  this  country  i-n  1802,  elegant 
ciKrugh  in  typography  and  pa^er,  b'int  not  wholly 
tnitlilul. 

■*  Jtritixh  Columhhr  ami  yancouvr'/^  Island.  >:omprmn>i  a  deseriptivn  of  thr.^i 
(Irp^iiiU'tteiiK,  etc.  Tlio  IkkjU  rejiohed  a  thin!  odition  in  I.S03.  A  hter  and 
mil  !i  nuue  reliable  aullwrity  says:  'TIk'   poi.ple  am  a  law-abiding  peoijle, 


V' 


420  ADMINISTRATION  OP  JUSTICE. 

"  How  is  it  that  crime  is  on  the  increase?"  he  ex- 
claims. "  Neither  life  nor  property,  female  chastity, 
house  nor  home  is  safe  from  the  depredations  of  the 
many  villains  who  sojourn  there."  "  Because,"  h'3  an- 
swers, "punishment  is  invariahly  over-lenient!"  Were 
it  any  other  writer  I  should  regard  his  words  as  in- 
tended irony.  Begbie  over-lenient!  The  man  is  ditfi- 
cult  to  please,  and  were  he  once  on  trial  before  Sir 
]\Iatthew,  as  he  deserved  to  be,  he  would  erase  from 
future  editions  the  lies  he  has  told,  in  which  case,  in- 
deed, there  would  be  little  left  of  his  book. 

When  we  consider  for  how  many  unknown  centu- 
ries the  savages  had  been  righting  their  own  wrongs, 
how  revenge  with  them  was  the  highest  form  of  jus- 
tice, how  widely  scattered  they  were,  and  so  compara- 
tively little  under  the  influence  of  white  men,  it  is 
wonderful  how  quickly  they  were  brought  to  ])lacc 
themselves  under  restraint,  especially  where  white  men 
were  concerned. 

C.  A.  Bayley,  coroner  at  Nanaimo  in  1853,  was 
cognizant  of  .as  many  cool  murders  among  the  natives 
as  one  often  finds  in  Christendom.  "Indian  law  pre- 
vailed for  many  years,"  he  says,  "  until  the  colony  liad 
formed  a  legislative  and  executive  council,  and  the 
colonists  felt  they  had  the  power  to  enforce  the  laws," 

The  natives  were  quite  curious  as  to  what  was  going 
on  among  the  white  men,  and  would  often  come  from 
:i  distance  and  in  large  numbers  to  see  the  strangers. 
They  came  down  from  Queen  Charlotte  Islands  dur- 
ing summer,  in  bands  of  from  five  to  fifteen  hundred; 
and  the  little  colony  at  Fort  V^ictoria,  near  which 
they  encamped,  was   seriously  frightened  by  them  in 

crimi  of  any  serious  moment  being  almost,  unknown.  I  should  tliiiik  it  i|uite 
witliiu  till'  mark,  that  not  more  than  one  per  cei't  of  the  Indian  poiiulatii'ii  of 
tiio  upper  country  are  found  in  our  prisons,  which  speaks  voluuius  in  hcli!ill  of 
their  respect  for  hiw,  and  may  be  said  to  be  in  part  attributable,  lirst,  to  tlioir 
adnurablo  n'anaf,'emeut  under  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  n  ijiinr  ;  socoml,  to 
tlic  impartial  administration  of  justice;  and  third,  to  thcoUurts  made  in  tliinr 
behalf  by  the  v.arious  missionary  enterprises  which  iiave  been  en^aj,'ed  lUiiler- 
taking  to  promote  their  truest  welfare.'  (jood'a  llut.  li.  (J.,  MS.,  IK). 


INDIAM -KILLING. 


427 


isr)4.  The  Haldahs  were  fierce  and  in  l^ad  repute; 
tiny  had  captured  many  white  men,  LainLj,  the  .shi[)- 
liuikler,  and  Benjamin  Gibbs,  and  others  from  a 
United  States  vessel,  and  held  them  as  slaves  until 
ransomed.  On  this  occasion,  ])oui,d as  called  his  coun- 
cil to  sit  upon  the  matter,  and  loaded  the  fort  ^uns; 
hut  the  Haidahs  did  not  mean  mischief  now.  'riuy 
(inly  happened  to  remember  this  sunnner  what  their 
old  warrior-<i^od  Belus  had  long  a<^o  told  them  of  the 
coinin!^' of  white  men  with  wlu)m  they  should  shake 
liaiids  and  trade. 

])urinsf  the  Fraser  excitement  the  savaijes  as  well 
as  others  swarmed  at  Victoria  on  their  way  to  and 
from  the  mines,  and  so  great  was  their  love  for  the 
piDthoatc  life  of  civilization,  that  it  was  onlv  bv  moral 
suasion  and  force  combined  that  they  could  always  be 
induced  to  move  on.  They  were  not  long  in  learning 
how  to  dig  for  gold;  or,  having  it,  how  to  dissi|)at»'  it. 

I  have  noted  the  individual  issufS,  seldom  blootly, 
!>tt\vcen  the  white  fur-buyers  and  the  red  fur- 
sellers  that  s})rang  from  this  intercourse  u})  to  the 
time  of  settlement.  Then  came  the  aflair  ending  in 
the  a])pearance  of  Douglas  with  a  vessel  of  war  at 
Cowiehin  in  1853.  The  first  old-fash ioneil  American 
massacre  in  the  interior  of  British  Colund)ia  was  that 
on  Fiaser  River  in  1858,  when,  if  we  mav  credit 
Waddiiigton,  the  miner's  from  California  surjuised  and 
massacred  thirty-three  innocent  persons  of  a  friendly 
triljc.-* 

The  brig  Siviss  Boy,  Captain  Welden,  of  San  Fran- 
•  isco,  on  the  way  from  Fort  ()r<'haril  to  \'ictoria,  jtut 
into  Xitinat  Sound  about  the  oUt  of  January  IS.V.t. 
Ni'xt  day  several  hundred  savages  a[)]n'ai'i  <l,  si'ized 
iiiid  stripped    the   vessel,   and    held   the   captain   and 


'Vnwill,  Miuinij  rKntrirts  B.  ''.,  MS.,  'M-'2,  states  that  <iii  this  occasion 
tift\  mill  niiiliT  one  SuyiltT,  an  AmktIc;*!!,  iiiiule  tlu;  <msl:iiii;hl,  ami  tliat  gnat 
sull.iiiii^r  tiiUowi'd  tliu  survivors  <il  the  iiiussai'rc,  in  whicli  all  tluir  tiMi.l  wa.i 
liistniyi'il.  JJallou,  Ai/r  MS.,  li  atiinus  tiiat  tin;  Iinluiiis  liist  kilkil  wliite 
iiM  ii,  ami  that  the  slaiiyt>t<.'re4  K»>k'r  Niiyihr  nuiuliuiuil  eiglitooii,  iiiid  that 
tliii  wa.-i  tlio  only  Indian  war  t)t«*ev. 


428 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  JUSTICE. 


If 


ii 


A     i 

1^: 

1'^ 

crew  prisoners  for  several  days,  they  at  length  luclJIv 
escaping  with  their  lives.  The  Satellite  iunnedialih' 
went  and  recovered  the  brig  and  cargo,  which  was  uf 
lumber,  but  everything  that  could  be  carried  away 


was  missnig. 


Seventy  canoes  from  Queen  Charlotte  Islands  with 
six  hundred  Haidahs  on  board  entered  Victoria  Har- 
bor on  the  30th  of  March.  And  these  were  but  the 
vanguard  of  a  general  convention  reported  by  the 
steamer  Lahouc/icre  as  on  the  way  hither.  They  en- 
camped near  Finlayson's  farm,  and  the  whole  town 
turned  out  to  see  them.  The  company  consisted  (if 
men,  women,  and  children,  with  their  efiects.  A 
second  arrival  the  21st  of  April  increased  the  number 
to  thirteen  hundred.  A  few  of  them  had  a  very  httle 
gold-dust  to  sell.  Besides  the  Haidahs,  there  were 
Stikeens,  Chimsyans,  Bellacoolas,  and  other  savages, 
numljcring  in  all  at  the  encampment  three  thousand 
j)ersons.  Their  visit  was  to  them  apparently  vrrv 
l)leasant;  they  traded  a  little,  drank  a  great  deal,  and 
if  there  be  anything  worse  they  did  that  too.  A'ie- 
toria  grew  uneasy  under  the  association,  and  invited 
the  redskins  to  leave. 

A  pcirty  sent  out  in  18G4  by  Waddington  to  o])en 
a  trail  from  Butte  Inlet  across  the  Chilkotin  plains 
toward  Fort  Alexandria,  was  attacked  the  80th  of  A]  nil 
and  thirteen  out  of  seventeen  slain.  Interference  with 
their  women  on  the  part  of  the  white  men  had  so 
exasperated  the  Chilkotins  that  they  resolved  to  rid 
themselves  of  the  evil  by  the  most  direct  means.  A 
pack-train  under  McDonald,  en  route  from  Bentinck 
Ai'm  to  Fort  Ah;xandria  was  attacked  three  wtrks 
later  by  the  Chilkotins  at  Nancootioon  Lake.  Three 
were  killed  and  several  wounded.  The  savages  took 
the  train  worth  3'), 000,  and  committed  other  munl-rs 
in  the  vicinity.  The  marines  at  New  Westminstii', 
and  volunteers  from  Victoria  and  elsewhere,  set  ont 
immediately  and  caught  a  portion  only  of  the  iiiur- 
dertTs,  and  with  the  loss  of  McLean  of  the  Hud.^oU'' 


WARLIKE  SCENES. 


429 


Bay  Company.     The  criminals  caujjfht  were  tried  and 
liaii'i<'(l." 

Ill  tlie  autumn  of  this  year,  Capcha,  chief  of  the 
Ali<>uset>!,  decoyed  the  trading'  schooner  K'nujjhltcr  to 
tlic  sliore  near  Clayoquot,  i)retendin_*(  tliat  lie  had  some 
oil  to  sell.  Then  Caju'lia  and  his  warriors  kill'MJ  the 
captain  and  crew,  and  plundered  the  vessel.  H.  M.  S. 
Ikvdsfdfion  and  Admiral  JJernnan  in  the  Siiflcj  jias- 
tciifd  to  the  spot  and  demand(;d  the  offenders,  and  as 
tlk'V  l'aile<l  to  appear,  opened  tire  and  destroyed  several 
villii^cs.  Yet  on  the  whole  Ca[)e]ia  reij^arded  his  hiisi- 
iicss  operation  as  a  success.  The  (7/o  the  followinj^ 
ycju'  was  obliged  tf)  throw  a  shell  into  a  native  village 
laai'  Fort  Ru[)ert  before  the  inhabitants  would  give 
ii[)  a  murderer. 

These  events  are  the  nearc>st  approach  to  war 
hetwcen  the  natives  and  the  si-ttlers  of  ]^ritish 
('(tlumbia  that  I  have  to  record.  The  savages  fought 
fucli  other  lustily,  and  it  was  some  tinu;  bt'forc^  the 
law  tliought  best  to  interfere.  Even  the  supei'relined 
viu'v  sometimes  saw  things  in  a  violentlv  dirferent 
manner.  There  was  what  was  called  in  local  annals 
tiif  (Jrouse  Creei,  war,  which  was  a  disputi'  between 
t!i''  Canadian  Company  and  tlie  (arouse  Creek  Flume 
(  oin|»ariy. 

Some  ground  claimed  by  the  Cxrouse  Creek  Flume 
C(iiii])any  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  season  of  1807 
'jumped'  by  the  Canadian  Com])any  and  held  in 
violation  of  the  orders  of  the  sheriff.  That  ofHcial 
a(rui(Hngly  (U'ganized  at  Williams  Creek  a  small  army 
of  several  dozen  men,  armed  them  with  such  weapons 
and  such  nerve-and-muscle-generating  ecjuipmeiits  as 
the  service  recjuired,  and  marched  ov<n-  the  mountain- 
trail  like  Lochinvar.  The  (  aiuwlians  doggedly  refused 
to  surr(!nder.  (xovernor  Si'ymoiir  then  went  into  the 
field  and  succe»fled  in  compromishig  matters  so  far  as 
to  arrange  f(^r  a  new  trial.     John  <jlrant,  the  head  of 


if  U 


'0'm).r.vfl.  r.,  MS.,  3f)-42;   nni/lp;/.^  V    [.,  MS.  50-7:    Wli/mv'r''  ■lli>''>i", 
.^li-H;    lirtona  ChroHtrlf,  May  14,  1804;   f'*>Hl(Uii/  .i'h:,  Mny  21,  180L 


fe 


4;w 


ADMINISTKATION  OF  JUSTICE. 


11  '' 


h't 


t  Mm 


i'lilN 


i' 


the  Canadian  Company,  was  meanwhile  committed  to 
prison  for  tliivt' months  for  contempt ;  tlie  remainder 
of  liis  rebellious  company  being  let  oft' each  with  two 
(lays'  imprint )nment.  Several  months  later  Judij^e  Need- 
liam  decided  the  case  adversely  to  the  claims  of  the 
Canadian  Company.^ 

The  n  iners  of  Cariboo  did  not  like  Mr  Justice 
Be<^bie's  method  of  construing  their  mining  laws;  so 
they  met  in  mass-meeting,  the  2;?d  (jf  June  18(i(;,  iuul 
denounced  him,  after  which  they  felt  better,  althoiiyii 
the  chief-justice  still  lived.  It  was  the  largest  ceii- 
t'ourse  ever  C(mvened  in  the  colony,  they  said,  and  I 
may  add,  tlu;  nu)st  foolish.  It  was  the  peculiar  way  tliut 
IJegbie  had  of  setting  aside  the  verdicts  of  their  jui'ies 
and  the  decisions  of  th(>ir  gold  commissioners  when 
manifestly  illegal  and  absurd  that  they  did  not  like. 
Ho  was  arbitrary,  partial,  and  dictatorial,  thiy  said, 
arid  th(y'  desired  his  removal  and  a  court  of  a])|)eal. 
Novertheh.'ss,  simultaneously  with  the  publication  ef 
these  proceedings,  comes  the  report  of  the  foreni.in  of 
the  grand  jury  of  Cariboo,  Avho  'is  highly  pleaded  to 
notice  the  absence  of  all  crime  in  the  distr-ict,"  wl)icli, 
indeed,  was  the  stere()t\"j>ed  clause  in  all  grand-juiv 
reports  throughout  the  country  all  through  Begbie's 
entire  term.  He  was  loudly  complained  of  by  a  ceitaia 
class  at  New  Westminster,  Lilloet,  and  Victoria;  nevei- 
theless  he  continued  his  course,  retained  his  place,  and 
was  finally  knighted  in  recognition  of  his  services, 
as  he  richly  deserved. 

Begbie  was  almost  as  good  as  a  vigilance  committee; 
sometimes  quite  as  good ;  ofttimes  even  better.     There 


I 


•  Virtm-ia  Colonist,  July  2.*?,  Aug.  6,  1.3,  20,  27,  Sept.  10,  Oct.  1,  8,  Nov.  a, 
1867;  New  Wvntniiiwter  ('oliiiiihiaii,  May  II;  li.  ('.  E.iamr.,  July  27  and  Aiii;. 
28,  18()7.  Sec  also,  for  the  Queen  Charlotte  lalaudera  and  other  ludian  trouliUis, 
Vktoiia  (,'azrt/i;  i.  Nos.  10,  27,  29,  :W-2,  35,  44,  4(i,  59,  and  lil,  IS.'.S,  ii.  'Mh 
JlouM'  ('mil.  Jfrpt.,  11.  li.  Co.,  1857,  192;  Ciirilmo  Sentinel,  i.  1;  Olyiiijiin  I'miinr 
<iml  Democnil,  March  18,  18.")9;  Coliiib.  jfiMn.,  8lh  lieyL,  30;  Ooi:  dozdt'.  ii. 
No.  8;  Sprnar.f  Smic.-',  9;  I'oirrir.'i  Mill.  JKif-f.,  MS.,  3^-2;  Brit.  Co/.  Sl.rf.-/„-<, 
MS,,  29;  Oli/nipiii.  Cliih  C<vn:-<.,  MS.,  l.S-15;  Deniw'  SMlement  V.  I.,  MS.,  -JO  4; 
Doiijhu'  Private  I'apeni,  MS.,  2d  sur.  34-0. 


DIRECT  JUSTICE. 


431 


were  in  his  rulings  the  intensity  and  directness  which 
rciider  popular  tribunals  so  terrible  to  evil-doers  with- 
out the  heat  and  passion  almost  always  inseparable 
from  illegal  demonstrations.  Although  in  common 
with  jurists  generally  he  placed  law  before  justice, 
sullering  the  guilty  to  escape  and  go  in  search  of 
further  prey  provided  they  could  not  be  convicted  by 
the  book,  yet  ho  never  was  so  blinded  by  the  book  as 
to  take  wrong  for  right  because  the  law  affirmed  it. 
And  he  would  sometimes  do  right  even  in  spite  of 
the  law. 

All  through  his  long  and  honorable  career  he  was 
more  guardian  than  judge.  He  was  not  satisfied  to 
sit  upon  the  bench  and  with  owl-like  gravity  listen 
to  the  wranglings  of  counsel  hired  for  the  defeating 
of  the  law's  intention,  and  with  much  winking  and 
blinking  to  decide  according  to  law  and  then  go  uncon- 
cernedly  to  dinner.  He  felt  the  peace  and  good- 
behavior  of  the  whole  country  to  be  his  immediate 
care,  and  woe  to  any  constable  or  magistrate  derelict 
in  his  duty  in  bringing  criminals  to  justice.  Babino 
Lake  was  no  farther  from  his  arm  than  Government 
street,  and  an  injury  done  an  Indian  or  a  Chinaman 
was  as  sure  of  prompt  punishment  as  in  the  case  of  a 
white  man. 

The  consequence  of  it  all  was  that  never  in  the 
paciiication  and  settlement  of  any  section  of  America 
have  there  been  so  few  disturbances,  so  few"  crimes 
against  life  or  property.  And  when  we  consider  the 
clashing  elements  that  came  together  just  as  Begbie 
reached  the  country,  the  nature  and  antecedents  of 
these  wild,  rough,  and  cunning  men,  it  is  wonderful. 
First  of  all  there  was  the  savage,  physically  unweak- 
cncd  thus  far  by  contact  with  Europeans,  though  in 
mind  subdued  somewhat  by  the  more  comprehensive 
Hitclligonce  of  the  shrewd  Scotchmen.  The  country  was 
his,  and  he  was  as  fierce  and  as  ready  to  fight  for  it  as 
ever.  The  fur-traders  were  their  friends,  but  these 
nitcvlopers  who  seized  their  lands  and  robbed  them  of 


s  ! 


vm 


'i    : 


432 


ADMINISTRATION  OV  JUSTICE. 


mm 


■iit*.^ 


their  j^old  wci'o  their  enemies  whom  it  were  lii^hteous 
to  kill.  The  ancient  professional  prospectors  and  t\\'^- 
gers  with  whom  the  gold-lielcis  iA'  the  north  were  jilcn- 
tit'ully  sprinkled,  were  many  of  them  but  little  liightr 
in  the  scale  of  humanity  than  the  Indians.  Amoii«; 
them  were  many  despicable  men  who  regarded  tht' 
natives  as  brutes  whom  to  kill  was  no  crime.  Add  tu 
this  the  presence  of  intelligent  and  good  men  who 
were  the  real  dominators  of  the  realm,  and  scatter 
them  over  a  wilderness  area  of  five  hundred  miles 
square, and  we  may  form  some  faint  conception  of  what 
it  was  to  hold  the  inhabitants  in  order.  And  yet  the 
intensity  of  character  and  personal  influence  of  tlic 
chief-justice  were  everywhere  felt.  His  presence  |)ei- 
meated  the  remotest  parts  of  the  country  like;  that  of 
no  other  man.  When  once  it  was  understood  by  sav- 
age and  civilized  alike  that  justice  in  his  hands  was 
swift,  sure,  and  inflexible,  the  battle  was  won.  No 
one  cared  to  kill,  being  sure  he  would  hang  for  it. 

It  is  not  often  we  hear  from  the  bench  such  rel'resh- 
ing  words  as  I'requcntly  fell  from  his  lips.  They  pui  i- 
ficd  the  atmosphere,  so  that  even  Ned  McClowau 
found  it  somewhat  stifling,  as  we  have  seen.  "There 
were  not  many  of  that  class  on  Eraser  Ilivcr,"  said 
Billy  IJallou.  "They  soon  cleaned  them  out  thoie. 
Old  Jud'TC  Beijbic  soon  made  them  understand  who 
was  master.  I  saw  a  fellow  named  Gilchrist,"  he  con- 
tinued, "who  had  killed  two  men  in  California,  mi 
trial  there.  He  killed  a  man  on  Beaver  Lake,  in  the 
Cariboo  country,  who  was  gambling  with  him.  Wliilu 
sitting  at  the  table  a  miner  came  in,  threw  down  his 
bag  of  gold-dust,  bet  an  ounce,  and  won.  Gilehii>t 
jiaid;  the  man  bet  again,  rnd  won  again,  flippantly 
inquiring  of  the  gambler  if  there  was  any  other  game 
he  could  })lay  better, as  he  drew  in  the  stakes.  Gilchrist 
took  ofl'ence  at  the  remark,  and  lifting  his  pistol  shot 
him  dead.  Gilchrist  was  tried,  and  the  jury  brought 
in  a  verdict  of  manslaughter.  Turning  to  the  prisoiu  r, 
the  judge  said:    "It  is  not  a  pleasant  duty  for  nie  lo 


RKUITPIOUS  JUDOES. 


433 


"       ■  1 
,    s;)l(l 


have  to  sontoncc  you  only  to  prison  for  life.  Your 
ciimo  was  uuMiitiyutrd  nuirdi-r.  You  deserve  to  l)o 
liaiin'<(l.  Had  tln^  jury  |K'rtV)rni('d  their  duty,  I  nii<j;lit 
now  have  tlie  painful  satisfaction  of  condenniiny'  y<»u 
t(i  death.  And  you,  ij^entlenien  of  the  jury,  pcirniit 
me  to  say  that  it  would  j^ive  nie  great  pleasure  to  see 
yeu  lianiu'ed,  each  and  every  one  of  you,  for  l)rin<^ini^ 
ill  a  nuu'derer  j^uilty  only  of  manslaughter." 

Sproat  tells  some  good  stories  emanating  fi'om  his 
I'XIK  lienoes  as  magistrate  in  18(14,  one  of  which  was 
all  attem[)t  at  an  in(|uest  at  Alherni  over  the  body  of 
a  native  shot  unintentionally  to  death,  while  stealing 
[Kitatnes,  hy  a  pea-loaded  gun  in  the  hands  of  an 
American.  Di'termined  to  close  their  eyes  to  the 
tacts,  the  iurv  first  brought  in  a  verdict  of  "worried  by 
a  (log,"  and  when  return(>d  from  a  second  attempt, 
found  "he  was  killed  by  falling  over  a  clili'."  The 
American  was  finally  sent  in  charge  of  a  constable  to 
A'ictoria,  but  eti'ecti'd  his  escape. 

Tlic  stii)endiary  magistrates,  or  county-court  judges, 
at  tlie  time  of  confederation,  wer(^  A.  1).  ]^ushby. 
New  Westminster;  \V.  R.  Spaulding,  Nanaimo  and 
Connix;  P.  O'Reilly,  Northern  Mines;  A.  F.  l?em- 
Itiitoii,  Victoria;  E.  H.  Saunders,  Lilloet;  H.  M. 
l^all,  Cariboo.      Salaries,  from  !?2,250  to  .$."^,400. 

All  act  was  passed  by  the  province  of  British  Co- 
lumlija  March  '1,  1874,  for  the  better  administration 
of'justice,  but  failed  to  receive  the  governor-gcnerars 
coniirmation  The  county  judges  did  not  apjirove  of 
a  cci'tain  ]>rovision  of  this  act  which  enabled  the  lieu- 
ti'iiuut-governor  in  council  to  ap})oint  the  times  and 
places  at  which  court  should  be  held;  hence  they 
iK'titioned  against  the  act.  An  act  enabling  the  lieu- 
tt'iiaiit-governor  to  divide  the  country  into  county- 
coiiit  districts  was  passed  the  following  year. 

There  were  other  righteous  judges  in  the  land;  and 
ill  due  time  the  people  began  to  like  justice  and  liate 
l)ril>ory  and  corruption.  Those  who  cared  least  for 
popularity  became  the    most  popular.     On    liis  way 

HioT.  Dkit.  Col.    '28 


• !  11 


SitH 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


<'  €P^ 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


A 


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73  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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43^1 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  JUSTICE. 


across  the  country  in  1872  Grant  talked  with  th  m 
about  it/ 

Since  1874  the  influence  of  the  mounted  pohcc  of 
the  Northwest  Territory  has  been  felt  along  the  bor- 
der. Numbering  in  all  about  three  hundred,  and  es- 
tablished in  camps  of  from  fifty  to  seventy-five  men, 
their  presence  in  those  wild,  thinly  peopled  regions 
was  most  beneficial.  They  wore  the  scarlet  uniform 
of  the  British  army,  and  made  it  their  business  to 
protect  at  once  border  settlers  and  travellers  from  hos- 
tile bands  of  natives,  and  well  disposed  natives  from 
white  ruffians  and  liquor- sellers.  This  was  a  Cana- 
dian rather  than  a  British  Columbian  institution ;  the 
nearest  port  available  on  the  western  slope  was  about 
one  hundred  miles  from  Kootenai. 

Shortly  after  taking  up  his  residence  at  Metlahkat- 
lah,  Duncan,  the  missionary,  was  requested  by  the 
colonial  government  to  act  as  magistrate.  It  was 
an  exceedingly  strange  mixture,  both  of  duties  and 
material,  that  this  man  found  himself  called  upon  to 
encounter.  Here  was  law  and  barbarism,  divinity 
and  demonism,  incoherently  mingled  until  the  poor 
fellow  scarcely  knew  his  own  mind.  The  li(juor  traffic 
troubled  him  exceedingly,  and  also  the  retaliation  piin- 
ciple  of  the  natives,  who  murdered  the  last  murderci', 
in  theory  at  least,  ad  injinitum,  until  none  were  left 
to  kill.  Three  Indians  murdered  two  white  men. 
The  natives  gave  up  two  of  the  murderers,  a  life  for  a 
life  being  their  idea  of  justice;  the  other,  after  six 
months,  gave  himself  up,  was  sent  to  New  Westmin- 
ster to  be  tried,  and  was  acquitted.  This  was  brout^ht 
about  by  the  magistrate  by  means  of  his  relij,nous 
influence. 

' '  There  isn't  the  gold  in  British  Columbia  that  would  bribe  .Tiidgo 
O'Reilly,  was  their  emphatic  indorsement  of  his  dealings  with  the  niiiicis. 
They  dcscri)  cd  him  arriving  as  the  renrcscntativo  of  British  law  and  oiilor 
at  Ivootanie,  immediately  after  thousands  had  flocked  to  the  newJy  discovered 

fold-mines  there.  Assembling  them,  he  said  that  order  must  and  would  !» 
ept,  and  advised  tliem  not  to  display  their  revolvers  unnecessarily,  "for,  '.icys, 
if  there  is  sliooting  in  Kootanio  there  will  be  hanging;"  such  a  speccli  wan 
after  tlie  miners'  own  hearts,  and  after  it  there  were  no  more  disturbanco.i  in 
Kootanic.' 


POPULAR  TRIBUNALS. 


4» 


Convict  labor  began  to  be  utilized  in  1859.  The 
jail  at  Victoria  was  then  the  general  receptacle  for 
Island  and  Mainland,  and  in  it  were  some  sturdy  fel- 
lows with  nothing  to  do  but  to  attempt  escape.  The 
chain-gang  system  was  then  adopted,  and  finally  a 
poiiitentiary  was  built.  To  George  W.  Bell  belongs 
the  honor  of  being  the  first  white  man  hanged  on 
Vancouver  Island,  which  was  done  on  the  5th  of 
November  1872,  for  killing  one  Datson  the  previous 
May. 

It  was  perhaps  more  difficult  than  might  be  im- 
agined for  a  person  to  commit  a  theft  or  a  murder,  and 
escape  the  country.  Obviously  his  way  out  by  water 
was  difficult,  for  every  movement  on  the  coast  was 
watched.  Then,  throughout  the  interior,  the  natives 
W(i(!  always  ready  to  lend  their  aid,  as  of  old,  in 
catching  criminals;  and  they  constituted  a  widely 
extciuled,  swift,  and  sure  police. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  United  States  bor- 
(Itr  it  was  more  difficult  to  maintain  order.  Horses  were 
plentiful.  No  man  so  poor  that  he  could  not  own  one  ; 
or  it'  he  was,  he  might  steal  from  his  neighbor.  Hence 
to  place  himself,  if  not  beyond  the  reach  of  justice,  at 
least  where  justice  soon  became  entangled  in  difficul- 
ties, the  offender  had  but  to  mount  and  ride  southerly. 
On  Ferry  Creek,  where  in  1871  was  a  customs  station, 
a  case  occurred,  insignificant  in  itself,  but  illustrative 
(if  the  times  and  place.  A  merchant  received  one  day 
some  liams  in  bond,  on  which  he  had  not  the  money 
to  pay  the  duty.  A  hungry  miner  swore  he  would 
lia\(!  a  ham;  the  merchant  offered  no  objection;  so 
attended  by  several  comrades,  he  j)roceeded  to  the 
cditice  called  the  custom-house,  kicked  open  the  door, 
and  (tarried  away  a  ham.  Swearing  in  special  officers, 
Carrington,  the  constable,  after  a  show  of  fight  on  the 
part  of  the  offenders,  succeeded  in  arresting  them  and 
conviying  them,  ironed;  to  the  jail  at  Wild  Horse 
(reek.  Haynes,  the  Kootenai  judge,  being  absent, 
Carrington,  after  waiting   a  while,  started  with   his 


1 1  i 


h 


111 


L 


I  ::t 


436 


ADMINISTRATION  OF  JUSTICE. 


prisoners  for  Victoria,  intending  to  commit  them  there 
for  trial.  But  meeting  Haynes  on  the  way,  the  party 
returned,  and  the  prisoners  were  finally  dischurjrLd 
on  condition  of  their  leaving  the  country. 

I  have  often  been  assured,  and  by  those  who  sliould 
know,  that  there  never  was  a  case  of  popular  or  illcMral 
hanging  in  British  Columbia.  Sir  Redmond  Barry 
made  the  same  statement  to  me  regarding  Australia. 
I  am  satisfied  that  my  informants  were  in  error  regard- 
ing both  countries.^  A  JJiob  may  sometimes  catoli  and 
hang  a  man,  making  little  stir  about  it.  A  haii^;iinr 
scrape  at  Jack  of  Clubs  Creek  in  the  Cariboo  country 
in  1862  is  mentioned  by  R.  Byron  Johnson  in  ]'(r}j 
Far  West  Indeed.  While  the  writer  cannot  be  called 
a  very  truthful  or  reliable  man,  judging  from  all  the 
circumstances,  I  do  not  think  this  story  is  wluilly 
fiction. 

While  Johnson  was  absent  from  his  claim,  liis 
partner,  Jake  Walker,  engaged  a  man  at  Williams 
Creek  to  help  him  sink  his  shaft  a  few  feet  l()\ver. 
One  day,  while  Walker  was  in  the  shaft  and  the 
hired  man  at  the  windlass,  the  latter  deserted  his 
post,  robbed  Walker's  cabin,  and  leaving  the  owner 
in  the  ditch  to  die,  make  tracks  across  the  mountain. 
Contrary  to  the  villain's  expectations,  Walker  suc- 
ceeded in  climbing  out.  The  first  question  with 
Walker  was  then  whether  he  should  pursue  the  man 
alone,  and  kill  him,  or  summon  the  neighbors  to  his 
assistance.  He  chose  the  latter  course.  The  man 
was  caught,  brought  back  to  the  cabin,  and  there 
tried  by  the  miners,  and  executed.* 

In  my  Popular  TrihunaU,  i.  G44-51,  I  have  given  several  cases  of  .irlii- 
trary  justico,  a  native,  Iiowever,  being  generally  the  victim. 

'  My  authorities  for  this  chapter,  which  I  am  obliged  to  make  briof,  iiro 
Allans  Cariboo,  MS.,  19;  Finlayson'a  V.  I.,  MS.,  101,  which  saya  of  lii-liio; 
'He  dealt  out  justice  with  a  stern  and  vigorous  hand,  and  was  a  tcrnir  to 
evil-doers,  especially  in  the  gold  excitement  of  '58  and  after  years;'  liiHim's 
Adv.,  MS.,  10,  11;  VotoeWs  Mtnlmj  Districts,  MS.,  3-G;  Dmus'  Setllvmnil  V. 
I.,  MS.,  14;  Watidington's  Fnuier  Rivfr,  20;  Grant's  Ocean  to  Orenn,  .SI.")  Ifi; 
J fayen'  Scraps,  iii.  60;  Olymjria  Stnmlard,  Nov.  16,  1872;  ConmUdtUnl  Imim, 
B.  'v.,  1877;  Land.  Oeo,/.  Soc.,  Jour.,  xxxi.  243,  247-8;  I'irtona  (lazith;  l>oc. 
SO,  1858;    Victoria  Direct.,  18(53,  179-89;  hbintcr'a  Proposal,  passim;  Ikmned 


AUTHORITIES 


437 


Latrs,  B.  C,  1871;  Qm>.  Oazette,  Aug.  9,  1873;  Cariboo  Sentinel,  Juno  25  and 
July'.',  18(i<i;  Pfmhertons  V.  I.,  128-9;  Nanaimo  Free  Press,  April  22,  1874; 
yv.r'-w'  AWiy,  32;  ColoniM,  Jan.  19.  18(>4;  Apr.  10,  Juno  11,  Doc.  II,  18(M); 
Ndv.  20,  1807;  Jan.  30,  Aug.  29,  31,  Sept.  2,  Dec.  17.  1809;  Fob.  9,  Aug.  24, 
1S70;  IVl).  22,  Dec.  30,  1871;  Dec.  18,  1872;  July  28,  Aug.  6,  10,  12,  15,  IS, 
'jo.  2'.t,  Sept.  20.  Oct.  10,  Nov.  4,  1875;  March  4,  Juno  2,  Nov.  15,  1870; 
('iiiiilitulion  Sup.  Court  Acts  ami  Or.,  1858-70;  Sprout's  B.  C,  32;  Sen/nowU 
/'ii}«7-i,  1S77,  437;  SUmlard,  May  21,  23,  1877;  AVw  WestminiUer  IlvraUl, 
Aug.  9,  1873;  Milton  and  Cheiidle's  N.  W.  Pass,  341;  Barrett- LinnanVs  B.  ('., 
6\:\;  Morjits  B.  C,  400-1;  Mayne'a  B.  C,  58-70;  Johnsons  Very  Far  West, 
lOS;  Sproat's  Scenes,  44-9,  72-7. 


:  n  II 


;£  .; 


1. 


M 


i '  > 


: : !  r 


ti 


f 

V.  iiil 


^  ' 

, 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

FRASER  RIVER  MININd   AND  SETTLEMENT. 

1868-1878. 

New  Devklopmenth  in  the  Hlstory  of  Mining — Character  of  the  Minm 
—Mining  Townh— .Sluicing  at  Hope  anu  Yalk— Routes  to  thk  Die, 
GiNGS — Steam  on  the  Fkasek — Boats  As(;eni)  to  Hope  and  Yalk- 
Extension  of  Mining  Area — Rush  to  Lytion— Roai>s— Prospectoks 
Push  Northward — Bars  Named— Field — Region  Round  Lilhikt 
Fountain,  Canoe,  Quesnel,  and  Tho.mpson  Mines— QirARTZ  on  CiiKKKi 
Creek — The  Mines  of  the  Eraser  Valley — Character  of  tiik  Dkv 
mooiNos — Terrace  Composition— Gold  Distribution  and  Yield. 

It  is  as  necossarv  to  tell  what  the  Californians  wlio 
sought  gold  on  the  Fraser  River  did  not  find,  as  to 
tell  what  they  did  find;  that  is  to  say,  what  fliiltd 
them  in  their  expectations,  and  what  they  found  new 
which  will  profitably  illustrate  the  mining  history  of 
the  coast. 

First  of  all,  then,  the  forbidding  grandeur  of  the 
Fraser  canon  overwhelmed  them,  and  drove  thou- 
sands of  them  southward  no  richer  than  they  anno. 
Nevertheless,  despite  this  reaction,  the  country  was 
settled;  towns  were  built;  and  in  the  course  of  sev- 
eral years  after  the  Fraser  excitement,  mineral  re- 
sources and  lines  of  transportation  were  develoinil  in 
the  great  northern  interior  of  the  Pacific  .slope,  wliirh 
were  destined  to  assume  a  national  and  contimiitul 
significance.  The  temporary  drawbacks  were  duo  to 
the  physical  features  with  which  the  advancing  tide 
of  population  had  to  grapple.  No  road  nor  trail  prac- 
ticable for  animals  existed  along  the  Fraser  canon 
during  the  early  stages  of  the  gold  excitement,  so  that 

(488) 


If 


isirl 


THE  FROWNING  FRASER. 


439 


.!,: 


;nt. 


R  OF  THE  Minks 

ES  TO   TIIK  Dili- 

'E  AND  Yale - 
I — Pkosi'Ectokh 

JSV  Lll.l.OET- 
lRTZON  I'llKKKV 
5R  OF  TIIK  UkY- 

IND  Yield. 

rnians  wlio 

find,  as  to 

vhat  fitilid 

found  new 

history  of 

eur  of  tlie 
rove  tliou- 
they  camo. 
(untry  was 
rsc  of  sev- 
nineral  ro- 
!Velo|ied  in 
ope,  wli it'll 
continental 
ere  due  to 
ineinj^  tiJo 
trail  prac- 
aser  eanon 
3nt,  so  that 

(438) 


ic  was  quite  impossible  to  follow  up  and  to  support 
any  large  number.  Hence  all  but  a  fow  fell  back 
until  the  completion  of  the  road,  which  Douglas 
caused  to  be  opened  through  the  western  rim  of  the 
high  plateau. 

The  twenty  thousand  who  went  to  Fraser  River 
from  California  in  1858  were  warned  that  the  bans 
whore  gold  was  reported  would  remain  inaccessible 
on  account  of  the  high  water  until  after  midsummer, 
and  that  to  wait  for  the  opportunity  to  mine  in  that 
wilderness  would  be  costly,  to  say  the  least,  and  might 
he  death.^  But  reasoning  from  their  experience  in 
California,  too  little  importance  was  attached  to  this 
feature  of  the  new  mines,  as  it  was  concluded  that  in 
the  mean  time  the  ravines  and  the  smaller  tributaries 
could  be  more  or  less  profitably  worked.  But  here 
arose  the  first  and  most  grievous  disappointment. 
They  found  no  ravine  diggings  like  those  in  the 
mountain  counties  of  California,  with  gold  lying  in  a 
concentrated  form  on  the  bed-rock,  and  the  latter  ex- 
posed by  the  eroding  streams.  Such  of  the  higher 
bars  of  the  Eraser  as  were  accessible,  including  the 
Hats  occasionally  forming  the  banks  of  the  river,  and 
jirospected  in  the  early  stage  of  the  mining  excitement, 
failed  even  to  yield  the  prospects  of  the  American  and 
Yuba  rivers.  It  was  almost  entirely  fine  gold  dis- 
tributed in  thin  streaks  of  gravel  and  sand,  and 
through  the  benches  and  terraces  of  the  hills  and 
valleys  running  back  often  far  from  the  river.  That 
fine  gold  was  also  found  concentrated  in  really  rich 
deposits  in  some  of  these  bars  is  beyond  a  doubt,  but 
it  consisted  of  thin  layers  or  lenticular  patches,  covered 

'  Frasor  River  is  at  flood  height  annually  in  June  and  July.  Arroirsmilh'n 
Mnp  of  B.  v.,  London,  IS.IO.  Its  gold-bearing  bars  are  really  accessible  to 
iiilvantage  only  for  a  few  months  in  the  autumn.  After  November  tlie  frosts 
set  in,  and  mining  can  bo  followed  only  at  intervals  durini,'  the  winter.  After 
tlie  severe  ■weather  and  before  tlie  snows  are  melted,  between  February  and 
April,  tliere  were  two  montiis  of  favorable  mining  season.  Although  tiiero  is 
liiw  water  about  the  Ist  of  January,  both  tlie  climatic  conditions,  and  where 
i|uicksilver  is  useil,  tlie  amalgamating  conditions  are  unfavorable  at  that  time. 
Simple  and  well  known  as  were  these  facts  by  tlie  settlers,  the  miners  of  1858 
Jiaid  clearly  before  they  became  acquainted  with  tlieui. 


Hi 


r 


'  h 


■i 


m 

I; 


440 


FRASKR  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


I 


fjequently  by  very  heavy  masses  of  barren  ground. 
In  this  respect  it  was  comparable  to  the  higher  ground 
deposits  ot"  the  ancient  rivers  of  CaHfornia,  the  proHt- 
uble  liandling  of  whicli  rendered  indispensable  an  out- 
let grade  and  the  use  of  the  hydraulic  pipe.  On  the 
Harrison  and  other  tributaries  coarse  gold  was  to  bu 
found. 

Before  tlie  river  fell,  thousands  had  left  the  country 
under  the  conviction  that  the  water  would  never  fall 
sufficiently,  or  that  they  had  seen  enough;  yet  the 
diggings  were  overcrowded  when  this  event  took 
place,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  size  of  the 
claims  was  limited  to  twenty-five  feet  square.  Those 
who  had  no  claims,  or  whose  claims  were  worked  out, 
advanced  up  the  river,  clambering  over  the  rocks  of 
the  canon  in  the  direction  of  the  fork  of  the  Thoniiv 
son,  where  there  was  room  enough  for  all  who  could 
obtain  su})plies.  The  greatest  number  were  employed 
between  Hope  and  Yale,  but  among  the  best  diggings 
were  those  at  the  Fountain,  six  miles  above  the  gnat 
falls,  and  for  some  time  the  northern  limit  of  mining." 
From  Murderer  or  Cornish  Bar,  four  miles  below 
Hope,  innumerable  bars,  si»;nifying  simply  accessible 
river-bottom  formed  by  the  angles  in  the  current,  were 
])rospected,  and  most  of  them  worked,  for  a  distance 
of  140  miles  along  the  Frascr,  and  along  the  Thomp- 
son to  a  point  fifteen  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Nicola.*  Nearly  all  of  these  were  wiped  out  of 
memory  as  the  inhabitants  migrated  and  the  traces 
of  their  existence  were  washed  away  by  the  recurring 
floods  of  the  rivers;  so  that  a  few  onlv  have  found  a 
permanent  i>lace  in  the  geography  of  the  country. 

The  first  place  above  Langley  which  contained  gold 
in  appreciable  quanity  was  Maria  Bar,  between  the 
Sunias  and  Harrison,  followed  by  Murderer  Bar,  fotn* 

'A  few  of  the  adventurers  penetrated  to  the  Canoe  country  in  latitudf  ."1° 
.SO',  nainud  after  Canoe  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Fraser,  wliere  Ninion  KiasiT 
in  1808  left  hia  cauoes.  Siiijent,  in  U.  S.  Ex,  Doc.,  iii.,  3olk  Comj.,  ~d  Hi-.-n.: 
AlkinH  Carilton,  MS,  1-4. 

"  Waddimjtonn  Fnuicr  Mines,  8. 


OOLI>-nEARING  BARS. 


441 


niilt'S  below  ITopo,  and  subsequently  known  as  Cornish 
Bar.*  Between  these  existed  other  bars  which  were 
(lisrei^arded  at  first,  owing  to  the  tincness  of  their  gold. 
The  localities  above  J  lope  are  given  as  Moscjuito,  or 
Poverty,  Fifty-four  Forty,  Union,  Canadian,  Santa 
("liua,  Deadwood,  Express,  American,  Pugct  Sound, 
Victoria,  Yankee  Doodle,  Eagle,  Alfred,  Sacramento, 
Texas  Hunter,  Emory,  lioeky,  Trinity,  Hill,  Casev, 
Yale.-" 

It  was  observed  by  Douglas  that  the  bars  grew 
richer  in  ascenchiig  order,  Hill  Bar  being  the  best, 
and  appearing  to  bear  a  resemblance  to  some  of  the 
river  bars  of  California.  Discovered  early  in  1858* 
by  Hill,  an  American,  it  progressed  so  rai)idly  that 
ill  September  Douglas  laid  out  a  town  here  on  the 
system  followed  at  Hope.  Two  months  later,  the  bar 
projier  being  worked  out,  the  benches  were  resorted 
to,  and  in  1859  a  ditch  was  constructed  at  a  cost  of 
twelve  thousand  dollars,  which  yiekled  a  monthly 
profit  of  fifty  per  cent.  This  ground  also  declined, 
ami  the  population  was  transferred  to  Yule.^ 

In  June  1858,  the  miners  were  distributed  between 
Laiigley  and  the  canon  thirty  or  forty  miles  above 
Yah',  and  advancing  in  successive  stages  to>"ard  the 
Forks,  where  it  was  known  that  the  authors  of  the 
Fraser  excitement  had  been  mining  successfully  dur- 

'  I>niif;las  found  125  men  at  work  here  in  September  1858,  and  doing  fairly. 
I'riivh  r,i]>er>t,  MS.,  i.  lO.S;  Tnttc/i'x  Map  qf  B.  C,  1871. 

"  J'l)  tlie.se  may  bo  niUted  Camuron  Bar,  which  w.i.t  discovered  hy  ThomaH 
SiKMu'i',  a  steamer  striking  the  bar  and  revealing  the  gold  to  him.  VouvU'x  B.  < '. 
MiiKK,  MS.,  20-7.  Waddington's  list  of  bars  is  tlie  most  coniidute,  as  given 
ill  Viiiniin  (Hazette,  Sept.  1."),  18.")8.  Douglas  records  a slmrtcr  list  at  the  same 
time,  in  Prh-alv  I'dju'is,  MS.,  i.  104-5.  Trutrh'n  Map,  1S7I,  locates  Anieri- 
I'iiii  tirst,  then  Emory,  and  Texas  Bar  last  and  next  to  Yale.  ConiimillW  N. 
El  Dnriu/o,  285.  O'iicilly,  the  gold  commissioner  in  1  SCO,  mentions  also  Trafal- 
Is'ir  (iiiil  French  bars,  and  by  Cornish  Bar,  below  Hope,  he  places  Prospect, 
iiliu'  Nose,  and  Huilsnn  bars.  B.  C.  I'apers,  iv.  10.  Several  of  the  bars 
Ciimicit  be  exactly  located. 

"It  was  here  that  tlie  first  discovery  of  gold  upon  the  lower  Fraser  wa« 
niiiilc,  Kmory's  and  Union  being  found  next,  followed  by  Chapman's  and  Bos- 
tun,  iilxivo  Yale.  AlltiHK  Ciirilloo,  MS.,  1-4.  Waddington  names  Hill  as 
tlio  riiiicst,  then  Emory,  Texas,  and  Puget  Sound;  the  jioorest  as  Fifty-four 
I'lirty,  Express,  ami  Yale.    Virinria  OiKette,  Sept.  15,  18.58. 

"SfHin  every  vestige  of  Hill  liar  was  gone.  ('oniii)aUi.i'  y.  El  Dorado,  195; 
Dowjkts'  Private  Papc,  ,  MS,,  scr.  i.  103-4,   100;  liowea  Col.  Empire,  i.  131. 


I  t 


•  ! 


"   !!i 


;i.i! 


m 


I  i 


i 


1r 


( 


'il: 


442 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


ing  the  winter  and  spring,  till  scarcity  of  supplies  and 
high  water  obliged  thcin  to  retreat.  By  Oetuhor, 
according  to  official  estimates,  a  population  of  tun 
thousand  was  distributed  along  the  river.  The  num- 
ber between  Cornish  Bar  and  Yale,  in  November, 
was  four  thousand,  Hope   contained   four  hundred 


I  • 


m 


The  Lower  Mining  Region. 

more,  and  Yale  thirteen  hundred.^  In  Hope  district 
an  ounce  a  day  was  common  wages,  while  some  miiKTs 
earned  two  or  more  ounces  for  weeks  together;  so 
that  most  of  those  who  had  been  engaged  with  rock- 

"Doui/las,  in  B.  C.  Papers,  ii.  20.  Wadilington  countetl  early  in  Scji- 
tembcr  800  rockers  actually  at  work  between  Hope  and  Yale,  ami  doing 
well.  Virtoriu  'Jnzette,  Sept.  15,  1858.  .Smith,  of  Kent  and  Smith's  express, 
reported  to  tiie  same  paper,  of  Aug.  20th,  that  I'uget  Sound  Bar  had  40  f  '^  ktrs 
and  120  men  at  work;  Texas  Bar,  8  companies,  who  were  partly  sluicing  luui 


SLUICES,  DITCHES,  AND  FLUMES. 


443 


crs  on  these  bars  up  to  Yale,  returned  at  the  close  of 
the  season  of  1858,  with  from  two  to  four  thousand 
dollars  clear  of  expenses. 

Toward  Yale  sluicing  entered  largely  into  mining 
operations,  and  the  yield  rose  as  high  as  twenty -five 
dollars  a  day  to  the  man,  although  the  general  aver- 
age was  considerably  lower.  Occasionally  rich  strikes 
were  made,  and  created  more  or  less  wide-spread  ex- 
citement. In  October  1858  the  benches  at  Yale 
developed  some  coarse  gold,  and  the  miners  were  with 
difficulty  restrained  from  digging  away  the  town.' 

Sluicing  yielded  about  twice  the  return  obtained 
with  rockers,  but  as  this  method  involved  considerable 
])rcliminary  and  often  costly  labor,  the  wooden  pail, 
l)an,  and  rocker  retained  the  favor  of  the  majority. 
j\fany  places,  particularly  the  benches  and  higher 
ground,  could  not,  however,  be  worked  advantageously 
without  ditches,  and  these  came  into  use  quite  early 
in  the  season  of  1858.  Between  Cornish  Bar  and 
Hope  alone  there  were  thirteen  ditches  in  operation 
in  November,  and  more  in  process  of  construction,'" 
The  yield  of  forty  sluice-heads  in  April  1859  was  six 
thousand  dollars  a  day,  and  the  ditch  company  at  Hill 
Bar  received  five  dollars  a  day  from  forty  claims." 

making  $15  to  $40  to  the  hand;  Sacramento  Bar,  15  rockers;  Emory,  36 
rockers,  averaging  $6  to  $S  to  the  hand;  Hill,  100  rockers  and  400  men, 
avcnising  810;  Yale,  9  companies,  averaging  $15  to  $20  to  the  man. 

"The  consequence  waa,  however,  that  garden  leases  on  the  left  bank 
between  Hill  Bar  and  Yale  were  refused,  and  the  ground  held  for  mining. 
Ihrnjlas'  Private  Papers,  MS.,  ser.  i.  105-G.  In  May  miners  here  made  an 
(luncc  and  a  half  a  day.  Id.,  90.  Victoria  Gazette,  Sept.  15,  1858,  classes  the 
^'iile  diggings  among  tlie  poorer.  Five  sluices  here  yielded  in  August  $"25  a 
(lay  to  tlio  hand.  Id.,  Aug.  24tli;  and  on  Aug.  13th  the  150  rockers  yielded 
I'l'.i  ounces.  77  Aug.  25,  1858,  Macjie's  V.  I.,  240.  At  Cameron  Bar  nijieteeu 
miners  made  each  $75  a  day  for  three  weeks.  VowilVa  B.  C.  Mines,  MS.,  20-7; 
( 'urmi-allis'  N,  Eldorado,  203-15.  At  Hill  Bar  the  men  were  making  from 
ilJtO  to  $25  a  day.  D.  C.  Papers,  iii.  9,  etc.  Ten  claims,  each  with  20  feet 
floatage,  produced  in  June,  July,  August,  and  part  of  .September,  $30,000. 
Ihiuijlus'  Private  Paf^er.^,  MS.,  i.  100.  Kight  of  these  companies  were  making 
$1.')  to  §40  a  day  to  the  hand.    Victoria  Gazette,  Aug.  20,  1858. 

'"  Some  cabins  erected  in  connection  with  one  of  these  enterprises  received 
the  name  of  Mariaville,  after  the  steamer  J/aria.  Victor iaGasette,  April  1 9, 1859. 

"  Four  men  sluiced  out  $4,000  in  six  days.  DougUis,  in  U.  C.  Pajxrs,  iii. 
0.  At  Iludaon  Bar,  just  below  Cornish  Bar,  a  Hume  a  mile  in  length  was  in 
oi)cration  in  April  1859;  and  still  further  down  the  river  was  a  wheel  .'JO  feet 
in  diameter,  used  in  raising  water  for  a  sluice  which  paid  live  dollars  a  day  to 
tlic  man.   Victoria  Gcaette,  April  19,  28,  1859. 


'4. 


li 


'  I 


n 


I 


414  FRASEH  lUVEH  MINING  AND  SETFLEMENT. 

Ill  the  sprint;  of  18G0,  the  Hope  district  was  still 
occupied  l>y  over  two  hundred  miners,  wlio  were  inak 
iii<;  an  averaj^e  of  six  dollars  a  day  on  old  <;rouii(l.'" 
Tliis  rat*  was  approximately  maintained  for  a  Ioiil; 
time,  cliiefly  by  means  of  sluices,  since  the  {ground  all 
alony:  the  river  was  in  a  sense  inexhaustihle.  '^I'lic 
winter  of  lH7(')-7  was  particularly  favorahle  for  sluic- 
ing;. The  op(Tatit)ns  were  desultory,  however,  and 
the  field  was  left  more  open  for  Chinese  and  Indians, 
who  followed  improved  methods,  and  continued  yiar 
after  year  todi<;  up  the  bars  and  enter  into  the  henclit  s. 
Already  in  18(jl  two  thousand  Chinese  were  di»;gin_!^ 
around  Yale." 


Durinj;  the  first  half  of  1858,  Lany^ley  was  rejjjardcd 
as  the  head  of  steam  navi«;ation,  and  consequently  as 
the  centre  of  Fraser  traffic,  to  which  the  Otter  and  tlic 
Sea  Bird  were  making  regular  trips  from  Victoria. 
Deterred  by  the  passage  ratr  of  twenty  dollars,  canoes 
ventured  also  to  cross  from  Victoria  and  other  points,'* 
and  proceeded  up  the  Fraser  direct  to  Hope  and  Yale, 
while  steamer  passengers  were  often  detained  at  J^aiig- 
ley  for  want  of  boats.  This  inconvenience  induced  tlic 
sto^amcr  Surprise  to  try  the  current  above,  and  on  .luiie 
4th  she  reached  Hope  without  difficulty,  transferrinn,' 
by  this  coup  the  head  of  steanboat  navigation  to  tin; 
latter  place.  But  this  was  o.^.y  for  a  while,  since  tin; 
feat  of  the  Surprise  was  surpassed  on  July  21st,  when 


*'The  official  report  for  the  spring  gave  Victoria  Bar  40  men,  earninj,'  $.S 
to  S5  a  (lay;  I'uget  .Souml,  50  men,  §:<  to  $o  a  day;  French,  15  men,  §10  to 
$12  a  (lay;  Trafalgar,  9  men,  $5  to  §7  a  day;  Mariaville,  10  men,  §4  a  il.i>  ; 
Union,  20  men,  $4  to  S5  a  day;  Cornish,  15  men,  S.3  to  $4  a  day;  Prospect,  (i 
men,  $i  a  day;  Blue  Nose,  8  men,  $4  a  day;  Hudson,  30  men,  $8  to  5jlU  a 
day.  £.  C.  Poper.^,  iv.  10. 

^'■'B.  C.  Payers,  iv.  40.  In  1865,  the  Chinese  between  Hope  and  V;ili' 
were  making  %i  to  §5  a  day.  Murjir'n  V.  /.,  240-1.  A  company  of  Indians 
took  out  ill, 800  near  18  Mile  Post  in  the  spring  of  1877;  and  some  San  Knin- 
cisco  capibilists  applied  for  extensive  terrace  grounds  opiiosite  Yale.  Jt'cfit. 
Min.  Miiie.%  1872,  40C-7. 

'•On  July  6,  1858,  50  boats  with  400  miners  left  Victoria  for  the  Fiuscr. 
Victoria  Onzelte,  July  7,  1858.  The  following  night  there  arose  a  gale  w  liicti 
caused  nmch  fear  tor  their  safety.  A/.,  July  10th.  On  July  13th  anotlior 
fleet  of  75  boats  left  V^ictoria.  Id.,  July  14th. 


rfc'i 


RIVER  navi(;ation. 


445 


tilt'  Amorican  bout  I'matlUa  sucroudcd  in  rca('irm<if 
Vale,  and  made  tliiH  the  sU'unuT  torniinuH.  Jn  aii- 
iinuncinif  this  triumnli,  Doui^las  int'ornu'd  the  colonial 
otlicc  that  ho  had  liciinsed  tw(>  Anu'ricum  vcsstls  to 
|»l\  on  tho  Frawer.  Ho  also  claimed  tlie  merit  on 
iHJialt"  of  the  Hudson's  Hay  Company  of  iiavinj^  laid 
in  lar;^e  suppliers  and  tools  tor  the  miners,  and  ot"  sell- 
\v.\f  them  at  harely  renmnerative  piices;  and  yet,  a 
iiidiith  later,  the  papers  were  eo!nj»lainin<^  of  the  mo- 
nopoly in  Fmser  trade  and  navigation  in  the  interest 
of  the  Hudson's  ]^ay  Company.'"' 

(  anoes  could  readily  come  up  to  Yale  near  the  falls, 
hut  iteyond  this  the  difficulty  and  dani^er  of  the  jou'- 
lu  V  wi'i'c  apj)allint(,  even  at  low  water.  TIm;  ohstai  le 
(■oii>iste(l  in  the  lis  of  the  lower  canon,  four  miles 
aliov.'  Vale,  and  in  those  of  the  j^reat  canon,  eio;liteen 
iiiilos  helov.  the  F(»rks.  The  route  by  land  aloni,'  the 
Kiiisi;r,  from  Yale  to  Quayon)e,  aft»!rward  Boston 
liiu-,  was  a  mere  <.joat-track  with  inclines  of  thirty  to 
tliiity-six  (U>ij^rees,  and  with  yawninj;'  j)recipiees."'  So 
loiiir  as  the  miners  had  to  carry  everythinj.?  on  their 
hack  throu<fh  these  canons,  partly  for  want  of  liorses, 
miiiiiio-  was  necessarily  retarded;  for  travellin<jf  to 
and  fro  with  heavy  loads  was  a  severe  task  on 
tii(r<j;y,  time,  and  labor,  and  this  was  l)esi(les  in- 
terrupted by  the  snow  and  cold  which  set  in  with 
])t'cend)er. 

At  Simzzum,  six  miles  above  the  Fraser  falls  and  ten 
niilcs  above  Yale,  an  old  horse-trail  formerly  reached 
till'  river  from  the  Similkameen  on  the  plateau,  and 
followed  tho  Kequeloose  liiver  for  six  miles.  It  had 
been  opened  in  1847-8,  but  was  abandoned  Jis  im- 
practicable, chiefly  on  account  of  the  break  caused  by 
the  falls.     When  the  miners  came  into  the  field  tho 


i!ii; 


r ;   '. 


'■'/?.  C.  Paf)fra,  i.  23;  Victoria  Gazrtle,  Sept.  2-4,  ISSS;  CoriivnUW  K. 
Kl  horoilii,  170-4.  'i\\o  Elite rjirine  ami  ^)/(iri'/ raiseil  thu  freij. ;  ts  in  October 
fiiiiM  Victoria  to  Hope  to  iJOO  a  ton.    Virtorin  dtaetti',  Oct.  1(5,  \f>M. 

"' J^ifUteiiant  Mayne  thiclaros  it  tliu  ronjjhuHt  trail  lie  ever  travelled.  B.  C 
Pnpirs,  iii.  40.  Justice  Beghie,  who  went  up  this  way  in  April  1859,  anu 
ruturued  by  Uarriauu  Kivur,  ruumrku  ou  thu  ruughueiM.  Id.,  17-24. 


:j   ,    !   j. 


446 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


I 


route  up  the  Fraser,  first  used  by  them,  followed  tlie 
old  Kequeloose  horse-trail  away  from  the  river  sonic 
distance,  and  then  descended  along  Anderson  Rivor 
to  the  Fraser  at  Boston  Bar.  From  five  to  eitrht 
days  were  usually  expended  between  Langley  and  the 
falls,  and  thence  onward,  according  to  the  load. 

Another  route  for  which  great  advantages  were 
claimed  was  by  the  Whatcom  and  Smcss  trail,  con- 
tinuing along  the  Fraser  to  Hope,  and  thence  across 
the  mountains  and  along  the  plateau  to  Thonii)son 
River,  by  which  it  was  possible  to  reach  the  mines 
above  the  canon  independently  of  canoe  navigation 
and  canons." 

The  achievement  of  the  Umatilla  decided  the  qms- 
tion  in  favor  of  the  more  direct  road  along  the  wist 
side  of  the  Fraser,  and  the  marches  then  on  tlu; 
Hope  and  plateau  trails  were  transferred  to  it,  wlirn 
the  part  between  Yale  and  Spuzzum  was  opened  for 
pack-trains  in  August  1858.  At  Spuzzum  a  bridge  jiad 
been  constructed  by  Frank  Way,  and  a  mile  above 
he  conducted  the  ferry  which  could  carry  ten  loadrd 
animals.  Although  the  road  was  not  yet  quite  cletir, 
five  hundred  mules  were  on  the  way,  and  the  first 
train  reached  the  Forks  September  lOth.^'*  Pedes- 
trians still  preferred  tlie  foot-trail  along  the  blufi's,  and 
in  1859  a  ferry  was  established  at  Boston  Bar,  wliich 
enabled  them  to  pass  by  Spuzzum.  This  trail  had 
the  disadvantage  of  being  blocked  by  snow  early  in 

"Some  minors  from  ^V^latcom  reached  Hope  by  this  trail  ahout  the  tirst 
of  .Tuly;  but  they  were  reported  as  sorry-looking  objects,  tiieir  clothes  turn  to 
rags,  and  they  were  represented  as  'cursing  tiio  Whatcom  trail.'  Thi'  tirst 
party  to  reach  the  forks  of  the  Thompson  by  this  route  came  in  Auguxt  1  N'lH. 
riiey  were  also  represented  as  complaining  of  the  route.  But  these  rt'imrts 
Ciime  through  the  Victoria  press,  actuated  by  jealousy,  perhaps,  of  a  lival 
and  outside  route.  The  partisans  of  the  route  declared  that  it  was  as  easy  m 
it  was  direct.  The  trail  had  been  cut  for  ten  miles  into  the  wood  and  tlicn 
al)andoned.   Biiyl<-ijx  I'.  /.,  MS.,  42. 

""Tlie  trail  to  Spuzzum  was  opened  by  50  volunteers.  In  SeptcniluT  it 
was  opened  to  the  ferry.  The  freight  by  the  first  train  was  4().\  cents  a  poiunl 
from  Yale  to  the  Forks.  Viiinrin  Gazelte,  Sept.  1,  15,  1858.  Many  couM  ill 
afford  this  rate,  and  as  tiio  water  fell  they  ventured  to  tow  canoes  tlninif,'li 
tlu'  caflons  at  the  risk  of  life  and  property.  Seven  men  were  drowned  while 
Iiouglas  was  at  Yale  in  October.  li.  C.  Papers,  ii,  (i;  WaddinijlGiia  Fra.ier 
Jitixi;  8, 


ROUTES  TO  THE  MINES. 


447 


llio  winter,   a   difficulty  averted    by  the   opening  in 
Xuvc^mber  of  the  Harrison-Lilloet  road. 

Another  route  to  the  upper  country  in  1858  was 
tlio  JMcLoughhn  trial  by  way  of  Priest  Rapids,  fol- 
lowed by  the  regular  Oregon  packers.  It  was  more 
direct  than  the  Palmer  branch,  and  ascended  the 
Siniilkameen  to  Red  Earth  Fork,  whence  it  struck 
across  a  divide  to  Nicola  Valley,  reaching  the  Thomp- 
son at  Nicaomeen,  thirteen  miles  above  its  mouth.'" 
The  oldest  travelled  route  on  the  plateau  beyond  this 
was  the  brigade  trail  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
which  connected  at  the  Forks  with  the  Hope-Spuzzum 
trail,  and  passed  northward  by  way  of  the  Fountain. 
It  had  been  brought  into  use  on  the  abandonment  in 
1847  of  the  Columl)ia  River  route.^"  The  land  and 
water  route  opened  between  Harrison  River  and  Lil- 
loL't  by  October  1858,  became  for  a  considerable  time 
tlie  main  line  for  traffic  with  the  upper  country.  By 
October  18G0,  a  new  and  easier  road,  practicable  dur- 
ing winter,  was  opened  between  Yale  and  Lytton,  and 
it  needed  only  the  Cariboo  excitement  to  set  in  motion 
tlio  transformation  of  the  trail  into  a  wagon-road,  the 
cutting  and  blasting  for  which  began  at  Yale  in  18G2. 
The  road  was  gradually  extended  under  different  con- 
tracts, and  by  18G4  the  era  of  freight-wagons  had  set 
iii.'-^' 

Above  the  little  canon  at  Yale,  mining  was  ]n'Osc- 
<'uted  to  a  considerable  extent  evi-n  in  1858,  notwith- 
standing the  dillicalty  of  transporting  supjiliiis;  and 
Boston  IJarand  Lytton  ro.se  to  be  geographical  points 
of  note.     Boston  Bar  lay  at  the  mouth  of  the  An- 

"/?.  f.  P<mn:i,  i.  79-8;]. 

■"  William  llutcliiiij,'a  of  California,  travelled  l>y  it  in  July  1858,  on  his  way 
frcim  lldjio  to  tho  Fouiitaia.  In  May  tlio  trapi.er  Wol.o  Inl  'M't  Oregoiiiaii.-.  to 
tlii^  same  place  by  the  old  Colvillo  brigade  trail.    I'irforia  (./iizcl/f,  .luly  2",>, 

KsriS. 

-' Rc'plaoiiig  thejiack-trains,  wliich  hadchargsil  $1  to  ,91. 50  a  pound  fniglit 
ti)  Caiilioo.  Tho  oiiiration.s  on  tho  trail  liacl  boeu  iimlcr  the  dirix'timi  of 
^  r::i';iiit  Mcraiin;  tluse  Wc'"'Min(lor  t'aiitaiii  (Irant,  K.  ]•].  Fi)il(i>/«i»i\'<  I'.  /.. 
^I"^.,  (il;  Victorki  OiiZilti',  Slay  5,  .July  7,  Sept.  10,  1S58;  Ji.  C.  Dirvetonj, 
1*07,  2o3. 


Ml 

t 

i  1 

'  ■  '  t 

''^:'' 

'■' ' 

448 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


r^f/'     'lit 


.ii 


i;  '■ 


.11' 

ill  :i 


li  1m  'i 


i- 


dersori  Iliver,  midway  between  Yale  and  Lytton,  and 
was  tlio  representative  camp  of  the  uiinavi>^al)le  poi- 
tion  of  the  canon.  It  was  often  referred  to  by  its 
Indian  name  of  Anayome.  Tlie  buildings  were  pleas- 
antly situated  on  a  low  flat,  and  a  ferry  connected  witli 
the  rich  island  bar  on  the  opposite  side.  Betwicii 
Xale  and  Spuzzum,  known  also  as  Ranchcrfa,  wei'o 
named  Wellington,  Sailor,  Pike,  ^ladison,  Steamboat. 
Humbug,  Surprise,  Washington,  and  Kelly  bars;  and 
between  Spuzzum  and  Boston  Bar,  the  ferry,  Chetnian 
or  Chapman,  Steamboat,  Cross,  and  Nicaragua  bars." 
At  all  of  these  places  mining  was  at  first  almost  en- 
tirely confined  to  the  river-bed,  and  within  six  inclics 
of  the  surface,  so  that  the  deposit  did  not  last  loni,'. 
Similar  strata  exist(;d  beneath,  but  they  were  not  so 
readily  found,  nor  so  accessible  on  account  of  tin; 
water,  combined  with  nmch  barren  ground,  ^fost 
claims  yielded  early  in  1858  twelve  dollars  to  tlio 
man,  but  Sailor  diggings  were  reported  in  Juno  as 
the  richest,  and  averaging  one  ounce,  though  four 
ounces  were  not  uncommon.""  Before  the  completion 
of  the  nmle-trail  above  Yale,  mining  was  necessarily 
interrupted  by  intervening  journeys  for  supplies,  and 
in  Au'ii'ust  the  Indian  campaign  brought  it  to  a  stand- 
still for  a  short  time.  In  Xovember  1858,  tin;  popu- 
lation of  the  district  was  three  hundred,  who  carried 
on  their  riiining  throughout  tlie  winter,  and  made 
good  wag(>,-!,  although  the  ground  had  fretpeiitly  to 
be  thawed  by  fires. ^* 

"  ricrro  M  >(|uaii  fif  IIIU  Bar  had  nl.ui  a  oioro  five  milos  above  Yalo,  niiil 
York  k^it  a  lioaraiiy-hcm.so  a  short  diiitaiico  fri):ii  the  tciwii  ia  M:iy  ri."iS. 
Doiii/l(r'<'  Pn'r  Ic  /'rjniv,  MS.,  blt.  i.  9  )-l.  At  tlic  niiK'/nri'i  were  (i  or  S  wi.- 
waiiis  wilii  '2M  IiKliiuia.  Tho  ferry  wai  one  luiL'  ami  Cross  Bar  I)  iiiiKsalicvo 
it,  ill  tlie  liij^  e;ifhi:i.    Virtor'nt  (•(K.rf/c,  M:iy  5,  lo,"iO. 

'''■^  l)ciu^l  IS  lie.ir  1  in  .lime  18."8  of  'A  ii.eii  Ikto  who  liail  saved  nearly  Ooiiiums 
a  day  to  the  li:i:id;  2  others  had  made  4  oiuicrs  a  day  each  with  a  rmki  r. 
I'ork,  flour,  and  eollee  soM  at  81  a  jumud.  ])<i:i jLi.t''  I'limle  J'njiris,  MS.,  pit. 
i.  92-.");  Ji.  ('.  /'ii]ii-r.i,  i.  ];{.  MeCaw  pot  TiO  oiince.s  from  IndiaiiM,  with  iiuu'- 
get-s  of  .$:i  to  C4  in  wei  ;ht.  Ori'rlnndj'ri>niMiiim.-«>ta  tn  Frdnei;  W.  At  Nu- 
aragua  Bir  5  nun  showed  §118  as  a  day's  yidl.  I'ktoria  Gazdti:,  May;"), 
ISoit. 

".?2.")  a  day.  Virtoria  GawHe,  May  .'),  7,  IS.V.).  In  March  18.59,  .*?  men  t^nk 
out  .^n»,()(HI.  //.  Two  men  eaine  from  r„i.-ito:i  Bar  in  Ai)ril  with  GOO  oiirhH 
of  <.iij,L,  w.iohii  1  out  dariiij  thvj  winder.   11.  ('.  J'lqur.i,  iii.  0. 


.'•1  .) 


■■/'■I. 


f:ll 


ON  THE  THOMPSON. 


440 


Tho  prevalent  impression  that  the  country  at  and 
beyond  tho  confluence  of  the  Thompson  was  rich  and 
contained  coarser  gold,  had  attracted  many  to  Lytton 
A  party  of  miners  returning  from  the  Forks  reached 
Victoria  in  April  1858,  and  reported  one  hundred 
and  fifty  men  at  work  there,  while  as  many  more 
wore  on  the  way  to  the  place."^  The  mule-trail  from 
Yale  not  beiiig  opened  yet,  the  Forks  were  precari- 
ously situated  from  want  of  supplies,  and  several 
luinors  returned  to  Yale  empty-handed  iu  conse- 
quence, though  the  diggings  were  believed  to  be  rich. 
The  Hudson's  Bay  station  at  the  Forks  being  the  ob- 
jective point  of  all  those  who  advanced  beyond  Boston 
Bar,  and  the  depot  for  the  miners  who  reached  the 
Forks,  was  itself  so  far  reduced  in  June  and  July 
1858,  that  the  company's  men  were  glad  to  avail  them- 
selves of  berries  for  food,  while  the  minors  all  alono;  the 
river  above  Boston  Bar  were  reported  to  be  acitually 
starving.-'  The  transportation  difficulty  was  over- 
oonio  in  September,  when  the  mule-trains  and  express 
companies  poured  into  the  camps,  and  mining  was 
entered  upon  with  spirit  chiefly  within  a  circuit  of 
six  miles  from  Lytton.  Before  the  close  of  the  year 
some  of  the  high  branches  were  prospected,  and  tbund 
to  yield  coarse  gold  up  to  five-dollar  lumps.  In 
Januarv  1859  a  hundred  men  were  digging  around 
Lvtroiijund  averaijinsx  eiijht  dollars  a  dav.  Favorable 
reports  were  freely  circulated  by  traders  and  others, 
and  early  in  1859  the  influx  from  the  lower  country 
heuau  on  a  large  scale.  By  ^larch  24th  it  was  re- 
jiorted  that  three  hundred  boats,  carrying  an  average 
of  Jive  miners  each,  had  passed  Yale,  and  were  trv- 
in^-  to  work  over  the  rapids  during  the  low  water.  A 
still  larger  number  proceeded  by  land,  so  that  upward 
of  three  thousand  persons  had  entered  the  Cascade 
legion  before  the  end  of  the  month."''    Many  of  these 

•  Ihiiijlns,  in  ComiralUs'  N.  Eldorado,  .'504. 
'/'.«/,  iu  I'irtona  Gaytte,  Jxily  14,  18.')8;  /?.  C.  Papem,  in.  m. 
'"  l'(,uij/(in,  in  li.  C.  Paperf,  ii.  (i'J!  iii.  0;  Victoria  Gazette,  Feb.  ,'>,  1850. 
Ilisi.  Burr.  Ooi..    29 


himM:, 


l^ 


'. 


,\i' 


m 


^  .'I'i. 


1: 


;^ 


n'r 


w. 


.it.:«li 


II 


450 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SEITLEMENT. 


remained  round  Lytton,  which,  in  October  1858,  had 
already  attained  to  fifty  houses  or  tent-dwellings,  and 
promised  to  advance  rapidly. 

Determined  to  further  its  prospects,  Douglas,  in 
September  18 GO,  despatched  a  party  to  seek  a  routf 
in  the  direction  of  Van  Winkle  Bar  and  Lilloot, 
and  granted  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  for  opeiiini; 
the  road  to  Bonaparte  lliver  by  way  of  Hat  Creek. 
His  object  was  afterward  attained  in  a  more  decisive 
manner  bv  the  construction  of  the  wajjon-road  alony; 
the  Thompson  to  Cache  Creek,  which  branclied  to 
Cariboo,  and  connnanded  the  entire  area  between 
Kamloop  and  Okanagan  Lake.  In  September  ISfiO, 
Douglas  found  two  hundred  white  and  five  hundred 
Chinese  miners  in  Lytton  district,  yielding  a  liecnsi' 
revenue  of  four  thousand  dollars.  In  18G4  several 
companies  were  still  taking  out  considerable  sums 
from  the  river-bed  at  Kanaka  Creek,  twelve  miles 
below  Lytton,  and  at  other  points,  the  dirt  being' 
secv.red  while  accessible,  and  washed  afterwards."'' 

We  have  now  ascended  the  Fraser  to  the  borders 
of  the  region  referred  to  by  Douglas,  in  his  despatches 
at  the  beginning  of  the  gold  excitement  in  British 
Columbia,  as  the  Couteau  mining  country."'  At 
Lyttcm  tlie  Fraser  receives  the  waters  of  the  Thomp- 
son, a  large  river,  which  after  draining  the  soutlu^'n 
sides  of  some  of  the  Cariboo  parallels  of  the  litxky 
Mountains,  traverses  the  northern  plateau,  containing 
the  earliest  found  placers  in  the  Fraser  River  basin. 
Here  the  stream  of  prospectors  pressing  inland  in 
the  spring  of  1858  divided;  but  owing  to  the  lar<i;er 
extent  of  the  river  bars,  and  profitable  ground  on  the 
Fraser,  the  great  majority  c(«itinued  up  the  main 
artery.  In  April  1858,  both  bank  and  river  mining 
were  in  progress  between  the  forks  of  the  Thoni])S()n 
and  the  Fountain,  and   miners  were  reported  to  be 

'"  At  Dog  Crock  snnif!  miners  claimed  that  they  could  take  out  SS.'iO  a  ilay 
each.    Wei-kli/  Colonial,  Jamuiry  10,  l:)l"<5.   Dmijlofi'  Prhiile  J'lijM-rH,  MS.,  I -"--■'■ 

"  Couteau,  ii  knife.  In  tlio  earliest  mining  on  the  Thompson  crovicini;  mm 
do:;e  with  iaiivua. 


ml  t'  . 


If 


FOSTER  AND  OTHER  BARS. 


461 


malving  from  eight  to  one  hundred  dollars  a  day,  the 
average  being  from  nine  to  ten  dollars.^ 

By  November  the  number  of  those  engaged  in 
11  ing  between  this  point  and  the  Fountain  had 
p;reatly  increased."  Mormon  Bar,  Spindulen  Flat, 
Cameron  Bar,  McGoffey  Dry-diggings,  Foster  Bar, 
Willow  Bank,  and  the  great  falls  were  localities  in 
order  between  the  Forks  and  Cayoosh,  afterward 
known  as  Lilloet,  at  the  junction  of  the  Harrison 
River  route  with  the  Fraser.  Robinson's  Bar  and 
French  Bar  were  between  Lilloet  and  Bridge  River, 
and  a  few  miles  above  that  were  upper  Mormon  Bar 
and  the  Fountain,  the  limit  of  extensive  or  profitable 
mining  in  1858.  Wing-damming  was  tried  at  Mormon 
Bar,  and  succeeded  well,  even  after  the  bed  had  been 
worked  for  some  time.  Ditches  were  also  introduced 
at  several  bars  with  success,  particularly  at  McGof- 
fey Dry-diggings,  where  the  benches  were  reported 
very  rich.  Lumps  were  obtained  here  weighing  from 
fifty  cents  to  twelve  dollars,  and  at  the  falls  coarse 
gold  was  found  in  considerable  quantity  up  to  six- 
ounce  pieces 


32 


'"  London  Times,  cor.  from  San  Francisco,  May  19th,  quoted  in  Overland 
from  Minnesota  to  Fraser  River,  39.  A  miner  who  arrived  at  Victoria  on  May 
8tli  from  these  diggings,  estimated  the  total  number  of  miners  on  the  Fraser 
at  1,()00. 

"  Three  thousand.  Douglas^  Despatch,  Nov.  9,  1858,  in  B.  C.  Papers,  ii.  29. 

'^  At  Mormon  Bar,  five  and  a  half  miles  above  the  Thompson  forks,  Com- 
missioner O.  Travaillot  reported  in  July  1858,  that  a  single  rocker  obtained  in 
eiglit  (lays  $830  from  the  bed  of  the  river,  another  $800  in  twelve  days,  and 
a  tliii-a  $_'48  in  five  days.  B.  C.  Papers,  i.  19.  During  the  winter  of  1858-P 
two  little  wing-dan)9  were  constructed,  from  which  several  parties  took  out 
S4,()00.  In  May  1'  f  *h.f,  p-.me  parties  dug  a  diceh  to  wash  the  bank.  Curioso, 
Boston  Bar,  May  .r.,  Victoria  Gazctic,  May  17,  1859.    Spindulen  flat,  fif- 

teen miles  above  tut  Thon.pson  forks,  and  named  after  an  old  chief,  averaged 
from  §8  to  $!0  a  day  to  the  man  in  May  1859.  A  small  water  supply  v/aa 
obtiiincd  from  a  little  stream,  Victoria  Claz/tte,  May  7,  1859.  Cameron  Bar, 
ten  miles  below  Foster  Bar,  paid  well  with  rockers  in  1858.  Earh'  m  tho 
spriii!,'  of  1859  a  company  of  eleven  men  brought  in  at  great  expeDjC  a  ditch 
upon  a  flat  opposite  the  bar,  half  a  mile  long  by  thren  hundred  yards  wide, 
V licie  it  was  necessary  to  sluice  off  ten  feet  of  surface  ground  before  the  pay 
ilirt  was  reached.  Foster  Bar  cor..  May  5th,  Victoria  Gazette,  May  17,  1859. 
At  McCJoft'ey  Dry-diggings,  three  miles  above  Cameron,  and  seven  miles  below 
Foster  Bar,  was  a  wide  flat  overlooking  a  cafion,  on  which  McGofTey  and  Com- 
pany liad  sluices,  and  w^re  washing  off  six  feet  of  surface  dirt  to  reach  the  pay 
Btratmn.  This  was  said  to  be  rich,  and  tho  company  were  reputed  to  bo  taking 
out  fortunes.    At  the  great  falls  the  Indians,  in  May  1858,  were  said  to  be 


452 


FRASER  RIVER  MINIXG  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


Foster  Bar  was  one  of"  the  earliest  and  best  known 
localities.     Here  Cornwallis  and  his  party  in  July 

1858  washed  out  with  rockers,  in  six  hours,  from 
three  to  five  ounces  of  gold  each;  and  the  Indians 
at  the  same  time  were  carrying  in  skin  pouches  from 
$100  to  $500  worth  of  gold-dust.  In  May  18G5  there 
were  still  some  sixty  miners  at  this  place,  working 
chiefly  with  rockers,  and  making  from  $3  to  §8  a  day, 
while  a  sluice  company  was  averaging  $8  to  the  num. 
This  bar  was  noted  for  the  only  case  of  open  resistance 
to  the  authorities  that  took  place  during  the  whole  of 
the  Fraser  excitement  in  1858.  A  man  named  D. 
Brown  beinjj  charged  with  some  criminal  oft'onco, 
jour  of  the  miners  posted  themselves  in  a  log-house 
and  undertook  to  defend  their  companion  against 
arrest,  A  severe  fight  ensued,  in  which  Brown  was 
shot,  and  the  party  was  forced  to  surrender.*' 

Some  distance  above  Foster  Bar  lay  the  Indian 
village  of  Cayoosh,  where  miners  had  been  occupied 
lonii  before  the  Harrison  River  route  transformed  the 
place  into  the  trading  town  of  Lilloet,  which  by  ^lay 

1859  boasted  of  several  houses  and  a  number  of  tent- 
buildings.  With  the  opening  of  this  route  mining 
sprung  up  at  several  points  along  its  course,  for  the 
loam  on  Lilloet  River  covered  a  bed  of  clay  whicli 
was  associated  with  placers;  while  quartz  veins  cropped 
out  along  the  banks  of  Lilloet  Lake,  and  extended 
throuorh  the  entire  ridge  to  the  Fraser  ut  Lvtton. 
The  yield  on  Lilloet  River  was  not  very  alluring,  how- 
ever, and  varied  in  March  1859  from  $2  to  $4  with 

digging  out  great  quantities  of  gold  with  the  simplest  of  all  imploinciits— 
niciu  sticks.  IT.  ( '.  Johnson's Statcvicnt,  in  Douglas'  Privnte  PaprvK,  MS.,  i.  90. 
Tliii'ty  miners  from  tlio  great  falls  returned  for  provisions  to  Yale  in  .May 
ISJS.'and  reported  to  Governor  Douglas  that  they  had  been  maUin;,'  Iroiu 
$10  to  $30  a  day  in  coarse  gold.  Dowjlas'  Despatch,  June  10,  ISiiS,  in  />'.  e. 
Paper-*,  i.  14.  At  the  Willow  Bank,  a  locality  near  the  falls,  Coni\v;illis' 
party,  in  July,  found  in  the  gravel  of  the  river-bt;d  half  a  dozen  ini^gct:! 
weigliing  from  four  to  nix  ounces.  Cornwallis'  N.  El  Dorado,  20.')-215. 

»'  Douglas'  Despatch,  Dec.  24,  IS.JS,  in  B.  C.  Papers,  ii.  40.  A  miner 
pursued  hence  a  partner  whom  he  accused  of  absconding  with  t!;''  j"i^:;t 
savings,  lie  found  and  shot  the  man  at  the  mouth  of  the  Fraser,  in  May  l^.JS, 
and  thereupon  escaped  across  the  boundary,  but  was  airestcd  at  \VhatLUiii 
Co->^iU!ains'  N.  Eldoruilo,  203-15;   Victoria  Gazette,  May  17,  1859. 


l!i  ,U  >M 


Jrowii  was 


LILLOKT  AND  VICINITY. 


453 


the  rocker,  and  $5  to  $8  Avilh  tlio  sluice.  These 
rates  were  still  ohtainable  in  18G7,  when  sluicing  was 
carried  on  by  several  parties."''* 

Some  of  tlie  most  successful  mining  operations  on 
tlie  Fraser  from  June  1858,  and  tlirougliout  1859,  were 
witnessed  between  the  great  falls  and  the  Fountain, 
iii(lu(lln!jf  the  Bridge  liiver,  which  entered  the  Fraser 
a  little  above  Lilloet.  At  Kobinson  Bar,  near  Lilloet, 
u'liuit  one  hundred  miners  were  engaged  in  June  1858, 
i:i;iking  from  $80  to  $90  a  day  each  during  the  first 
f  uir  or  five  days,  after  which  the  yield  fell  to  $5  or  $0."''^ 

At  French  Bar,  close  above  Lilloet,  the  j)rospects 
justified  tlie  construction  of  two  ditches,  each  a  mile  in 
1;  iigth,  whieli  were  worked  in  the  beginning  of  1859 
liy  a  dozen  miners.  Their  receipts  in  May  were  from 
('i.;lit  dollars  to  twelve  dollars,  while  rockers  made 
iihdut  half  of  this  amount  to  the  man.  Here  a  ferry 
crossed  the  Fraser  to  Fort  Behrens,  and  connected 
will  I  a  trail  to  the  Fountain.^'^  Bridge  Kiver,  so  named 
from  the  bridges  constructed  by  Indians  as  well  as 
wliite  men,  became  popular  in  1858  from  the  discovery 
(if  some  coarse  <.*'old,  not  exceedincf  one  and  a  half  ounces 
in  si/c;  but  it  was  soon  found  that  the  chief  yield  was 
scale  gold,  which  required  great  care  and  nmch  quick- 
silver. The  river  was  prospected  to  the  Cascade  Moun- 
tains, wing-d.immed,  fiumed,  and  mined  in  the  bed  as 
Well  as  in  the  bank;  and  although  the  diggings  were 
shallow,  the  prospect,  as  reported  by  Bishop  Hill  and 
otliers,  was  so  encourairino;  that  the  faith  in  their  pro- 
(luctiveness  became  abiding.  Nugent  estimated  that 
it  possessed  suitable  placers  for  fifteen  hundred  miners. 
A  little  town  was  founded  here  bv  Fraser  and  Davis, 


\: 


'  1 

{. 
i 
I 

■I;-,- 


;  Ij:. 


Kl 


U 

i 


m  I 


•'      V'l 


th^i 


'"  y.  WeHniirintcr  E.rainhm;  July  G,  1807;  Pniiijlan'  Priwie  Papers,  MS., 
i.  '.IS  ;•;  B.  V.  /'(i)in:i,  ii.  07. 

•"  llutcliiiigs,  ill  Victoria  Ginilte,  July  20,  1858.  Cornwallis  records  tliiit 
w!iiii  lio  roached  this  point  in  July  1858,  auotliur  party  had  alivady  diverged 
iii:iny  iriiles  in  the  direction  of  the  coast  iiiountaius  toward  the  south-west, 
wiii'ie  it  was  reported  they  had  found  good  diggings.  N.  El  Dorndo,  203-15. 
Kt:i  Tciico  was  hero  made  prohahly  to  Cayoosli  River  and  Anderson  Lake. 
At  iloise  Beef  Bir,  three  miles  lielow  French  Bar,  miners -were  digging  out 
111  l';Kniary  185!)  from  $'2  to  $0  a  day. 

•'''  l.iuutenant  Paluier,  in  B.  C  Papers,  iii.  47. 


i.  i 


Ml 


(i 


454 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


SJil 


hi' 


which  in  May  1859  contained  so  von  business  houses 
and  several  tents.'^ 

Impressed  with  the  common  belief  that  richer  placers 
might  be  found  farther  up  the  river,  the  government 
fitted  out  a  prospecting  expedition  under  Andrew  J. 
Jamieson,  which  started  from  Lilloet  August  7th,  and 
asscendod  the  south  fork  of  Bridge  River  for  seventy 
miles  above  its  junction  with  the  main  stream.  Hero 
was  found  a  slate  nmch  resembling  that  of  Williams 
Creek  in  Cariboo,  with  stream  placers. 

The  pay  dirt  was  from  three  to  five  feet  deep,  and 
resembled  the  deposits  of  so  many  other  places  already 
described  in  not  >ccurring  on  the  bed-rock.  Quaitz 
veins  and  indications  of  silver  were  found  everywhere, 
and  on  Gun  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Bridge  River,  fifty 
miles  by  the  trail  from  Lilloet,  fine  gold  placers  were 
discovered,  yielding  from  six  to  fifteen  dollars  a  day. 
One  feature  of  the  entire  region  was  the  abundance 
of  black  sand  in  the  bed  of  the  river.  A  map  of  tlie 
country  explored  was  made,  and  exhibited  at  Victoria.'^* 

The  Chinese  formed  a  large  portion  of  the  iniiux 
to  the  new  field,  and  soon  became  the  chief  holders 
of  claims,  carrying  on  quite  extensive  dam  operations. 
One  of  their  wing-dam  claims  yielded  in  18GG  $55,000 
to  a  party  of  twelve.  Ten  years  later  the  Indians 
were  in  almost  exclusive  possession,  and  still  securing 
fair  returns.^" 

The  Fountain,  or  Fountains,  a  few  miles  above 
Bridge  River,  at  the  mouth  of  Fountain  Creek,  ou 
the  left  bank  of  the  Fraser,  was  so  named  l\y  tiie 

"  It  stood  a  few  hundred  feet  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  wliere  this 
firm  had  replaced  the  Iiulian  bridge  by  a  40-foot  toll-bridge,  costing  cl,4.')0. 
Nuijcnt'a  Report,  in  U.  S.  Ex.  Doc,  111,  Soth  Cong.,  iid  Ses.i.;  Vicl07-ia  Go'jlk, 
May  28,  1859;  B.  C.  Pajiers,  in.  35. 

»»  Victoria  Colonist,  Oct.  17  and  Oct.  24,  18C5. 

'•  Brown's  Ensai/,  35.  The  Chinese  had  costly  iluming  works  thirteen  miles 
above  Lilloet,  on  Bridge  River,  in  Nov.  1805.  Victorid  Coioni.it,  Nov.  "JH, 
1805.  'Nodules  of  pi  re  copper '  (copper  pyrites)  were  found  in  the  bed  oi  tlio 
stream.  RawliwjH  Con/edenttion,  117;  N.  Wi'xtinimter  Coliimhiim;  i'i'i'n'fd 
Colonixt,  April  7,  18GC.  A  family  of  Indiana  took  out  in  March  1870  .S1.">W 
ten  miles  below  Lilloet.  Min.  Mines  liept.,  1876,  423.  One  of  tlie  largest 
nuggets  found  in  tlie  Fraser  country,  S.TO  in  weight,  was  obtained  ou  tliis 
river  in  January  1859.    Victoria.  GaeeUe,  Feb.  8,  1859. 


ss  housos 

ler  placers 
ivcrniiient 
Liidrow  J. 
t  7th, and 
ir  soventy 
a.  Hero 
WilliauiH 

deep,  and 
js  ali'oady 
Quartz 
irywliere, 
iver,  fifty 
cers  Nvero 
irs  a  (lay. 
bundance 
ap  of  the 
l^ictoria.'^ 
lie  influx 
f  holders 
lerations. 
$55,000 
Indians 


securnig 


OS  above 

reek,  on 

1  by  tlie 

-,  when;  tliis 
iting  .?1,4.')0. 
'toria  Oiizdli', 


liirteeii  miles 
ist,  Nov,  L'S, 
he  beil  of  the 

an:    I '/'■/•"■'« 

i87GSi,:ia) 

the  l;ir::i.'st 
iued  on  tliis 


wiw 


THE  FOUNTAIN. 


48f 


Fniich  Canadians  on  account  of  some  natural  fea- 
tures of  the  vicinity.  It  was  the  ultimate  camp  of 
the  mining  emigration  of  1858,  and  had  in  1859 
liecome  a  village  of  half  a  dozen  log-huts  and  two  or 
three  large  stores  scattered  over  the  lower  of  two 
vast  terraces  that  swept  around  the  base  of  the  moun- 
tain behind.*"  Its  mining  consisted  in  1858  of  dry- 
di.H'gings,  thirty  yards  from  the  bed  of  the  river, 
which  yielded  remarkably  well."  The  auriferous  de- 
])()sit  came  evidently  from  the  hills,  for  a  party  of 
ei;4ht  j)ersous  averaged  two  ounces  a  day  to  the  hand 
\vith  rockers,  thirty  feet  above  the  highest  water  level 
in  the  river,  and  finding  the  ground  rich  from  the 
level  of  the  stream  to  an  altitude  of  eight  or  nine 
liundred  feet,  they  threw  up  a  ditch  seven  miles  in 
length,  which  was  completed  before  the  coming  of 
frost  in  the  autumn  of  1858.  In  the  first  five  days' 
washing,  before  they  were  interrupted  by  the  frost, 
the  company  took  out  of  the  sluices  (mo  thousand  one 
hundred  and  ninety-eight  dollars." 

In  1876  the  placers  were  still  yielding  a  little  gold, 
and  the  sixty  Chinese  then  engaged  on  the  river  banks 
were  making  about  two  dollars  and  a  half  a  day.  One 
of  thorn  ha(J  just  constructed  a  ten-mile  ditch  from 
the  Fountain  Creek,  one  third  flumed,  at  a  cost  of 
fourteen  thousand  dollars,  and  was  delivering  five 
hundred  inches  of  water  along  the  left  bank  of  the 
Fraser.*^  Above  the  Fountain  on  the  Fraser  were 
Day  Bar,  Haskell  Bar,  Big  Bar,  and  Island  Bar  in  the 
Canoe  country,  and  British  Bar  and  Ferguson  Bar,  ex- 

^'lifijlne,  in  B.  C.  Papers,  iii.  17-24;  Alayne,  in  Id.,  35. 

"l)oughis  mentions  in  his  despatch  of  July  1,  1858,  that  five  different 
r()ili(  rs  were  each  averaging  at  this  place  S47  a  day.  Ji.  C  I'nyertt,  i.  19. 

*- Walter  Moberly,  who  visited  this  ground  in  the  winter  of  1858-9,  was 
of  the  opinion  that  tlie  river  gold,  at  tlie  Fountain  in  particular,  was  ruaty, 
aiMJ  came  primarily  from  the  hills  and  mountains,  then  from  tlie  terraces  and 
hliitlrt  in  slides,  an<l  did  not  travel  far.  MolKilifti  Journey,  in  Victnrin  Oazel/i', 
Vfli.  17,  1859.  Opposite  the  Fountain,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Fraser,  was 
til''  upper  Mormon  Rir,  where  rockers  in  May  1859  were  saving  from  $4  to 
$1-  ti)  tlio  man,  and  sluices,  ft^lG  to  $25.  B.  C  Pajwrn,  iii.  48-75. 

' '  The  season  for  liydraulic  luiniug  lasted  from  March  to  November,  ilin. 
MinaJUpt.,  1870,422. 


J 

iir: 


I   I 


n 


[  • 


I' 


fl 


450 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


',<;    .''. 


tending  for  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  to  the 
mouth  of  Qucsncl  River  and  into  the  Canoe  count iv, 
and  forming  the  stepping-stones  to  Cariboo.  Tlie 
Canoe  country  so  designated  from  Canoe  Crock,  in 
51°  30',  is  described  as  beginning  fifty  miles  above  tlie 
Fountain,  and  extending  indefinitely  to  the  north,  over 
the  undulating  plateau,  through  which  the  Fraser  cuts 
a  deep  channel." 

In  1858  this  region  was  scarcely  touched  except  by 
prospectors.  In  May  and  Juno  1858,  Aaron  Post,  a 
miner  from  El  Dorad  ;  County,  California,  pcnetrutod 
alone  to  near  Chilkotcn  Ilivx>r,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Thompson,  prospectinj^' 
on  every  bar,  and  finding  plenty  of  gold.  His  pro- 
visions giving  out  ho  had  recourse  to  berries,  and 
occasionally  to  horse-flesh,  obtained  from  the  Indians, 
though  he  reported  them  as  generally  hostile.'"  Sev- 
eral prospectors  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  Post,  and 
although  none  were  able  to  remain  for  want  of  provi- 
sions, yet  all  brought  gold  and  good  reports.  The 
opening/  of  the  southern  roads  brought  to  this  region 
a  fresh  niflux  of  permanent  diggers,  who  made  from 
five  to  sixteen  dollars  with  rockers  on  the  various  bars, 
with  occasional  rich  discoveries.  It  was  not  rare  to 
find  places  above  high  water  which  yielded  better 
than  those  below  it,  but  the  bars  remained  the  chief 
resort  during  1859  and  18G0.  At  Island  Bar,  so 
named  from  the  island  formed  here  at  high  water, 
were  several  parties  who  in  December  1858  had  each 
from  eight  hundred  to  three  thousand  dollars'  wortli 
of  dust,  yet  this  autumn  had  proved  a  hard  time,  for 
want  of  supplies,  and  numbers  had  been  compelled  to 
depart." 

**  The  origin  of  the  name  Canoe  Creek  is  thus  accounted  for  by  A.  C 
Anderson,  in  1807  Simon  Fraser  of  the  Northwest  Company,  after  dcsicml- 
ing  the  FrasfT  to  this  place,  here  cached  liia  canoe  and  travelled  on  font  to 
the  upper  Toot  village,  on  the  site  of  Fort  Yale.  His  Canadian  voyii^'.nrs 
in  referring  to  the  caclic  called  the  village  there  Le  (,'anot,  and  the  strcuiii  L'l 
Rivivre  dii  Canot.    Vklor'm  Gazette,  Feb.  1,  18o9. 

*^  PokI's  iSttitcment,  in  Victoria  Gazette.  July  14,  ISoS. 

*°At  Day  Bar,  two  miles  above  the  Fountain,  worked  by  Captain  Day 
and  four  others  in  the  winter  of  1858-9,  the  pay  averaged  from  ^  to  jflU  to 


T. 


QUKSNKL  RIVKR 


487 


— ^ 


'■>' 


Ics  to  the 
c  couutiv, 
)oo.  The 
Crook,  in 
abovo  tlic 
ortli,  over 
rascr  cuts 

cxcopt  hy 
)ii  Post,  a 
icnotratc'd 
and  sixty 
■ospoctiiig 
His  pro- 
rrios,  and 
Indians, 


43 


Suv- 


Post,  and 

of  provi- 

rts.     The 

bis  roLfion 

lado  Ironi 

ious  bars, 

)t  rare  to 

cd   better 

tho  chief 

Bar,  so 

jh  water, 

had  each 

,rs'  worth 

time,  fur 

ipclled  to 


for  by  A.  C. 
iter  ilcsL'ciul- 
[cd  on  foot  to 
m  voyii'^'ciirs 
lie  stream  L'l 


Captain  Day 

1 5p8  to  $10  to 


Tlio  bars  abovo  Alexan(b"ia,  as  far  as  the  mouth  of 
the  Qucsiu'l,  and  also  tli<»so  of  Quosncl  ]liver,  were 
tiist  occupied  ill  tho  spring;  of  18;j[)  by  the  ndvanciii;^ 
jirnsj lectors,  wlio  waiKlcrcd  restlessly  from  bar  to  bar, 
iDokiiiLj  further  all  tho  wliilo  for  coarser  <j^ol(l  and  more 
ot'  it.  As  early  as  May  1859,  rumors  bc-jL,^aii  to  reach 
l)iid^,e  ]\iver  of  rich  discovori(;s  in  this  direction; 
vauuo  as  tli(>y  were,  they  travelled  fast,  and  attracted 
ciiouyh  attention  to  induce  many  persons  who  were 
arriving  at  Pridgc  lliver  cti  route  for  tho  lower 
Kraser  to  hesitate  and  turn  back.*' 

Late  in  tho  season  of  1859  definite  reports  came 
that  the  search  for  gold  had  proved  successful  on  tho 
(^)u(;snel;  and  in  18(j0,  by  the  time  the  ])ionoers  of 
the  column  reached  Antler  Crook,  six  hundred  white 
miners  were  said  to  be  eiigagt^d  on  this  river,  making 
t'loni  ten  to  twenty-five  dollars  i)er  day,  and  occasion- 
ally turning  up  nuggets  weighing  from  six  to  eight 
nnnces.  Simultaneously  with  those  developments,  sev- 
eral bars  abovo  Alexandria  ^.ero  brought  into  promi- 
nene(>,  and  iiiininLT  advanced  so  rapidly  that  this  very 
viar  a  gold  commissioner  was  appointed,  who  stationed 
himsulf  at  Williams  Lake. 

At  British  ]^ar,  about  fifty  miles  abovo  Alexandria, 
tlie  vield  was  so  ])roniisiiig  as  to  induce  six  Cornish- 
men,  in  November  I8(j0,  to  ()j)on  a  ditch  five  miles  m 
length.  At  Ferguson  Bar,  three  miles  higher,  sixty 
dollars  to  tho  man  were  made  for  some  tim(>,  and  tho 
sand  overlying  the  pay  streak  was  found  sufficiently 
rifli  to  justify  the  construction  of  a  four-mile  ditch, 
at  a  cost  of  $12,000.     This  region  continued  for  years 

llic  iniiii,  and  was  better  above  high-water  mark  than  below;  the  largest 
jiiice  of  (.'old  taken  out  weighing  eight  dollars.  Vir/nrin  lltivtto,  Feb.  17, 
1V)1I.  Lieutenant  I'alnior  states  that  in  May  1S59  roukcrs  here  were  aver- 
a.'iiii;  from  !>8  to  iVi.  li.  <'.  /'ujurt,  iii.  47.  Ha-skell  Bar,  eighteen  miles 
aliiivc  tlie  Fountain,  yielded  from  $(>  to  Sl'2  with  roekirs,  and  f\C>  to  -S^O  at 
.sliucini,';  and  ]lig  IJar  yielded  at  the  same  time  from  ST)  to  !:i)  witli  rockers.  A/. 
*'  Viftorid  ditzctfc.  May  28,  lS,"i',).  'C'urioso,'  my  authoritj'  in  tiiis  instanee, 
"c  iillis  in  his  own  mind  the  points  in  favor  of  going  to  these  new  diggings, 
liciiig  .satislii'd  apiiarently  that  'some  few  ehiiins  '  might  be  rich;  but  lie  de- 
soriln's  tlie  route  as  mueh  more  dillieult  an<l  daligerous  than  any  so  far  experi- 
lii  ■'•!,  wli!le  the  country  wis  fto  far  removed  from  the  base  of  supplies  as  to 
riiiikr  tliu  ve.iture  e.\tremely  huzuruous. 


i  !     1' 

■  »■ 


S!: 


\ 

i    > 


if  i 


458 


FKASF.U  UIVKR  MINING  AND  SK'ITLEMENT. 


r  m\ : 


I ) 


to  give  cinpioynient   to  miners,  and    occasional   rich 
strikes  served  to  keep  up  tlio  interest  of  probpectt)rs.** 

Thompson  River,  the  principal  tributary  of  the 
Fraser,  and  the  first  to  disclose  its  auriferous  ground 
after  the  announcement  of  the  discovta'ies  on  tlio 
Columbia,  had  a  comparatively  insignificant  miniiitf 
record  after  1858.  Early  in  the  Fraser  i-xcitenuiit 
the  small  nuggets  at  Nicoutameen,  ten  miles  from  tliu 
mouth,  attracted  nmch  attention;  but  the  supply  a[i- 
pcars  to  have  been  soon  exhausted. 

The  whole  course  of  the  stream  lay  in  a  gold-bear- 
ing formation,  but  the  yield  never  equalled  that  of  the 
Fraser,  nor  was  the  mining  population  ever  extensive, 
and  the  towns  of  Cache  Creek,  Kamloop,  and  Sry- 
mour  grew  up  rather  as  transportation  depots  than  u.s 
mining  villages.*"  In  1858,  Wanquille  River,  on  tlic 
north  shore  of  Kandoop  Lake,  was  prospected  for 
some  forty  miles,  and  found  to  promise  from  five  to 
six  dollars  to  the  man  with  sluices.  Mining  luio 
attained  a  greater  degree  of  permanency  than  tlsc- 
where  along  the  Thompson,  and  cradling  and  hill- 
digging  were  for  several  more  years  carried  on  l)y 
wliites,  Chinese,  or  Indians.  The  discovery  of  coaise 
gold  in  pieces  up  to  three  quarters  of  an  ounce  in 
weight,  and  of  a  layer  of  pay  dirt  three  or  four  fict 
in  thickness,  above  the  level  of  the  river-bed,  causrd 
an  increased  activity  in  18G1,  with  a  larger  yield."" 
Several  other  parts  of  the  Thompson,  though  less  pcr- 

*"  Black  water  trilmtai  45  miles  from  Quesnel,  created  a  brief  excitoimiit 
in  1870.  Vicloria  Colonist,  ly  20,  1870;  B.  C.  Papers,  iv.  41;  Mitrjie'.i  (  .  /., 
243-i. 

*'  VIrt.oriii  Gitzrtte,  Jan.  '~      ^8r)9;  Oiicrlawl from  Minnenotn,  .SO. 

^•The  l'hiiic!se  were  avers,  ig  $7.15  each  in  June  1801.  Brnini's  /><"//. 
34.  In  1807  forty  men  were  a  w'ork  here,  many  of  whom  settled  down  ami 
cultivated  gardens.  Coarse  go.  was  the  chief  attraction,  but  preparatii'iis 
were  made  to  work  tile  hill-dij  ings.  N.  WeKtminiitvr  Examhier,  July  10, 
Aug.  3,  lSo7.  Later  still  the  milling  population  consisted  of  about  50  (  liiiii- 
men,  who  were  reported  as  taking  out  half  an  ounce  to  the  man  near  ilu' 
mouth  of  the  river.  Dawson  on  Milieu  40.  In  1870  there  were  20  ChiiiesL' 
miners  with  0  claims,  yielding  $7,000  for  the  season.  In  1877  only  a  ilnzeii 
remained,  earning  $3,500  fur  the  season.  Alin.  Alines  Reyt.,  1870,  1877;  H-  ('• 
Paiiers,  iv.  55. 


mp 


fT. 

(ional  rich 
J!spoctt)r.s." 

ry  of  the 
us  jj^rouiid 

s  oil  tho 
lit  miiiiiitf 

xciteiiunt 
«  from  tht; 
supply  up- 

prol(l-l)(vir- 
:liat  of  tlio 
extensive, 
and  St'v- 
)ts  tliaii  MS 
'er,  on  tlic 
pected  for 
)m  five  to 
ninof  lici'o 
than  vUv- 
:  and  liill- 
ied  on  hy 
'i  of  coiU'.se 
I  ounce  ill 
r  four  feet 
ed,  caused 
:er  yield.'" 
Ii  less  pcr- 

•ief  excitt'iiitiit 
Miiijit'n  v.  /., 

tlud  down  ami 
t  prepaiHtii'iis 
iner,  July  10, 
jout  50  (  liilia- 
niaii  m'iir  the 
ire  20  C'liiMc:<t' 
7  oiilv  a  (ici/eii 
Ij,  ISll;  Jl.  ('. 


THE  UPPER  COUNTRY. 


4M 


manent,  yielded  good  returns.  At  one  place  five  men 
wore  in  1859  making  nearly  throe  hundred  dollars 
a  day  with  the  aluico,  while  others  obtained  ten  to 
twelve  dollars  with  rockers.  In  September  18G0, 
two  hundred  Chinese  were  digging  near  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  in  the  autumn  of  18G1,  one  hundred 
iuid  fifty  minors  were  reported  at  work  not  far  irom 
Wanquille  River,  making  sixteen  dollars  a  Jay." 


^Lilt'tt  L, 


The  Upper  Gold  Districts. 

The  deposits  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Thompson 
came  first  into  notice  in  18G1,  when  a  tributary  from 
tlu'  east,  twenty  miles  above  its  mouth,  was  mined  to  a 
.small  extent  and  yielded  eight  to  ten  dollars  a  day.  At 
the  same  time  the  Indians  found  coarse  gold  above  the 
junction  of  the  Clearwater,  and  on  the  Barriero  Riv- 
er a  community  of  French  Canadians  was  making  as 

" /)oHj//a«'  Private  Papers,  MS.,  i.  l'2ii-,3;  liawlings'  Confederation,  110; 
B-  '-'.  Pupern,  iii.  50.  Seven  miners  on  Luke  ICainloop  were  iu  1804  earn- 
ing i^lO  a  Jay.  Macjie's  V.  I.,  243. 


ill' 


3H^ 


h''  ' 


4G0 


FRASER  RIVER  MINIXO  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


much  as  fifty  dollars  a  day.'''  In  that  crock  rich  quartz 
and  alluvial  diggings  were  reported  in  the  summer  of 
18G9,  and  regarded  as  a  rediscovery  of  the  spotwhero 
a  Swiss  miner  ten  years  before  claimed  to  have  found 
some  ledges.^^  Besides  these  localities,  Moberly 
Creek,  Adams  River,  Shushwap  River,  and  Cheiry 
Creek  received  considerable  attention  during  the  Big 
Bend  and  upper  Columbia  excitements,  between 
18G4  and  18G7.  In  18G4  Factor  McKay  brouglit  the 
news  to  Victoria,  that  all  along  the  Shush wa[)  and  its 
tributaries  four  to  five  dollars  a  day  could  be  made  with 
the  rocker.  This  pay  was  also  obtained  on  the  Cheriy 
Creek  tributary,  better  known  for  its  silver  ledges. 
In  18G9  a  quartz-miner  from  Nevada  opened  tlic 
Cherry  Creek  silver-mine,  without  making  any  very 
substantial  developments;  and  in  187G  the  company 
of  I.  Christian  was  working  an  eight-foot  vein  whitli 
yielded  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  in  a  month 
and  a  half,  while  at  the  same  time  Bissctt  discovered 
a  ledge  of  gold  and  silver  ore,  five  feet  in  thi(dvnes.s,  on 
the  north  branch  of  the  Cherry.  The  following  year 
new  placers  of  coarse  gold  were  found  on  a  high 
bench  further  up  the  creek,  yielding  twenty-five  cents 
to  the  pan,  so  that  between  quartz  and  placer  dc- 
})osits,  Cherry  Creek  continued  to  stand  high  among 
mining  localities.'^ 

]\Ioberly  Creek,  on  the  upper  Thompson,  was 
brought  into  notice  at  the  commencement  of  the  IJig 
Bend  excitement,  by  W.  Moberly  and  Mountaineer 
Perry,  who  examined  it  in  18G5,  and  gave  a  good 
report.  On  Adams  Lake,  and  Adams  Creek,  ex- 
tending into  Shushwap  Lake,  there  was  found  in  July 

'"  Factor  McKay  of  Kamloop  reported  in  1864,  that  seven  or  eight  niilca 
from  there  some  Canadians  were  making  §40  a  day.  Victoria  W'leUi/  ( 'clonU, 
March  29,  18G4;  llawUiKjn'  C'ovJ'ederation,  115-10;  Map,  in  li.  U.  Papers,  iv. 
S4. 

^•'Tlie  Sx.iss  died,  saya  tlie  record,  without  making  them  known.  Vidurin 
Weekly  Cohmht,  July  31,  1809. 

''The  Cliiuese  were  making  from  ?4  to  $10  in  1870.  Virtoria  Daily  Coif- 
flint,  Nov.  10,  1870;  May  18,  1877.  Victoria  Wiieldy  Colonint,  March  29,  iMl-J; 
July  '24,  1809. 


■    "^  '^  s  V 


CHARACTER  OF  DEPOSITS. 


4Cl 


nown.  Victurki 


18(50  a  bed  of  gravel  eijjjlit  feet  in  thickness,  yielding 
from  three  and  a  half  to  ff)ur  dollars  a  day."  The 
Tlionipson  liiver  bars  continued  on  the  whole  to  yield 
steadilv  throughout  the  decade  of  1800-70,  and  Talic- 
sen,  Evans,  and  others  estimated  the  annual  product 
at  from  twenty  thousand  to  thirty  thousand  dollars."'" 

Throughout  the  Eraser  and  Thompson  placer  dis- 
tricts tlie  o})erations  upon  the  bars  led  into  the  banks; 
and  these  on  tlie  Eraser  and  its  tributaries  consisted 
of  benches  rising  in  successive  levels  beliind  each 
otlier  to  great  altitudes.  At  first,  all  the  remunera- 
tive gravel-beds  a  little  above  the  level  of  the  river 
were  called  dry-diggings,  a  classification  wliich  im- 
plied that  the  earth  had  either  to  be  carried  to  the 
river  to  be  washed,  or  that  water  had  to  bo  carried  to 
tlie  ground  in  ditciies.  This  class  of  diggings  did  not 
receive  much  attention  until  the  deposits  accessible 
l)y  the  natural  sluice-waj^s  of  the  country  were  nearly 
exhausted ;  yet  the  line  of  demarcation  between  bench, 
bank,  and  river-flat  diggings,  where  sluicing  was  car- 
ried on,  was  scarcely  perceptible,  as  the  river  occa- 
.sionally  rose  above  them  all.  The  term  'dry-diggings' 
oanu!  to  be  applied  a+'ter  a  while  more  particularly  to 
tlie  higher  ground,  as  eijuivalent  to  bench-diggings, 
wliich  were  never  touched  by  the  flood-waters,  and,  in 
slioit,  to  the  terraces  of  the  Eraser.  The  terrace  de- 
jiosits  of  the  norfliern  platt'uu  covered  many  thousand 
s(inare  miles  of  territorv,  following  not  onlv  the  river 
valhys,  but  extending  far  back  over  the  plains,  and 
flanking  the  mountain  )'anges  of  the  interior;  and 
tliey  consisted  of  the  more  or  less  rich  gravel  and 
sand  so  eagerly  sought  for  by  tlie  river,  i)lacer,  and  hy- 

"'I'liis  was  underlaid  li."  a  solid  Mur  coiuciit,  said  to  rosciiililo  deposits  on 
Wiliiains  Creek.  From  ten  feet  down  tiie  eenient  eontailie<l  jilnity  of  ijuai'tz, 
wa-lii'd  gravel  i)()wlders,  sidpliurets  of  iron,  and  lilaek  sand,  witli  every  indi- 
latiiin  of  fjooil  jilaeev  ground.  Fifteen  miles  lielow  tliia,  seven  Freruhnnii 
Wire  engaged  at  sliiieiiig  ill  the  Biunmur  of  ISOO.  '  IJ.  D.,'  in  Victoria  Waklij 
i'i<l,:i,i.it,,  Sejit.  18,  ISliO. 

■"Oifrl'iiiil  Moiillih/,  March  1S70,  202;  Yiilr  Examiner;  Vir/nria  Wcrkly 
i-Uniid,  April  2-1,  180'j. 


m 


i  M 


If'-  \ 

■ft;  i  ;    i 


¥ 


:  11 


•^-    k 


n 


■  i   i 


P  I' : 


■m. 


462 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


draulic  miners.  It  waa  not  long  before  the  intelligent 
miner  became  aware  that  the  river  diggings  must 
soon  yield  to  these  extensive  terrace  and  lake-sliore 
deposits,  for  the  bar  formations  were  different  from 
tliose  of  California  streams;  they  were  recent,  made 
wince  the  formation  of  the  bars,  while  the  bed-rock 
contained  nothing  of  value.  Bright  prophecies  were 
indulged  in  touching  the  yield  of  the  higher  bcnclies; 
but  the  change  was,  on  the  wliolc,  not  to  the  taste  of 
the  diggers,  and  terrace  operations  form  so  small  a 
portion  of  mining  on  the  middle  and  lower  Frastr, 
that  in  omitting  the  narration  concerning  them  the 
incompleteness  of  the  record  is  scarcely  observed.  Yet 
there  is  in  reality  no  subject  more  vital  to  the  miniiiif 
history  of  these  districts. 

The  gold  of  the  river  bars  consisted  of  fine  flat 
scales,  conmiinuted  by  long-continued  hammerins,' 
between  bowlders  during  its  transport  from  the  origi- 
nal sources.  All  the  gold  found  below  Yale  Mas  so 
fine  that  even  with  the  use  of  blankets  in  the  roekers 
there  was  a  loss  of  about  half,  and  with  the  use  of 
amalgamated  copper  plates  and  quicksilver  there  was 
still  a  considerable  loss.^'  The  abundance  of  this- 
fine  gold  in  the  river-beds  of  the  great  Colum])ia  and 
Fraser  was  not  unjustly  regarded  l)y  tlic  Californians. 
when  the  discovery  was  first  announced  to  them  in 
1858,  as  evidence  of  untold  wealth  in  these  river 
valleys. 

Ninety  per  cent  of  the  gold  extracted  during  the 
first  year  of  mining  in  the  Fraser  basin  was  fine  gold, 
which  had  been  distributed  by  river,  lake,  and  ice 
agencies,  and  finally  concentrated  at  different  points. 
Moberly'.s  observations  at  the  Fountain  traced  tlie 
deposits  from  the  dry -diggings  into  the  higher  ter- 
races, and  a  number  of  transient  geologists,  tnivellcis, 
engineers,  and  scientific  explorers  have  followed  simi- 
lar investigations,  the  principal  of  them  being  atlacli''-" 
of  the  army  and  navy,  stationed  for  a  time  at  tlie 

*'  Waddington'n  Fraser  Mines,  41. 


;^i^!.:fWl 


■h  I 


If'A. 


■  i . 

~m\ 

! 

i  : 

VARIATIONS  ACCORDING  TO  LOCALITY. 


468 


colony ;^^  but  the  results  were  detached  and  incom- 
plete, and  before  the  beginning  of  the  geological 
survey  no  systematic  attention  was  given  to  the  sub- 
ject. The  mining  operations  simply  proved  the  fal- 
lacy of  the  Caliibrnian  idea  that  the  river  itself  had 
carried  the  gold  from  some  extensive  placer  basin  a 
long  distance  above,  and  the  terrace  or  lake  detritus 
completely  baffled  the  pursuit  of  its  sources. 

While  the  fine  gold  could  be  found  along  the  Frascr 
from  its  sources  to  the  sea,  the  coarse  gold,  indicating 
tiR!  origin  of  the  particular  fine  gold  on  the  middle 
and  western  plateau,  coincided  in  its  distribution  with 
the  slaty  rocks  of  the  Anderson  River  and  Boston 
Bar  series,  recurring  in  spots  of  undefined  area  along 
tlie  principal  streams^^  Beyond  the  region  of  the 
ancient  plateau,  lake,  or  lakes,  described  by  Begbie 
and  Selwyn,  far  up  in  the  slaty  mountains  of  Cariboo, 
coarse  gold  was  finally  found  in  quantity  within  the 
reach  of  practicable  mining  operations — in  the  beds 
of  the  ancient  streams,  meandering  beneath  the 
bowlder  clays  and  the  ice-marked  gravels  of  the 
modern  river-channels.  It  has  been  asserted  that 
the  auriferous  sections  of  California  and  of  the  Fraser 
do  not  bear  any  resemblance  to  each  other;  but  on 
Lilloet  Lake  the  eye  readily  detects  many  of  the 
cluiractoristics  of  the  California  gold-regions.^'^     In  fol- 

'^  Doctors  Forbes,  Brown,  anil  Rattray,  Lieutenant  Mayne  of  the  navy, 
ami  Lieutenant  I'ahner  of  the  army,  made  ofiieial  reiiorts.  Do  fJroot,  lii%- 
liii',  Harnett,  Sproat,  and  in  fact  nearly  all  the  writers  on  British  Columbia, 
timdieil  i)aragraphically  on  the  subject. 

"  l)(iirMiH  on  J///(f.<,  39.  Scale  and  Hour  gold  were  found  along  the  whole 
course  of  tlic  Fraser  without  regard  to  the  formations  over  which  the  river 
liusscil.  Coarse  gold  was  found  besides  at  ttic  localities  of  Nicoutanieen,  (Jreat 
Falls,  Hridgo  River,  etc.,  alreaily  mentioned,  also  at  Sitka  Flat,  near  Lyttoii, 
ami  Iroiii  that  point  down  to  Boston  Bar.  Id.,  l(i.  Begbie  and  Selwyn  in  the:  • 
repnrtii  both  noted  the  occurrence  of  slates  along  this  portion  of  Fraser  River. 

'"■  '< 'iirioso, 'an  intelligent  and  experienced  Californian,  who  witiiesHe<l  and 
iloscrili'^d  in  a  aeries  of  letters  the  mining  in  progress  between  Yale  and  the 
limiitaln  in  IS.IS-'J,  stated,  in  summing  up,  that  the  tine  Hat  scales  found  in 
tln' river  were  'precisely  similar  to  those  found  in  nearly  every  i)art  of  the  earth 
wiislicil  liundrcds  of  feet  above  the  present  bed  of  the  river,'  in  from  one  to 
lifty  I  iilors  to  the  pan.  'This,'  says  the  correspondent,  '  sustains  the  theory 
tliat  the  bars  are  the  results  of  heavy  landslides,  the  lighter  soil  of  which  ia 
t'ili'ii  abnoHt  entirely  away  by  the  current.'  The  forniations  at  Nicaragua 
Bar  proved  this  to  be  a  fact.     The  bars  previously  worked  paid  a  second  time 


I" 


.  ■    ! 


464 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


u 


il 


lowing  tlio  Lilloct  River  to  Harrison  Lake,  the  Cali- 
fornian  is  at  home.  Quartz,  so  scarce  on  tlie  Fraser, 
Jicre  abounds;  and  the  hills  are  of  that  reddish  gravtl 
■witli  a  blue  clay  from  which  so  nmch  gold  has  I)ii'ii 
extracted  in  California.  Bridge  lliver,  which  yieldid 
so  many  nujxjjfets,  traversed  the  same  formation. 

Dry-diggings  first  received  particular  attention 
between  Hope  and  Yale  about  the  middle  of  Octohtr 
1858,  when  it  was  observed  that  they  extended  ixlow^ 
both  sides  of  the  Frasertothe  foot  of  tlie  mountaiii.s.'" 
Among  those  that  were  successfully  Avorked  in  IHJH 
and  1859,  named  in  ascendini^  order,  were  Emory  Vnn 
and  Hunter  ]3ar  diggings,  seven  miles  below  Yale; 
]^ond  dry-diggings,  five  to  seven  miles  below  Yale;  tlic 
Prince  Albert  diggings,  four  miles  below  Yale;  tlic 
benches  at  Hill  liar;  the  George  dry-diggings,  tlu'co 
miles  above  Yale;  the  benches  at  Nicaragua  J^ai-  in 
the  great  canon,  a  little  below  Boston  Bar;  !^^c(^(lt- 
fey  dry-diggings,  seven  miles  below  Foster  Bar;  the 
benches  at  Cameron  Bar;  Hovey  bench-diggings  on 
the  left  hand  of  the  Fraser,  eight  miles  below  tliu 
confluence  of  Brid<;e  River;  and  those  at  the  Fountain 
already  described.  Bond,  the  (jieorge,  Hovey,  and 
the  Fountaindry-diggings  were  worked  in  the  autumn 
of  1858;  the  rest  in  1859.  At  Lytton,  and  at  many 
other  places  not  mentioned,  bench-diggings  were  tiittl 
in  lati'r  years  at  times  with  rockers,  but  as  a  I'ule  \\w 
benches  were  fountl  to  1)0  unprofitable  without  the  u-f 
of  \v  iter  delivered  in  ditches,  a  want  which  could  not 
always  be  supplied  in  a  country  where  the  rainfall 
itself  was  rather  liy'lit. 


for  working.  The  ojiorations  of  the  TniiU'ra  wiTC  almost  entirely  suporliii 
lieing  eonlineil  to  the  Imrs  ami  immediate!  eilj^is  of  thel)anks.  I'if/orin  'I'n 
•Itinu  nt,  lh.")i).  A  eorrin|ion(leut  of  the  Ijoiiiloii  7V/;H'.'f  in  lS(i.'{  aUo  (hsii 
fully,  anddwi'lt  largely  upon,  tlie  tine  gel  I  eontairied  intlio  terraees  extni 
ahiiig  the  whole  course  of  tiie  Eraser  from  Hope  to  Alexaiulria.  Lii 
Ilrown  (lesciihed  tlie  gold  of  the  Eraser  'as  remarkably  line,' iiieap  il' 
being  saved  witiiout  ipiielisilver,  and  as  eo'iiing  from  tiio  terraces.  //; 
K'Mdi/.  'iS.  It  was  associated  wiili  lihick  sand  not  unlike  thatof  tlie  Aii^l:' 
diggings.  Mfl>niinl<t's  li.  ('.,  !tl  2.  Spjciiiieris  of  tlio  Mack  sand  el 
Eraser  were  deserihed  by  l>r  .Fames  Rlake.  I'njceed!nij.i  I'dl.  Aiy-ul,  Sdtno 
'^  WaddiH'jto.is  fnuitr  JLna,  43-7. 


il.  in 

-.'It'. 

ihoa 

.liii^ 
niliii 

(■  lit 

ili.in 
the 


J 


I'll 


),  the  Cali- 
lio  Fraser, 
lisli  gravul 
.1  lias  l)C't'ii 
k'li  yit'klcd 
-tioii. 

attention 

of  Octoher 

ifled  al()iii,f 

lountaiiis.'" 

cd  ill  IS.l^ 

Emoiy  ])ar 

.'low  Yale; 

/  Yale;  tlic 

\ale;  tliu 

ings,  til  ret' 

^ua  J^ar  in 

r;  ;Nre(-l(if- 

r  Bar;  the 

ig'i^ings  on 

below  the 

3  Fountain 

ovey,  ami 

le  autuiiiii 

I  at  many 

were  tried 

a  rule  tlir 

ut  the  U-f 

eould  net 

10  rainl'all 


y siipcrlicial,  m 
'ir/oriii  (iir.ifli, 
also  (Icsiiilu'il 
K'OS  fXlrllililll! 

iilria.  IjiiMiliu 
;,'  iiicaii  iMi'  111 
races.  Hi'iiril'-: 
tliu  Australian 
i    SUIlil     I'l     tllf 

III.  Si'i(  /"•'<• 


C0A118P:  AND  FIXE  GOLD 


465 


Coarse  gold  was  much  more  frequently  met  with  in 
the  terraces  than  in  the  river-beds;  and  tlie  yield  by 
sluicing  ranged  from  four  to  twenty  dollais  a  day  to 
the  man.  At  Prince  Albert  diggings  the  extensive 
til  race  or  table-land,  which  rose  sixty  feet  above  the 
highest  water  level  of  the  Fraser,  was  ])ronounced 
hiulily  auriferous,  and  extensive  enough  to  give  cm- 
jiloyincnt  to  four  thousand  miners,  allowing  each 
twenty-five  feet  fr(<ntage  and  fivt  hundred  feet  dei)th. 
Shafts  were  sunk  in  October  1  H58,  and  as  there  was  no 
water  on  the  ground,  several  companies  organized  to 
liriiig  in  ditches.  MeCjIotiey  iliggings  were'  among  the 
richest  in  coarse  gold,  the  pieces  weighing  from  fifty 
cents  to  twi  Ive  dollars."" 

]\rr  Justice  Begbie  was  one  of  the  first  to  comprc- 
lieiid  the  nature  of  the  terrace  deti'itus  as  observed 
duniig  his  journey  to  Lilloetin  April  1851).  To  him 
tlie  terrace,  recalled  the  (jirampian  formation  in  Scot- 
land, and  lie  traced  in  them  the  shores  of  a  former  lake 
covering  most  of  the  country  brought  into  notoriety 
hy  the  Fraser  mines,  and  extending  from  J-)Oston  J^ar 
to  some  miles  al)ovethe  Fountain,  a  distance  of  eighty 
or  ninety  miles.      The  fine  gold  ])henomena  of  the  river 


'-/).   ('.   Pifjiciv,  ii.  27.     l}oiiil-ilig(^iiigs,   discovcrid  liy '1".  Himcl,   faily  in 

l'^"'>,  :iiiil  Idcatfil  oil  tlio  liiuluT  jiortioii  of  liiiiiti.'i'   W.ir,  yi.liU'd  I'oarst!  goM, 

smiH'  |iiccc'S  wi'ighiiiff  six  iloUars.     ]':c/iiil't  (•''i~.f//i',  iliiiio  "_'."),    IS.'iS.      At  Hill 

111  I'.iiioiv  liar,  till;  Iiar-iliuuiiigs  were  aliaiuloiiril  alter  IS.'i.S,  ami  in  Mari'ii 
1.   A..  ..    ';   i..: i.  .Ki  .1 t 1..:  .:..  .  *i...   1 1 *..l  1  . 


arm  i.iiiory  nar,  tliu  liar-aiuuiiigs  were  anaiiiioiirii  ailcr  i^.i.^,  aim  iii  ,\jari'ii 
l^'iil  ihc  iriincrs  l)('gaii  to  eoiistniut  ditclii's  tor  sliiicinL;  tliu  liciu'lu^s  or  talilc- 
laihl-i.  J)  iiiijIiLt'  J),y]i,i/i/i,  .March  ]0,  KS.V.),  in  Jl.  (i  I'rpn-.'i,  ii.  (i7.  Tlio 
Ofiiii;!.'  (Iry-(li|;j.'iii^'«  yicl  luil  oight  dollars  a  day  witli  tiic  rorUrr,  and  twenty 
ilcll.us  at  sluicing.  Jhiiiijlt:/  I'rii-iilc  /'njicrx,  MS.,  1st  sur.,  10.")  (1.  On  tlio 
lii;;li  terrace  at  Xieara^iia  liar,  ]."!)  leet  aliove  the  river,  some  niiners  Mere  in 
.\|imI  e;."i".(  eiigaL'ed  in  l>ri;iging  in  a  ditch.  Viclnrht,  (/■i-.illi',  .May  7,  !■'•''!•. 
Tlie  I'olil  was  a  dirty  yellow,  r.illu^r  coarse,  not  watei^-worn,  yiel.Iiiiu  .•:  10.)  a 
;liiy  to  llu!  sluice.  Jonah  Yale,  May  L'lth,  eiu-.  Virtoria  divMti',  .May  :U,  |.s.")',l. 
llii'  liir  itself  was  at  the  saints  time  jiayiiig  handsomely.  At  Cameron  B.r 
tile  sluicing,  Jiarlly  liy  costly  tluiiies,  w  as  conducted  at;i  consideralilu  allitude, 
and  >ii  hied  four  dollars  a  ilay  to  the  hand.  Virlnrin  drjitc,  ,\\uw.  II,  l.S.'-'.'. 
M(lM,ili.y  dry-diggings  ■were  tifty  feet  aliove  tlie  river,  and  contuincil  liimiis 
(it  ui.lil  from  ."iO  cents  to'  I'J.oO  mi  value.  Jlovey  digi'inus  were  I'J.")  led  aliovu 
till!  river,  and  yielded,  in  the  (all  of  IS.VS,  |48  oune<s  of  sliot  goM,  in  Ihrid 
weik<  ti'M",  to  tea  men  using  four  sluices.  Donjii.-t,  in  Ii.  ('.  /'(ijiir-.;  ii.  '.M. 
llic  rni|i,.p.,lijr,_,i|,ir3  at  the  Fountain  wero  licli  to  an  altitude  of  )Si)i)  oi'  IKK) 
•'•It.  Theso  develoinneiits  cstalilished  pretty  coiielusi\ely  that  the'  sources  of 
the  line  rivcL-  gold  were  in  tho  terraces;  but  it  existed  there  in  a  less  eonceii. 
li.l.'d  form. 

llisr.  ]:i[iT.  Coi,.    ao 


I>  I 

ii'f 


ii    i  . 


i  1; 


4GG 


FRASEll  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


fill 


above  and  below  the  outlet  of  the  ancient  lake,  lie 
compared  to  the  results  of  the  working  of  a  rocker; 
remarking  that  all  the  gold  found  between  Hope  and 
Yale  was  transported  'Hour  gold,'  not  a  'scale'  havin^f 
ever  been  found  below  Yale;  while  at  Lytton  eighty- 
five  per  cent  of  the  gold  found  was  scale  gold,  and 
but  fifteen  per  cent  flour  gold.^'*  The  material  of 
the  terraces  was  shown  by  others  to  be  neither  nioro 
nor  less  than  the  ordinary  detritus  of  the  surroundinu; 
country — loam,  gravel,  sand,  and  more  or  less  water- 
worn  bowlders.  Milton  and  Cheadle,  who  were  in  the 
country  in  1803,  ct)nceived  that  there  were  three  suc- 
cessive tiers  of  terraces,  representing,  as  in  some  otlior 
terraced  countries,  three  successive  epochs  of  elevation. 
They  described  them  as  universally  imprc_,.iated  with 
fine  gold,  and  remarked  upon  their  co-extension  with 
the  buncli-grass  country  of  the  plateau.^ 


\  ^      ' 


The  odium  of  the  'Fraser  humbug'  has  been  out- 
lived.  It  is  not  necessary  to  do  more  than  refer  to 
that  title,  proclaimed  as  it  was  hi  1858  and  1851),  like 
a  political  shibboleth  without  fairness  and  for  a  single 
object — to  turn  the  tide  of  emigration.     But  the  dis- 


5-i;;:i 


ik  M 


'kJ:^ 


^ B.  C.  Paper",  iii.  17-20.  Begbie  expressed  his  lielief  that  the  hcmliLs 
might  pay  uiKlcr  a  sulliciciitly  hirge  system  of  iiiiiiiiig.  The  terrace  ili  ]iii>it>, 
from  KH)  to  1,000  feet  in  thicknens,  contained  in  liis  opinion  not  a  siiadriiil  ol 
<lirt  that  was  not  aiirifcrous.  Wlienever  bench-diggings  have  been  wm kiil, 
said  the  correspondent  of  the  Lonckm  Times,  Victoria,  .Ian.  20,  18G2,  '  tlnv  liiivi,' 
paid  well,  but  they  have  been  neglected  for  the  placer-diggings.'  ^\'ltll  a.i 
abundance  of  water,  and  of  timber  for  Humes,  an  inviting  tield  here  oinne  1 
itself  for  English  capital.   HazUlt'ii  Cariboo,  l.'i8-4;{. 

''*  A'or(/iire/<t  Pa.smu/e  hij  Land,  .SS'J.  Dr  Robert  Brown's  scientilif  rvaiui- 
nation  and  description  was  the  first  eom])rehensive  treatment  of  the  siilijiit. 
and  he  assumed  that  tlie  terraces  were  formed  by  the  successive  cuttin;,'  a\v;iy 
of  the  barriers  of  interior  lakes.  Loml.  Oeoij.  Soi:,  Jour.,  xxxix.  12.>G.  Tliu 
prairie  character  of  so  much  of  the  terraced  interior  he  showed  to  be  duo  tn 
comparative  dryness,  caused  either  by  scanty  rainfall  or  by  the  jjorosity  oi 
tlie  soil,  modified  by  ])rairie  lires  and  other  local  causes.  Id.,  127  !'.  I  liis 
was  al.-io  the  l)elicf  of  Newberry,  promulgated  in  his  Oruiiuof  Prairicn,  Tr'ni^. 
A  in.  iSfien/jie  Ansoridtioii,  Buffalo,  18GG;  and  of  Foster,  in  his  Mi-ixi-iMjijii  I'"'- 
ley.  Hector's  study  of  the  terraces  of  the  ','olund)ia,  in  connection  wiili  tin; 
I'alliser  expedition  in  ISGO,  extended  through  two  or  three  years  of  ex]itiira- 
tion,  an<l  were  very  valuable.  Miniwj  in  the  Upfier  Coliimhiit  Hirer  il'ixiii. 
Selwyn  niadc  a  comprehensive  refici.i!  of  the  wiiolc  subject,  an<l  added  a  lhoI 
deal  from  his  own  oliservations  made  in  a  journey  from  Victoria  to  ^  ■  llew- 
head  Pass  in  1S71.   Canada  O'eol.  I'^iimi/  Uejiort,  1871-2,  5-i-G, 


lit  h 


■^*^aM 


[T. 

t  lake,  lie 
a  rocker; 
Hope  and 
le'  luiviiiif 
on  eiglity- 
gokl,  and 
laterial  of 
thcr  iHorc 
irrouiiding 
less  wator- 
vere  in  tlic 
three  sue- 
some  other 
i"  elevation, 
.lated  with 
nsion  with 


been  out- 
n  refer  to 

1851),  like 
or  a  sin^'le 
it  the  dis- 


it  the  bc'iiclic's 
rraci;  clt■pll^its, 
)t  a  spaik'liil  111 
been  viirknl. 
>C2,  '  tlii\v  li.ivc 
gs.'  Witli  a.i 
d  liun;  ii[iriu'  1 

ieutitii'  i\:iiiii- 
of  tlie  siilijci't, 
3  cuttiiif,'  a\v;iy 
c.  ]•_'■")- 0.  Tho 
I  to  be  (biu  to 
he  ijoi'o.sitv  (il 
,  127--!t.  this 
;v ((';•/('■<,  '/'rmi-i. 
li.i.ii.'i.-iijijii  I'd- 
Ctioll  Mllll  till! 
ll'.S  of   l.'X|ili'l"l- 

t  Jiiivr  I'.'iMii. 
la.M.'aaio,.! 
ria  to  V'  ll'iw- 


RUSHES  AND  REACTIONS. 


467 


appointments  experienced  by  the  thousands  who  went 
to  Frasor  River,  and  failing  to  be  successful  returned 
in  misfortune,  are  worthy  of  a  candid  record  m  the 
history  of  the  times,  while  a  picture  of  the  wave  of 
depiossion  into  which  the  colony  was  plunged  belongs 
totJie  history  of  the  country  itself.  British  Coluui- 
hia  was  called  the  Land  of  Hopes  Unfulfilled.®"^  Thirty 
thinisand  Californians  rushed  north  to  Victoria,  and 
as  liastily  returned.  A  large  part  of  this  migrating 
po[)ulation  being  moved  by  incentives  of  trade  and 
speculation,  incidental  to  the  mining  discoveries,  came 
no  nearer  to  the  mines  than  this  port;  but  those  who 
a]ipi(»ched  them  did  so  at  the  very  worst  time,  when 
tlie  river  bars,  then  the  only  diggings  looked  for,  were 
covered  by  water.  They  found  themselves  further- 
1111  ire  ill  a  wild  country,  affording  none  of  the  com- 
forts and  conveniences  of  a  minor's  life  in  California, 
the  greater  part  of  it  being  beyond  the  reach  of  suj)- 
plies  and  almost  untrodden. 

To  the  natural  difficultifs  were  added  the  illiberal 
restrictions  of  trade  enforced  by  the  governor  and 
otiieers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  (V)m]»any,'"'  who  allowed 
no  trading  with  the  Mainland  and  interior  to  be  car- 
lied  on  by  the  merchants  of  Victoria  and  Whatcom 
till  after  midsununer.  The  oidy  exception  to  their 
own  monopcdy  of  the  trade  of  the  mines  was  the  pcr- 
luissioii  granted  by  (governor  Douglas  to  several 
parties  to  sell  fresh  meat  and  vegetables.  The  con- 
se(pieiiee  was,  that  even  the  dt^parture  of  the  miners 
fi'eiii  Victoria  into  the  interior  after  the  first  rusli 
hud  tlie  effect  of  making  Victoria  dull. 

The  foundering  of  the  steamer  Brother  Jonathan 
otf  Crescent  City,  July  S,  1858,  with  the  loss  of  many 
of  lier  passengers,  was  a  shock  which  gave  the  final 
impress  to  the  idea  that  the  rush  had  continued  too 


'"  Wri'/lit,  in  OinrUiwl  Mnnlhbj,  December  18t)9. 

''Si  lino  attributed  tiio  hard  times  to  tlie  fact  tiiat  ttie  gold-dust  was  kept 
'lit  (if  eirculatioii  by  tlie  coinpany's  receiving;  it  for  goods,  wliicii  were  only 
|iiiiil  for  by  bills  of  exehan},'e  on  Loudon.  ('oniirnllW  Aew  El  Donido,  300; 
Wiidiliiijion'n  Fniwr  Mine/),  '2'2-4;  Broivii'n  Essay,  \i,  4. 


M 

'•'. 

fci'iii 


M 


m 


>i 


Hil 


tii' 


(Hit 

[lil 
II 


^ilfllll 


408 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


long.  The  iunnigration  suddenly  stopped;  and  nmiv: 
in  a  few  months  tlie  advi'iiturers  wwc  nearly  all  hat  k 
aixain  in  '(rod's  rountiy,'  as  thev  called  the  suiinii  r 
regions  of  the  south,"'  full  of  hitter  denuneiations 
of  the  route,  the  country,  the  resources,  yet  knowiiiif 
no  more,  after  their  return,  of  tlie  extent  and  wealth 
of  the  mines  than  they  knew  l)efore  leaving  in  (jiust 
of  them.  It  was  argued  that  tlic  deposits  on  tliu 
lower  Fraser  must  he  small,  and  if  the  head-watt  is 
contained  greater  wealth,  the  remoteness,  Indian  dilH- 
culties,  want  of  supplies,  and  the  sliort  duratit)ii  nt' 
the  mining  season,  would  forever  make  them  inl'tiiir 
to  (California  as  a  mining  resort. 

After  the  river  fell  there  was  a  reaction,  for  a  lai^^v 
nmnhcr  had  with  commendable  })atience  remainitl  tt) 
await  this  event,  and  now  that  tliegt>ld  hfgan  to  lli'W, 
the  departures  wei'e  not  oidy  cheeked,  hut  a  I'resli  iii- 
Hux  took  placi>.  The  yield  did  not  come  uj)  to  tlit  ir 
expectations,  howevt-r,  and  in  Novemhtr  llSoc^  tlit; 
Avinter  exodus:  set  in,  a  hundred  pi'rst)ns  leaving  \  ii- 
toria  every  week. "^  (lood,  deputy  minister  of  iiiims, 
who  had  access  to  every  source  of  information,  jilatitl 
the  total  yield  for  1858  at  $500,000,  and  lor  li-f);)  at 
,$  1,000,000,  while  the  known  exports  M'ere  $;]!)0,-J(;:), 
the  respective  years.  To  this  t)ne  third  may  he  atlilftl. 
to  include  what  had  heen  carried  away  l)y  privatt^; 
hands.      The  number  of  miners  actually  employt  il  in 


"■  Victoria  Cazi'tli;  So]it.  9,  1S.")8;  Oivrlond  Moiithbi,  Muy  U-i.iO,  4lt;. 
(Iri'iU  wufo  ivttii'iiiiig  to  \'icUiiia  with  but  litUu  K"1''>  '""^  wiJi'u  l^'avi 
finiiitry,  to  the  dismay  of  tho  sUiiv-ki.'0[i(.T.s.      Business  wa.s  (K'iuh       h  • 
tiii'.i  Frascr  Minct,  IW.     Jii  July  ami  August  th.s  Sail  Fianci.sco  ih'W> 
WLTi!  lill.'il  with  the  lolly  ol'  the  northern  exoilus.      'Tiio  luauia, '.said  t 
/(//«of.lidy  rjtli,  'exot^udc'd  all  hounds  of  leaHOU  and  pnidcuce.'     J 
Jiiid  desliair  had  now  oveitakeu  thuni.     Hundreds  who  ha  1  \v.it  good  e 
iiient  were  iiuahlo  to  return.     Wlien  Nugent  arrived  at  Victoria  a.s  ei 
agent  of  the  United  States,  ho  fouiitl  'nudtitndes  in  a  state  of  aetual ; 
tion, '  and  was  ol)lige(l  to  send  nundjers  of  persons  to  California  at  the 
exjieuse.     Tdrltctis    Virfori  t,    MS.,   (i;   MrJ)i,initil\t  li.    ('.,    ]'_'l.     Tliii 
the  nioatlis  of  August  and  Scpteinher  the   ]'ic/(iri<i  (lnzi'Hc.  contained  Ir 
admissions  of  the  depressed  condition  of  affairs.    J'/rA;  Aug.  11),  Sept. 
IS.kS. 

"■■"A'.  C.  Papcru,  ii.  .SO;  Lewin'  Coal  Discorrric.'i,  MS.,  1:M,-).  It  was 
just,  perhaps,  to  compare  tho  fields  of  British  Colund)ia  willi  California 
her  deposits  had  been  fairly  opened. 


JUin- 
ii:;  \  a; 

:././;„,■ 

•  |ia|iirs 

he  /;.'/■ 

Inn    r 

n]il.  )■■ 

;i-i,l,r 

st.i'va- 

|ii.!  1.0 

ii':lii4,t 

v.|:.>'it 


li:ir/.lv 
I,,'. ore 


!''  '  I 


im 


and  iiioiv: 
[y  all  l);i(k 
lie  HUiuiirr 
uiiiciatidus 
t  knowiiii,' 

i"^  in  (j;u'>t 
ith  on  till) 
cad-watcis 
ndian  dilii- 
luratioii  (if 
cm  int'fii:>r 

for  a  ]ai';^v 
L'luaint'tl  to 
)-an  to  llt'W, 
a  tVcsli  iii- 
up  to  till  ir 
•  IcSa.s  tin' 
'avin;4  \  n- 
r  ot"  niiiRs, 
Ion,  ])lac('(l 
or  1 !-;;")'.)  at 

1     .,'11 
V  i)(-'  a(.t!('t., 

by   pviva'a: 

pnployi'd  ill 

S.;'.),  -llfi.  Hum- 
x:i\-  Ifuvin,;  I  .'■ 
u,|.  l>'.'.Vw 
se'o  iu\v>|uiHi'S 
M,"  saiil  111''  I'  i!- 
dice.'  ]lnii  r 
It  gdocl  i'in|i!.  V- 
iria  as  iM'ii-i.l.r 
if  actual  stiu'va- 
ia  at  t'.io  i'i.M:o 
1.  T'.ir"ii':li""' 
taincl  li'  !•■  'It 
il»,  Sciit.  •-',  •-'!. 

It  was  li:ll'.'.l.V 
JaKloniia  I'  ■"i'^ 


GOLD  YIKLI). 


469 


ISaS  was  assunii'd  to  he  3,000;  in  1859,  4,000;  and  in 
IMCiO,  4,400.  The  hii^hest  estimates  were  those  j^iveii 
liv  ]\[('])onal(l,  who  had  the  benefit  of  the  books  of 
MtDoiiald  and  ('oinj)any,  and  who  claimed  to  have 
l)as((l  his  calculations  on  the  returns  of  the  bankers, 
the  express  c(mipanies,  and  the  surveyor-general. 
Ih-  jilaced  the  yiehls  of  1H5S  and  IHal)  at  $2,120,000 
ai!(l  Si, .'375, 000,  and  the  total  ])o[)ulation  in  1H58  at 
17.1100;  in  1851),  at  8,000;  in  1800,  at  7,000;  and  in 
l^iil,  at  5,000 — one  sixth  beiniL:^  British  subjects.  TIk; 
Uniti'd  States  consular  agent  Xuu^ent,  on  the  other 
liaiid,  thought  that  the  entire  yield  IVom  ^May  to 
()ct<.ht>r  1858  did  not  exceed  $*5()0,000;  wliiUrthe 
iiuiiihcr  of  miners  employed  during  the  first  tliree 
liiiiiitlis  could  not  have  been  less  than  2,000,  and  diir- 
iiiL;' tli(!  renuiinder  of  the  season  10,000.  Leaving  th(3 
tirst  tlu'ce  months  out  of  the  question,  he  figured  the 
avciage  earning  of  each  miner  at  $50  for  tlie  season, 
a^aiii.-;t  $;150  expenses.  Waddington  estimated  the 
yit'M  till  October  at  .$705,000,  and  the  investment  of 
liihiirand  ca])ital  in  steamers,  wharves,  buildings,  real 
rst:ite,  and  various  improvenuHits  at  Victoria  and 
l]s(niinudt,    with    native    and    imported    capital,    at 

.si,:)(io,ooo.''' 

''■'Aliicil  A\'ail(liii'.'ton  made  an  attempt  to  show  tliat  the  yicM  of  the 
Kni-i-r  iiiiiici  (hiri!i^'  the  first  six  montlis  was  as  gooil  as  tliat  of  California  ami 
.\u^li'alia.  l>iiriii>^  tlie  same  period,  at  tiie  coiiinjenceineut  of  their  inhiiiig 
liiiniv,  Caliiornia  had  made  a  showing'  of  .'r-ilt,(t.i(),  Australia,  .ST'J.'i, ()()(), 
;uid  IV;i.iiT  Jviver,  .STa.'i.Oai);  allowing  for  only  J^tilMKK)  as  a  circulation  in  the 
F;:i-rr  iiiiiies  in  Octnlier  l.Sr)S,  thougli  lie  thinks  tliis  must  liave  been  nearer 
.V..'i.i.il.)i),  at  iir.'iO  apiece,  aniouif  ."i.oaa  miners.  I'enihertoii,  another  autiior- 
itv,  .-t.ites  that  the  total  product  fnr  that  year  amounted  to  .S|,41U,'J1 1,  ami 
i'T  tUr  filhiwing  year  to  .>•_', ()(MI,()l»i),  or  a  total  fur  the  lirst  two  ycai-s  of  at 
li  1st  .-li,(MHl,(l(ll).  The  nuinhcr  of  minei's  actually  at  work  at  any  tinn;  during 
this  |i  I'lud  could  not  iiave  exccedrd  ;-i,00() — the  niimlMr  of  miners'  liccnse.i 
issiii  d  indicating  onlj-  .yJ.dO:)  -  which  makes  the  avera;.'e  annual  earuiu^'s  of 
cull  iiiuicr  <){)[}.  I'riiili(  rlniiK  B.  ('.,  'M'>  41;  I'/-',  ^^•r..,  April  III,  .lune  '.).  l.S."i!l. 
'Ihe  nuinliirof  woi'kiiii,' miners  in  Calit'orniain  1S(1()  was  estimated  at 'jaa.IKH), 
oreiir  third  of  a  population  of  (ii)(),(.(l,);  the  yicM  hciug  .'r.")(»,()0(),00il,  or  ."•.'."lO 
t"  cat  h  iiiiiicr.  Uou.las  re[iorti(l  lO.OOl)  forciLiii  luiuers  on  the  I'rascr  in 
Aii'.'ust  hs.-iS,  and  ii[iwarils  of  :i,0(K)  as  actually  engaj;eil  in  mining.  /.'.  ('. 
I'"r  •■  i.  -7,  41.  Jtoiielas  wrote  in  Fcliruary  IS.'iS,  that  'riiompson  1;!v!t 
III'!  lli.ii  jiroduced  an  aicertaiued  export  of  ")!);)  ouiuvs,  .-uid  prohalily  TiilO 
I'll!.',  s  inure  wjiich  r'Uiaiae  1  in  private!  hands,  ('uniir  tl<'-:'  A'.  AY  Dnraln,  .",::,S. 
I  ill'  ainoiint  of  e-old-clust  hoii'dit  liy  tli<;  Hudson's  liay  <  'ompiiiy  at  LiM  ■Ic;', 
iqi  to  May  "J,"),    l.'CS,  was   (J4hij   ounces.   Dowjlns  I'l-inUa  J'niicr.i,  MA.,  i.  ',11; 


liii 


f   V 


n 


470 


FRASER  RIVER  MINING  AND  SETTLEMENT. 


Wliatevor  figures  are  correct,  it  is  certain  that  iIki 
gold  shipments  were  small  in  comparison  with  tliosu 
of  California,  and  herein  was  found  a  strong  aj'^u- 
mont  against  the  value  of  the  mines.  The  proc(ss  df 
depopulation  and  the  stagnaticm  in  trade  contimicd 
throughout  1H51)  and  18(50.  Of  the  thousands  wlm 
liad  suddenly  made  Victoria  a  city,  ordy  about  fiftct  n 
liundred  remained.  Affairs  then  reached  the  lowest 
cl)h.  There  was  but  little  business,  and  Iciss  in  juds- 
pect.  *'  Let  us  look  disaster  in  the  face,"  counsvllcd 
the  mentor  of  the  local  daily,  as  he  reduced  his  issues 
and  omitted  the  title  of  daily.'"  The  dei)ression  con- 
tinued for  some  time  after;  hopeful  intimations  caini! 
at  the  close  of  18G0  from  the  fork  of  the  Qucsiul, 
followed  by  a  gradually  increasing  flow  of  dust,  wliidi 
established  beyond  a  doubt  the  existence  of  licli 
placers  in  the  country.'^ 

The  historv  of  mininii:  on  the  middle  and  wistriii 
plateaux  was  henceforth  chiefly  statistical  in  cliai- 
acter.''^     Enougii  had  been  found  and  accompiislud 

U.  S.  Ex.  Doc.  Hi,  X->th  Cow/.,  Jd  Sct.^.;  MrDonald'.s  B.  C,  82;  Mln.  Miwi 
l^'V'-,  ^>^1'\  1-  Tlu!  0</,7- arrived  at  Victoria,  May  8,  LS'iS,  with  ii■^.\:^^m  iii 
gold-iliist,  ami  $20,000  was  the  estimated  rcot  ij)t8  at  Whatcom  dining  tint 
week.  Ovi'rlnml  from  Minnesotii,  40-2;  Victoria  Gazette,  Aug.  20,  1858;  Hakm 
Anfii.%  Sept.  4,  i858. 

'"  Victoria  Gazette.  On  May  28,  1859,  the  editor  observed  that  thf  ]iay  nt 
three  to  five  doHars  a  day  otTcred  l)y  average  claims  was  too  even  ami  inw  to 
attract  the  gambling  spirit  of  Californians.  The  government  was  srviiLly 
rated  for  its  unwise  regulations  concerning  land,  roads,  and  mines,  wlmli  it 
was  allegeil  had  repelled  Aznericans. 

"'Tiiis  was  owing  partly  to  tiie  remoteness  of  the  mines,  and  partly  t.i  tlic 
want  of  hopefulness  ami  energy  among  a  not  over-prosperous  community.  On 
the  failure  of  tlie  Big  Bend  excitement  the  editors  were  only  too  niiily  to 
moralize.  '  Wc  are  experiencing  a  season  of  depression  and  misfortiinr  mily 
o(jualled  by  the  disastrous  years  of  18r)l)-(i0.  yuartz-iiii.'.ing  was  ivioiii- 
nieiKh'cl  as  a  nniiedy.    Victoria  Wcelti/  (\iloiii.it,  Sept.  11,  18Gli. 

"'^  Wells,  Fargo,  and  Company  ship[)ed  from  Victoria  in  1858,  $;!li7,7i>5;  in 
1850,  .?823,4S8;  and  in  1800,  6I,2!)8,4(JG.  Allen  Francis,  in  U.  S.  Vwiin,< nU 
Slali.itir.%  18()3,  li)4.  All  of  that  slapped  in  1858  and  1859  was  Frascr  iiivcr 
gohl,  l)ut  a  largo  part  of  the  shipments  in  181)0  came  from  (^uesnel  Km-ks  in 
the  confines  of  Cariboo.  A.  V.  Anderson  augments  these  figures  ti>(in>r 
the  total  export,  thus:  for  1859,  §1,211,339;  18(i0,  $1,30.3,.329.  Ami' r.-r.ii< 
B-s.'iii!/,  appendix,  iv.  Cliarles  flood,  deputy  nunister  of  mines,  gives  lis  the 
amounts  actually  known  to  have  been  exported  by  the  exjiress  com|iniiy  ;in'l 
banks  in  1858  at  $390,2r)5;  in  1859,  at  §1,21 1,304;  and  in  1800,  at  $l,ii7l,41». 
To  these  figures  ho  adds  a  third  to  include  tlie  estimated  amount  carric  I  n«j'y 
by  jirivate  hands,  making  the  total  amounts,  for  It'iHS,  .^."2;),353;  tdr  1'^'''. 
ii, 015,072;  and  for  1800,  ^2,228,543.     The  largest  yieli  was  i;i  1804,  .S'!,7:!J,- 


m 


EFFECT  OF  GOLD  DISCOVERY. 


471 


Ig    WHS    ILCUIII- 


tluring  tlio  Frasor  mining  developnicnts  to  ov()lv(>  a 
rfovcrnmont;  to  o[)en  a  road  into  the  interior;  to  lead 
tilt'  way  into  several  rich  and  lastin*^  miiiin!.^  regions; 
and  to  suggest  at  once  overland  connnunication,  and 
(•(iiit'i'deration  with  Canada.  Until  in  the  progress  ol' 
clcM'lopnient  the  new  conditions  foreshadowed  should 
he  Hiiallv  brouyht  about  by  the  commencement  of  a 
lailwiiy  through  the  Fraser  j)ass  to  the  Cascadr 
.Mountains,  the  dawning  of  a  new  era  in  mining  and 
iuunigration  had  to  abide  its  time. 

8:)0,  after  which  it  ileclincil  to  8 1,30.'), 74!)  in  1873;  it  rose  atraiu  to  $2,474,- 
Wi  ill  1S7,"),  ami  tlu'ii  fell  off  a  socoiul  tiiiiu.  jMin.  Miiifx  L'ljif.,  1.S75  1S77. 
Till!  imiiiiiar  of  iior.soiis  eiigajicd  in  iiiiniiit;  during  tliis  tost  jHiriod— so  dil- 
tVniilly  L'stiiiiatod  liy  Waddiiigton  and  Nugent— was  iilauud  liy  (iood  at 
•J.(K»0  ill  ISiiS,  ;il(K)  ill  18.")!),  anil  3,!K)0  in  1800;  wliilo  tlio  editor  of  the  I'/V- 
tnri'i  (iirjltc,  March  10,  18,")!t,  estiniated  the  mining  jioiiulation  in  March  18.")!( 
as  liiyh  as  4,IK)0,  ami  tlie  anticipated  mining  iiopulatioii  in  May  following, 
,'),ri(H).  'I'lio  latter  authority  docs  not  distinguish  lictwecn  flic  iioiudation  in 
tlif  iiiincs  and  those  actually  engaged  in  mining,  a  fact  which  may  account 
fur  tlic  discrepancy.  In  ISlJO  the  population  of  Vancouver  Island  was  otH- 
cialiy  estimated  at  ."),000,  and  the  Mainland  at  5,000.  C'arilioo  d'oliZ-jitlilx,  01). 
Tims  it  appears  that  tiie  ti'iuleiiey  of  the  gold  discoveries  on  the  Mainland 
uas  til  settle  the  Island  ratiier  than  the  Mainland  even  from  the  commcnce- 
iiiciit,  the  population  of  the  Island  preponderating  over  that  of  the  Mai;ilan  \ 
aUii  in  latir  years.  Viile  chapters  on  Railway.  In  1801  the  London  Tiim-i' 
corrrsponilunt  estimated  that  3,.")00  miners  were  working  in  the  Fraser  and 
Coliiiiiliia  hasins  exclusive  of  Cariboo,  where  he  allowed  on  general  testimonj- 
l.TiOO  more,  or  ("jjOOO  miners  in  all.  M(ii/iir\i  B.  C,  44'2.  (iood's  estimate  for 
that  year  was  4,200;  from  whicli  data  it  may  he  inferred  that  .several  thou- 
saml  miners  were  still  distriliuted  along  the  Fraser  as  high  as  Fort  (tcorgc, 
and  along  Bridge  River,  Thompson  River,  and  others  of  the  lower  Fraser 
tiilmtaries.  Along  tiic  Fraser  thej'  were  earning  from  .?3  to  !:'l.")  per  day,  and 
Mi]i|ius(il  to  lie  averaging  85  a  day.  Tinic-i'  cor.,  in  Jln-.Utl'a  <_'i, riJioo,  l.'i8-43. 
Ill  In"!  Lilloct  district  yielded  §15,000;  Yale  and  Lytton  districts  togetlier, 
!^l  IO,(Hl(),  scarcely  a  tenth  of  the  total  yield  of  the  province.  Between  §15,000 
ami  ."-'JO.OdO  was  annually  contributed  to  the  wealth  of  the  iirovincc  by  the 
luiliiius  milling  on  the  bars  of  the  Fraser  and  Thompson  at  low  water  in 
winter,  bodies  of  them  being  seen  at  work  cradling  at  favorable  times  during 
the  eiiMest  weather.  Vktnrin  Wii/.li/  C<il(i)ii.tt,  Nov.  27,  1872.  In  1875  the 
.statistics  collected  by  the  deputy  niini.ster  of  mines  sliowed  that  5,)  (,'lunese, 
fii^aued  (111  bar-diggings  in  Lilloet  district,  wa.shed  out  .*.")(), 000,  while  in 
Lyttiiu  district  20  Chinese  and  two  white  men  took  out  only  §1,000.  In  the 
Yile  district  only  four  Chinese  were  employed,  getting  §800.  In  1870  tlie 
I.illoet  district,  including  Bridge  River,  had  00  Chinese  at  work,  but  pro- 
(liiied  (inly  §25,0(K);  while  the  Yale  and  Hope  districts  ha'l  two  white  and 
nine  Cliinese  miners  who  obtained  .^'V  1 14.  The  latter  in  1877  employed  three 
white  nieu  iiud  13  Chinese,  who  obtained  $12,000.  Miii,  Mints  lUiit.,  1875-7. 


*"a' 


lih 


5i! 


P  ; 


nil 


CTTArTiai  xxy. 


g^  1 


pli 


V  ! 


fiOLD   IN    rilK   CAIIIHOO   COUXTUY. 

CAiiiiiiM)  Ili-.dToN- lis    l)i;i'c>sirs — Xkw    MiMSd    Ki;  \  -  ( ioi.nK.N    r>i;i\\i^- 

IvVIM.Y  iMAKl.OI'MKN  IS-  UdADS  AND  MlirSIMN  'I'liAII.S  'I'lIK  (.1:1  M' 
J'iKISI'KirdliS-  'I'lIK  Im'I.I  X— (,>1'KSNKI,  ItlVTIi  M  I N  KS-  I  lllltSKl  I.  V  \Mi 
(^'IKSNKL  li.' KK— Kr.lTIII.KV  AM)  ITS  ToWN  —  IIaCVKV  AS  D  Cl'NSINC  HAM 
CliKKKS — AnII.I.U    CliKKK    K  ICII  KS— (  1 IKIISK   ( 'liKKK. 

On  tlu^  liead-waters  of  Frascr  River  t\n\  iniiiiiii;' 
ojK'iiitioiis  ])rcvi()usly  eonfiiiod  to  tlic  hcils  of  the  main 
liveis  s[)i'('a(l  in  1800,  ISCtl,  and  lS(i2  over  a  lai^i' 
area  of  elevated  countrv  ■svliieli  was  Honiewliat  iii- 
(K'finitely  desisj^nated  as  tlio  Cariboo  K(\!L>ion.^  It  may 
l>o  described  in  yenei'al  terms  ;is  situated  Ijetwciii 
the  liead-waters  of  the  main  Frasei'  and  its  ])rin(ijial 
trihutarv,  the  Thoinjjson,  npon  tlie  imiei'  or  Nvestcia 
ridges  hranel I injj;'  I'romthe  lioeky]\rountains,  in  lalitiidr 
52°  to  a-f'nortli,  five  to  seven thi)usand  feet  ahove  the 
sea."  In  tlic  lieart  of  tlic  New  Caledonia  of  the  t'lii- 
traders,  its  pi'inci}>al  river,  the  (^ut^snel,  and  douhtlrss 
a  portion  of  tlie  (n»untry  itself,  ^vas  more  oi'less  kiinwii 
to  them  as  far  up  as  the  kdces  of  the  Quesnel.     Tlic 

'  Douglas  said  in  rcf^aril  to  tin- ii;i:iio  {;ivcii  ti>  (!u' icjiinii  liy  tlu'  iiiiinrs, 
]irojiiTly  it  sliDiilil  1h'  \vritt(Mi  ('r.-inn  'ij\  or  rfiiidicr,  t!ii^  couiitry  liaviiii;  \«vn 
,'■.()  iiaiiu'd  troiii  its  Ix'iiii;  tliu  f..vf.i-'to  liainit  nf  that  ^})(H•i^s  of  tin'  dcrr  kiinl. 
Dnii./I'is'  l>i.tpi(/,-/i,  Srpt.  ni,  1S()1,  ill  JIirMtl'.-i  r ',•/'««,  l!7.  C(i-f-l«i  iij\>\yv\-- 
ox)  aj)|ifars  to  liavo  lici'ii  tlio  oi-iiiiiial.  'i'liis  was  cuirupti'd  in  its  applicatinn 
to  the  laciit!  spi.'fics  of  rcindcur  iuliahitiiig  liritish  Aiiioriua. 

'•^  Licutniaut  Jl.  S.  I'aliiicr  dt'sciihi'd  this  iiio'aiitaiiious  region  as  I'oiisi-.tini.' 
of  stfc'ii  ihiwus,  chithcd  with  toh'ral)lo  grass,  and  (h)tti'cl  with  siiiail  jmiio 
jiiantatioiis,  I'oiit  pasting  on  acconnt  of  tiii'ir  liarcncss  with  the  vaUev  >;  an  i 
Iiiwer  shiju's  in  a  inannur  so  maikod  as  to  have  ivci'ived  the  title  of  tlir  llil'l 
Hills  of  t'arilioo.  Ao,/</.  (.'(wj.  S'«\,  Jniir.,  Scjit.  18(14,  ISti.  'J'he  same  ii-;"ii 
Mas  <lescrihi'il  liy  1'',.  M.  i  Viwsoii  as  a  'hiyli  level  plateau,' avei'aginu  Ii''MI 
"i. 001)  to  o.riOO  feet  ill  altitude,  and  entirely  eoveriMl,  nioreorless  thicUlv,  Mitli 
drift  or  detrital  matter  eoiioealing  the  greater  par*^  of  the  roeky  suljstraluiii. 
Daiviion  on  Miia,-:,  0. 

( -ITJ  ) 


In  I,,    .  1 JS I 


Ti!f 


111! 


f;OI,T>  M[XI\(!  fiHOraiAI'IlY. 


41^ 


Ifiulson's  Bay  fort  of  AK-xiuidiia  and  tlio  oM  liiiL!;li- 
\\,iy  of  tlio  traders  aloti  .>•  tlie  Fiasci'  wcro  in  full  vit-w 
(if  tlio  Catiliod  AroiintaiiiM,  and  hut  forty  miles  <listant. 
Till  -^e  i'>rts  and  lines  of  connnunicatiou  were  estal)- 
lislied  jiiid  lield  l)y  tlie  ( 'iuiadiaus  in  tlie  j)ea('(.'ful 
idiitine  of  tln'Ir  trailic  I'nv  fit'tv  years  before  tlio  •'•old 
disci iveiies;  yet  tlio  ri\i;ion  had  reeeived  no  s^oncral 
(r:>tinetive  i\an)<\ 

Tlio  apju'arance  upm  tlui  ffuvst  ])latoau  of  thouinu-r 
I'Viiser  in  1(S.V,)  of  ;i  new  and  stran;^ti  order  of  wliitc! 
ii;i  ;i.  whom  t!ie  Jndian.s,  hy  this  time  well  accustcMued 
ti)  the  fiii'-trade,  may  ho  su|t[)ose(l  to  have  distin- 
nuishi^d  as  the  di;^;L;'er.s,  introduees  a  new  area  of  e\- 
[iloration  an<l  oceupatioii.  The  uew-comei's  devised 
i'nr  its  !4'eoL!fra]»hical  titles,  in  their  own  peculiar  way,'* 
under  which  the  I'i'Lvions  and  the;  localities  in  (juestion 
wcic  at  onci'  l)rouL>'ht  prominently  within  tlii'  Held  of 
industry  and  of  history.  Tlu;  Carihoo  region  seemed 
in  the  au^'un  of  ISOO,  Mhen  the  first  intimations  wero 
frceived  of  mininL,'-  ahout  th<>  I'ork  of  the  (^)ue>nel,  to 
he  as  remoti!  and  as  dillicult  of  access  as  the;  arctic 
ivvioiis.  Im[)res,u'(l  with  the  helief  that  the  coarser 
i;  Id  of  the  country  would  he  found  hin'her,  a  hand- 
I'ul  i;f  miners  had  tliis  year  ])enetrated  alon^'  tho  uiain 
and  north  hranches  of  the  (,)uesnel  to  the  (.()uesnel  and 
(  arihoo  lakes.  Jiauiichini;'  their  rafts,  tlu-y  vox'ancd 
alnu'j;  the  windine'  and  extcndetl  shores,  pros[)t'ctin;j^ 
the  trihutarv  streams  with  varied  adventure  and  suo 


(•(■ 


lie  pal 


if  th 


I'ticuli 


tr  scenes,  characters,  and  incK 


deiiti 


eir  ])rogi'ess  must  \)c  left  to  the  ima^'ination  of 
the  ve.ider.  The  ]ioncil  of  the  artist  will  in  a  futui'e 
(lay  picture  tlu;  wild  heauties  of  these  lakes  and  valleys. 
I'lMiii  (^iril)oo  ]jake  was  visihle,  a  short  distance  to  tho 
Westward,  a  o'roup  of  hald  mountains,  suhsi^queiitlv 
known   as    the    Snowshoe,  and    ^fount  Au'iies    ])ald 


-il 


M 


II 


\  '   A 


'  Tu  tlio   early  goM-tiiiniiii,'  ,ccof:raiiliy  of  British  Cnluinljia,   sixty   iiiiles 
ic  tliL'  'l'linui)is(>ii  Kivi'r  I'omitry  licgaii  tlu'  '('aiim;  ('duiitry;'  to  tiif  iKirtii 


aliiivc  the 
111  wliicii 
Ciiniitry 
bmil:  ('/'  M 


as  tlu'  '  Halliiori  Cimiitry:  '  and  Ixiyonil  tliat  again  was  the  'Caiil 
-tcriiis  of  an  iiidetinit  ■  charactur,  yut  ycuurally  usud.  lliUvU's  llnrvi- 


iiiiiij, 


S.  F.,  ISul,  100. 


I 


11  ■ 


r 


I 


^V\\ 


r^'  4f 


474 


GOLD  IN  THE  CiVRIBOO  COUNTRY. 


Mountains.  Behind  these  the  prospectors  were  now- 
penetrating.  This  was  the  core  of  the  auriferous 
slate  country,  whence  radiated  the  four  great  rivers 
of  the  Cariboo  region,  the  Bear,  V/illow,  and  Cotton- 
wood rivers,  and  the  north  branch  of  the  Qucsnol, 
hitherto  unexplored  and  unnamed,  but  destined  to 
become  famous  through  their  respective  tributaries, 


The  Cariboo  Country. 

Kcithloy,  Antler,  William,  and  Lowhee  creeks — iiisiLf- 
niticant  streams  issuing  from  the  same  Bald  Mountain 
group.  A  year  later  they  were  the  sites  of  the  i)iln- 
cipal  mining-camps  of  the  Cariboo  region,  known 
throughout  the  world;  and  the  Snowshoe  and  Mount 
Agnes  Bald  Mountain  chain,  like  the  Sierra  Nevaila 
of  California,  the  main  range  of  the  country,  was 


■"^ 


were  now 
auriferous 
rcat  rivers 
id  Cotton- 
3  Quesue], 
estined  to 
ributarics, 


IvS — msvj;- 
Mountaiii 
the  piiii- 
n,  kiu»\vii 
id  jMount 
a  Nevada 
iitry,  was 


DOUGLAS'  REPORT. 


475 


rendered  familiar  to  the  sight  of  men  in  places  where 
solitude  and  the  wild  animal  had  reigned  from  a  pri- 
meval day.^ 

In  August  1859,  Governor  Douglas  was  able  to 
report  to  the  colonial  secretary  that  "the  newly  ex- 
plored tract  of  mining  country  about  Fort  Alexandria 
and  Quesnel's  River"  possessed  "more  of  the  general 
ieatures  of  a  gold  country  than  any  yet  known  part  of 
llritish  Columbia."  '^  This  conclusion  was  simply  a 
reflection  of  the  opinions  expressed  by  miners,  who 
had  reached  the  Quesnel  Fork  diggings,  touching 
the  character  of  the  Cariboo  Mountain  region  in 
its  relation  to  the  gold  in  the  rivers;  abundance 
of  coarse  gold  having  been  found  in  the  diggings, 
where  it  was  evident  it  had  remained  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  gold-bearing  rock.  Here  were  mountains  of 
gold-bearing  slate,  looking  familiar  to  tlie  Califor- 
iiians;  yet  the  diggings  were  not  in  all  respects  like 
those  of  the  gold  regions  of  Calirornia.  It  was  ap- 
pai'ont  above  all  that  this  auriferous  slate  formation 
was  more  extensively  develo[)ed  than  in  tlie  Cascade 
^lountaiu  border  of  the  plateau.  There  was  no  imme- 
diate geological  connection  between  the  fine  gold  of 
the  Fraser  mined  in  1858  and  the  coarse  gold  discov- 
ered in  the  mountains  of  Cariboo;^  yet  there  was  an 
actual  and  an  historical  connection  as  well  as  continu- 
ity. It  was  partly  the  theory  concerning  the  origin 
of  the  former  that  led  to  the  discovery  of  the  latter. 
.Mining  camps  and  mining  districts  on  the  Fraser  and 
its  tributaries,  just  as  in  California  and  elsewhere, 
wrre  inevitably  abandoned  at  a  certain  stage,  under 
the  supposition  that  they  were  exliausted,  and  Frascir 

'  I.ikc  ttu'  Wasatcli  Mountaiii.s  of  Utah  ami  tlie  Bitter  Hoot  ]Mi)Uutaiiis 
111  Iilalio,  tlie  laiige  was  the  wi^steru  lueniher  of  the  system  of  the  I\oeky 
Miiinitahi.s.  lii  IhlHsh  CdUmihiau  latitmle.s  tlii.s  inoiiiilaiii  raii;;e  iieii'oniied 
the  riiitewortliy  ,.  inn  of  giving  origin  to  the  great  heiuls  <il  the  Cdhinihia 
ami  Fraser  river.s,  vvhieii,  flowing  to  the  northwaril  hehinil  it,  hint  aroiiiul  to 
till'  siiiithwanl  after  lireaking  tiirougli  tlie  gold-hearing  range,  and  then 
si  ruck  over  the  [ilateau,  in  courses  (juite  similar,  to  the  sea. 

•'  Ihspttrh,  dated  Aug.  'J3,  IS")!),  in  li.  V.  I'liiwis,  iii.  SO. 

'' '  Fine:  gold  will  not  travel  far  without  the  aid  of  some  earthy  suhstaiiee. ' 
Jl'trmtt'd  Ltcturvs. 


111 


ill 


i|t 


vw 


Mi 

li  ■ 


ii: 


476 


GOLD  IN  THE  (AllIDOO  COUXTK\. 


River  afforded  a  direct  and  speedy  route  for  prospec- 
tors and  their  rear-yuard  in  search  ot"  new  and  riclur 
deposits  on  the  [)hiteau  and  within  the  [)arallels  of  the 
Rockv  Mountains,  so  that  the  movement  across  tiic 
})Uitcau  from  its  western  to  its  eastern  tlan^'e  w;;s 
accomplished  at  a  compai^atively  early  day.  In  tlic 
course  of  a  few  years  there  was  diNclosed  to  the  world 
a  counter[)art  of  California,  ('(pially  rich,  and  extiMid- 
iniLj  at  least  from  the  Horseily  hrancli  of  the  Quesncl 
and  the  Clearwater  trihutary  of  the  Thomp.-;on  at  the 
south,  to  the  Canon  C'reck  trihutarv  of  the  l^rascr  in 
the  north-west,  (»ver  two  decrees  of  latitude,  in  tln' 
din  ction  of  the  range.  Rut  a  new  lesson  was  to  ln' 
learned  hv  the  o'old-miners.  1  litherto  the  surlace  li.sil 
heen  skinnned  with  the  aid  of  rocker  and  sluice,  aiid  a 
few  insig'niticant  hydraulic  enterprises  had  been  uiuh  r- 
taken  on  the  benches;  but  in  Cariboo,  the  mysttiy 
and  art  of  deep  placer-mining  in  its  true  tcclmical 
sen.se  were  to  be  practically  stutlied  iuid  unravelk'd  iy 
means  of  shafts  and  drifts,  pnm])s,  and  hoisting  ma- 
chinery. On  the  Fraser,  as  in  the  Colundiia  J»ivtr 
basin,  the  richly  concentrated  u'old  leads  of  the  ancient 
rivers  lay  in  buried  chaimels  below  the  level  of  ll. ' 
modern  streams,  and  dril'ting  undc^rneath  tlie  clay 
strata  in  search  of  these  dojiosits  became  in  Carilx") 
the  main  feature  of  mining.  Exceptionally  raix  d 
strata  on  the  stri'ams  had  in  sevei'al  cases  revealed 
the  richi'r  leads  below;  l)ut  this  indication  was  imt 
always  found,  nor  was  the  lead  continuous.  IVculiar 
dilHculties  were  encountered  in  following  the  windings 
of  the  buried  cluunu'ls,  confused  and  obliterated  as 
tluy  were  by  the  later  glacial  action,  which  had,  also, 
frv([uently  modifieil  or  alt(,'re(l  the  courses  of  the 
modern  sti'eam.s.  From  Yale  to  Lilloet,  from  Alex- 
andria to  the  Quesiiel  River,  tlu;  miners  only  hit  one 
kind  of  deposit  to  enter  upon  another.  "J'hus  tlu' 
'Fraser  River  humbug'  was,  n(>V(>rtheless.  acontinU'  <1 
mining  operation;  it  was  n,  repeiitioii  of  the  history 
of  gold-mininj^  in   California;  and  the    transition  en 


lie 


EFFECT  ON  VICTORIA. 


477 


prosptc- 
1(1  riclici' 
.'Is  of  the 
?rf)ss  tiic 
iiU'o  w;!s 
'in  tlic 
lie  world 
1  extciid- 

QlR'SlH'l 

>ii  at  till' 
iMiiscr  ill 
(',  in  tlic 
as  to  1 H ' 
ifac\'  li.id 
CO,  ai;d  a 

\in  Ululrl'- 

inystciT 
tc'clMiical 
rolled  l»y 
tiiii;'  iiia- 
ia  Jiivrr 
o  ancient 


of  i:. 


11 


i(>    ( 


.1. 


Carihiiii 
y  raised 
I'oveali'd 

was  Hot, 
IVeuliar 
windings 
'ratod  as 
lad,  alsd, 

!  of  llie 
mi  AleX- 
■  lel't  one 
rilUS    the 

ontiiiU'  d 
'  liistoiy 
■;itloii  <'ii 


tlio  Frascr,  in  view  of  the  roniotcncss  and  inaccessi- 
liiiity  of  the  diggings,  w;is  as  speedy  as  it  was  suc- 
cessful. 

The  significance  of  the  discoveries  in  the  Carihoo 
cmmtiT  did  not  become  apparent  at  Victoria  until 
very  near  the  close  of  the  year  ]  SGO.  After  the  sea- 
si'ii  of  do[)rossion  and  depopulation  wliich  had  boon 
r\[)(nienco(l  almost  from  the  connni>ncenu-nt  of  mining' 
iiu  llie  Frasor,  everything  liad  the  api)earance  of 
|i;einature  death  and  dissolution  in  the  colony.  13ut 
i;i  "^.'ovember  18(50,  with  the  return  of  tlio  successful 
■  .'■  ;'s  from  the  fork  of  the  Quosiu  1,  caiao  bags  of 
;:e.  ,ets  which  revived  llu;  f.dnting  hopes  of  the  trading 
n.iimunitv  bv  the  sea.  Those  were  the  as  lurancos 
tliat  the  country  was  safe.  Hesitation  in  regard  to 
ereeilng  permanent  buildings  at  Victoria  gave  place  to 
ceiiliilonce,'  and  the  town  gained  its  footing  for  a  snb- 
(•tanti.-d  growth.  Had  the  government  boon  able  to 
retain  the  twenty  thousand  Americans  and  other  for- 
eigners, whom  they  feared,  to  this  tinm,  what  strides 
(f  (!ev(^lopmont  might  have  boi^n  made  on  tlio  road  to 
the  Itocky  ]\rountaiiis  in  the  north!  What  an  aspect 
might  have  boon  given  to  commercial  developments 
en  the  Xovtli  Pacific  had  the  first  railway  to  the 
Jiodcv  Mnuntiins  boon  comi)letotl  in  Jh'itish  territoi'v! 

['rase  ]»i\'^r  and  (/ariboo  became  as  famous  and 
as  \vl(!  Iv  ^'lovvn  throughout  the  world  as  Sacramento 
Ivivor  an<!  j kill irat,  and  minors  from  California  and 
Ai!si.raii<.  w  '0  <  i)![)hatic  in  tlioir  declarations  touch- 
ing the  compar.;tivi>  merits  of  (/aril xx).**  AVith  a  po]>- 
ulation  of  fiitcen  hundred  poopl(>,  the  district  siiip[ied 

''  M;-j!,-'s  V.  r.  (111,1  n.  c,  7;i 

'" ''i'liure  wurc  lii^  iniiu.'«  ill  I'iirilHin.  Tlio  (,'niiiiliii.'li:im  cliiiiii  yiclilcil  si  : 
iiiinccs  a  (l:iy  to  tlLO  Iwiiul.'  Lcii'!.-!'  (Oil  J)ii.,  MS.,  l;j.  'A  ciiiripiii-isdii  vi 
llic  ri'tiii'iis,  aayi-;  Licuti'.iaiit  r.ilmcr,  'with  tlin.-f  ot'  thu  most  iintoricmi 
ili,trict.-t  (if  < '.•lUidriiiii  and  Australia,  (iiicouragi.'s  tiio  ijciicf  that  ihu  aiiriU'iniis 
Mclif.s  M  O'ai'ilxio  ai'u  tlio  j.'ruati-st  liitlicrlu  (li.sciiviroil.'  J.nii'/.  (iciii.  Sue, 
Jniir..  "'■,  JTl.  Tiio  riciiost  |ioi-ti<iiis  ni  Cilildinia  in  its  iimi.  t  jialiiiy  day;;, 
said  M  ,  (•  Diiwiiio  <if  Onwiiii'villo,  (  alihiruia,  wi'i'o  as  iiiithiii;^  i.'iii'i]iaii  d 
"itlivh,;>  I.  1;  id  wci'ii  siiuo  In;  li'lt  Victoria  forC'arilioo.  I'n/nriii  lhi'd;i  Prm", 
Oil.  l,"i,  \:-: ,_.  (jiiot'.id  in  //■I'lifr.sCir'liiio,  i:U.  '\cvor  in  the  iiistory  iif  ;jold- 
iniiiiiiu  liavij  tlioro  boon  such  I'abulous  auiiia  auuissud  iii  mo  iuurodihly  short  a 
s[iaL'u  ot  timu. ' 


■i.ii 


h  ^ihi 


I "    ■:  ifiii 


(,1 


478 


GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRY. 


to  Victoria  before  the  end  of  the  season  of  1861  two 
niilhons  of  dollars.  Though  the  opportunity  wliicli 
had  promised  to  place  the  Fuca  ports  on  an  equal 
footing  with  tlie  harhor  of  San  Francisco  was  lost,  tlic 
developments  now  made  showed  what  might  follow  at 
a  later  day,  when  the  Canadian  Pacific  railway  should 
place  within  the  great  Fraser  basin  a  large  j)o])ula- 
tion;  and  the  reports  of  its  great  mineral  resources 
were  not  only  apparently  but  really  and  undoubtcdh' 
justified. 

The  first  e./cct  of  these  discoveries  was  to  produce 
another  movement  of  population  from  California  and 
Oregon  into  the  basin  of  the  Fraser.  The  abundant 
yield  of  gold  this  time  created  a  'stampede'  for  tlic 
new  mines,  which  held  out  with  every  element  of 
genuineness,  based  as  it  was  upon  known  develo]>- 
ments  rather  than  on  a  fanciful  or  imperfect  and 
illogical  deduction  from  mining  experiences  in  Cali- 
fornia; and  although  comparatively  insignificant  in 
nundiers  beside  that  of  1858,  the  influx  carried  a  pur- 
pose which  left  its  mark  upon  the  country.  From 
1801  to  1805,  inclusive,  the  immigration  continued;^ 
and  the  losses  to  the  country  in  consequence  of  tlic 
abandonment  of  the  lower  Fraser  after  a  temporary 
occupation  were  recovered  in  all  but  population. 

During  the  first  sunmier  following  the  Fraser  ex- 
citement, while  mining  upon  the  river  bars  was  still 
at  its  height,  small  detachments  of  prospectors  from 
the  Canoe  Country  and  the  Balloon  Countrv,  above 
Fort  Alexandria,  found  their  way  a  distance  of  ninety 
miles  up  Quesnel  lliver,  and  worked  successfully  upon 
its  bars.^" 

Numerous  letters  were  received  at  Yale  exliaustiiiL,' 
every  power  of  persuasion  to  induce  miners  to  join 
their  confreres  on  the  Quesnel,  especially  at  Quesnel 

"'A  far  greater  stampede  that  tliat  of  the  Fraser  excitement.'  J>"nit' 
Srf.tlfiiicid  V.  I.,  MS.,  li,      '  Tlio  best  years  of  Cariboo  were  in  18ii;{,  18(11,  and 


'"  Dowjliis  Despatch 


a  gradual  i 
,  Aug.  23, 


185'J,  ill  B.  C.  Papers,  iii.  50. 


■■  it 


til 


THE  RUSH  OF  18G1. 


470 


18G1  two 

ity  wliidi 

an  e({ual 

8  lost,  tllC 

b  follow  at 
■av  sli(»ul(l 
^e  pojtula- 
rcsourccs 
doubtcdlv 


;o  product' 
t'oruia  and 

abundant 
e'  for  the 
leniont  of 
I  devolo]!- 
jrfect  and 
s  in  ("ali- 
uficant  ill 
•icd  a  pui- 
y.  From 
onthuicd,^ 
iico  of  the 
temporary 
tion. 

B^'aser  cx- 
s  was  still 

tors  frmii 
trv,  above 

of  nnu'tv 

I' 

fully  ujion 

xliaustint,' 
rs  to  jiiiii 
t  Quosnrl 

muut.'    /'■"//-' 

sii:t,  1S04.  .uiii 
11. 


Fork,  and  at  some  localities  on  the  southern  tributary 
called  Horsefly  River.  During  the  same  season  of 
1859  the  north  fork  of  the  Quesnel  was  ascended  to 
the  little  and  great  Cariboo  lakes ;  but  no  striking  de- 
velopments appear  to  have  been  made  in  that  quarter 
until  the  following  summer  and  fall.  While  a  number 
of  miners,  led  by  Rose  and  McDonald,  proceeded 
to  the  head-waters  of  the  Bear  River,  and  there  de- 
veloped rich  ground,  others  continued  up  the  north 
fork  of  the  Quesnel  to  Cunningham  Creek,  to  make 
almost  equally  great  discoveries;  but  the  excitement 
for  the  season  was  not  fully  started  till  the  finding  in 
January  1861  of  the  extraordinarily  rich  prospects 
on  Antler  Creek,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  mouth 
of  Keithley  Creek,  constituting  the  principal  attrac- 
tion in  the  rush  of  1861.  The  news  spread  fast;  all 
who  could  go  to  Cariboo,  or  to  the  Cariboo  lakes  and 
their  wonderful  tributaries,  went  at  short  notice,  until 
about  one  thousand  five  hundred  miners  from  the 
coast,  from  Oregon,  and  from  California  had  crossed  the 
divide  separating  the  waters  of  the  Quesnel  from  Bear 
River,  and  speedily  overflowed  into  the  adjoining 
river  valleys  of  the  Willow  and  Cottonwood,  around 
the  flanks  of  Bald  Mountain." 

"il/ar/fe',9  V.  T.  and  B.  C,  74;  Mallandaine's  B.  O.  Director^/,  18G3,  201. 
It  was  the  reflux  to  the  seaboard  of  the  successful  miners  on  Keithley  and 
Ilarvcy  creeks  in  the  fall  of  18G0,  and  the  exhibition  of  their  gold  at  Vic- 
toria says  Allan,  that  started  tlie  Cariboo  excitement.  Allan's  Cariboo,  MS., 
.'!-').  During  this  first  rush  to  Cariboo  there  was  enough  tra\'cl  for  a  time  to 
crowd  to  RulTocation  the  steamer  Enterprise,  the  only  boat  at  that  time  ply- 
ing; between  Victoria  and  the  Mainland,  From  \ale  the  men  carried  their 
fouil  and  blankets  on  their  back.  Courtcrey's  Miii.,  B.  C,  MS.,  X  On  Antler 
•.'rook  there  were  a  few  score  of  men  in  tlie  autumn  of  18G0.  Notwithstanding 
'-liu  secrecy  the  discoverers  endeavored  to  maintain,  the  discoveries  were  so 
tempting  that  when  the  news  reached  the  Quesnel  a  rush  took  place  to  Antler 
in  the  middle  of  the  winter  of  18C0-1.  Up  to  its  falls,  five  miles  below  the  litt.':; 
Cariboo  Lake,  the  north  branch  had  been  found  to  contain  more  or  less  gold. 
Then  there  was  a  blank  in  ascending  the  valley  of  that  stream,  where  scarcely 
anytliiiig  was  found.  But  the  discoverers  of  the  diggings  at  Antler  Cieek, 
not  contented  with  these  results,  on  their  way  thither  had  crossed  the  lower 
Cariboo  Lake  to  the  mouth  of  Keithley  Creek,  and  ascended  that  stream 
into  the  midst  of  the  Bald  and  Snowshoe  mountains.  From  this  point  tiiey 
were  able  to  sec  to  the  northward  in  the  direction  of  the  descent  of  Antler, 
or  r.car  River  Valley.  The  route  from  the  fork  of  the  Quesnel,  taken  by  the 
iHiily  of  pioneers  who  in  the  autumn  of  18G0  followed  the  discoverers  to  Antler 
crcL'k,  was  up  the  left  bank  of  the  north  branch  to  Mitchell's  bridge.    Mitclicll 


1     I 


n|i 


p.  o 


"   t   i" 


Iw  M. 


4S0 


GOLD  IX  THE  CAIUBOO  COi:NTUV. 


One  important  icsult  to  the  country  ^vas  tlu;  iin- 
potus  tifivcii  by  these  discoveries  to  road-l)uil(iiiiM', 
arisiiii,^  tVoin  tlie  necessity  oF  cairyin<4'  su[)])lles  into  tl.r 
mines.  Botli  governments  and  individuals  assisted  at 
tliis,  and  l»ef'oro  the  close  of  l.S(!l,  officii'nt  pack-tiails 
gave  free  access  to  all  important  mining  localities.'' 
Incited  by  tlie  discoveries  on  Keithley,  Harvey,  Ant- 
ler, and  (^unningliam  creeks  in  the  s[»ring  oi'  18(11,  ;i 
nmnher  of  n)iners  wandereil  farther  in  various  diivc- 
tioiis  to  ])rospi'i-t.  Fi''st  (Jrouse  Creek,  I'orming  witli 
Antler  ("reek  tlu^  head-waters  of  IJear  Kiver,  was  dis- 
covered to  he  eijually  entitK'd  to  attention,  and  i'lnm 
the  head  of  this  creek  thi;  valley  of  William  (Viik. 
on  the  head-waters  of  Willow  IJiver,  was  not  oiih' 
visible  to  th'^  enterprising  exjiloi'ers,  Init  within  easy 
reach.  The  same  ridge,  cidminating  in  Mount  Agues, 
disclosed  to  them  on  looking  westward  the  valh  vs 
of  Lightning  and  l^owhee  creeks,  tributaries  of  Swift 
and  Cottonwood  rivers.  Notliing  was  wanting  but 
the  disa])i)earance  of  the  snows  to  enable  the  pros- 
pectors to  descend  these  several  valk-ys,  and  to  cnni- 
plete  the  series  of  discoveries  whii-h  in  tlie  course  of 
that  notable  season  made  most  of  them  famous.^''  Tlic 
actual  mining  develojxncnts  of  IH()I  began  with  the 
arrival  of  additional  foi'ces  from  every  mining  district 
in  tlie  country,  forming  at  the  end  of  Alay  a  j)op;ilnti(tn 
of  fi'om  one  thousand  to  one  thousand  four  hunihvd 

iiiaiU',  l)l();iks  ami  ■wiiulIaHs,  ami  built  tho  juits  (,f  tli>'  liriiljio  without  as.-ist- 
aiice,  a  Wdi'k  iviit't'tiiig  Ljivat  t'rcilit  iipiin  hlju  I'nr  liotli  skill  ami  pui'.si'Vi  runt'i!. 
TliL'iK'c  tiic^  trail  tdUdWcd  the  light  hank  to  liltki  or  lower  C'arilioo  l.aki', 
distant  fnmi  tihiesuel  l''ork  twenty  miles.  ( 'rousing  lower  Carihoo  Lake,  it  h'll 
to  tlic  imuilh  of  Keitlili'y  Creek,  aseeiiiled  tiiat  stream  lor  live  or  six  ii;iK'->, 
aiiilstruek  nortli-east  tiirough  the  IJaM,  Snowshoe,  ami  Swiit  Uiver  mouiitauis. 
^'im/,  in  /{.  ('.  /'iipi'i-s,  MS.,  iv.  51. 

'- //iiz/i/.'s  Ciirilioo.  II.");  Aiiid'.^  Iii}it.,  ]Mareli  18(il,  in  B.  ('.  I'ltpi  i.<.  iv. 
t^\  'Z.  See  al.-io  Trii/f/i'.f  Mdji.  Freigiit  from  Vale  to  (^luesnel  Fork  in  K'-til 
was  .'•'■I  |ier  |iounil.  Thence  to  Antler,  heloie  tile  eomjiletioli  of  tlio  paek-tiail, 
tiio  Indian-i  earried  ]irovisions  in  tiie  early  (lart  ot  the  season  of  KS(d  lll^^^l 
cuts  to  .tI  jier  jioniid.  V>y  .hily  the  trails  were  oji.'iied,  and  ]iaek-tranis 
reaciied  Antl  r,  rediu'iiig  tlie  jiriee  of  jirov  ision  i  to  ,").")  and  tl.")  ciiits  a  jmuiiil, 
<t:iic  of  Iicef  from  .')(•  cent-i  to  I'O  cents  a  jioiiml.    /)'.  < '.  Dinrtor//,  JStill,  'JOI. 

'■'On  tli(!  eomjiletion  of  tiie  ( 'irihoo  wagon-road  from  the  mouth  ei  llio 
Qnesiiel  to  Lightning  <  'reek  in  iS(i,"),  there  was  .i  reversal  of  the  order  in  wliiili 
llie  sevcr.d  .stroama  Leuauiu  known  to  the  world. 


^'I 


CARIIJOO  IX  CALIFOllNIA, 


481 


l-l)uil(rni':', 
'S  into  till' 
,i.s.sisti.'(l  at 
!);ick-tiails 
ocalitii's.'-' 
•vc;y,  Aiit- 
)f'  LSdl,  11 
ous  dircc- 
luiiiL;'  with 
V,  \vas  (iis- 
,  iiiid  tVi'iii 
im  Cnrk, 
;  not  only 
■it hill  easy 
lilt  A;4iirs, 
lie  valltys 
s  of  Swift 
iitiii!4'    l)ut 

tlic    jH'OS- 

\d  to  ciiiii- 

eoui'sc  of 

I  with  tlie 

ii!4'  district 

)()p;ilatioii 

I"  huiidird 


witiimit  assist- 
[lersi'Vi  I'liR'i'. 
(_';iril)iii)  li.ikf, 
loii  Luke,  ii  t'll 
I'  (ir  six  iuilu<, 
vormcnnil,iiii<. 

(  '.  /'((;w  r.<,  iv. 
1  Fdi'li  ill  IMII 
tlio  pack-liaii. 
(It  KSIil  I.M-Ni 
111  i>:K-k-tiams 
oi'iitf  a  )iiiuM(l, 

)8(i:i,  "JO I. 

iiimitli  III  till- 
onlvr  ill  wliirli 


millers,  a  lar<^e  portion  of  whom  wore  occupied  with 
transportation  trade  in  its  various  branches,  and  in 
road-iuakin*;'.  Further  accessions  later  in  the  season 
funiislied  a  total  prospecting,  explorin<j;,  and  actual 
iniuiiiijj  population  of  about  fifteen  hundred."  The 
couiitrv  now  for  the  first  time  became  known  as  Cari- 
1)00.  This  was  simply  the  extension  to  the  entire 
rei^non  explored,  of  the  name  of  the  Cariboo  Lakes, 
situated  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Quesnel,  from  which 
the  (•x[)lorations  may  be  said  to  have  started. 

Tiie  Fraser  excitement  was  never  a  more  universal 
tojtic  of  conversation  in  California  than  was  Cariboo 
at  \  ictoria  in  the  autumn  of  18G1;  it  seemed  hardly 
cie(Hl)le  even  to  those  who  had  been  accustomed  to 
sec  rich  digi;- inn's  and  lucky  strikes.  The  news  spread 
fai'tlicr,  and  tliousands  of  peoj)le  from  California, 
Canada,  England,  and  every  other  (juarter  of  the 
glohc  asceniled  the  valley  of  the  Fraser  earl}'  in  the 
season  of  18G2.  Owing  to  the  unex})ected  distance, 
and  tlic!  difficulty  of  reaching  Cariboo  before  the  com- 
pletion of  the  wagon-road,  many  turned  back  without 
iiiteiiiig  the  mines,  while  others  consumed  on  the  way 
tiic  provisions  intended  for  the  relief  of  those  who  had 
wintered  in  the  mines;  consequently  there  was  almost 
a  I'amiiie  at  Cariboo.'' 

lv\[)lorati()n  in  18G2  was,  nevertheless,  vigorously 
prosecuted  by  an  actual  mining  popvdatioii  estimated 
at  ti\  ('  thousand  in  Cariboo  district.  Although  extend- 
iiiLi"  n\er  an  area  of  fifty  miles  square,  the  ojierations 
Were  chiefly  in  contigucus  ground,  and  resulted  in  the 

"  l.iinilini  Tiiiirx'  cor.,  quotuil  in  (^nrilioo  (iolil-jitd/.i,  4!1  52.  At  the  I'lid  of 
the  sia.sim  of  I8()l,  tho  Times'  oorrcslimuieiit  inoditit'il  soiiiewiiat  hi.s  previous 
liguns  III  1,400  at  tho  eiiil  of  May,  and  gave  tho  total  miinlier'  of  actual  inintM 
ill  till'  ( 'arilxio  district,  inulinling  (^tuesnel  Fork  and  lifty  iiiilcs  below,  (hiring 
tlio  whiilc  season,  at  1,500.  I.niidim  TimcK,  Feb.  (J,  1802,  in  Mii;/iie'x  B.  ('., 
•442.  He  furni.shod  no  cstiiiiato  of  tho  proportion  engaged  in  trade  and  trana- 
liiirliitiiiii,  hut  left  it  to  Ijc  inferred  that  those  were  to  lie  added.  I'rohahly 
till.'  1  litest  iiumhor  of  miners  actnally  at  work  pmspoctiiig  and  mining  at  any 
"111' tiiiii;  during  the  season  of  18(il  never  exceeded  1,0(M);  while  tho  general 
w'lM'k  iif  exploration  under  consideration  engaged  the  whole  1,500.  In  Juno 
ISlil,  llimglas  estimated  tho  total  population  at  1,500.    B.  C.  Piqicrn,  iv.  50. 

'Minors  and  prospectors  together  were  ohliged  to  travel  out  after  pro- 
visiiiiiM.  paying  one  dollar  to  ono  dollar  and  a  half  per  pouud. 
Hist.  Ukit.  Col.    31 


k    ':''. 

1 

1 

''  ', : 

1 

'■:     1 


n ' 


489. 


GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRY. 


production  of  a  total  yield  from  Cariboo  thus  far  of 
about  $3,000,000." 

Of  the  heroic  deeds  of  the  early  prospectors  there 
is  evidence  on  every  hand,  but  such  exploits  were  of 
e very-day  occurrence  in  the  pioneer  army  tliat  was 
advancing"  upon  the  strongholds  of  the  country  under 
the  pressure  of  the  gold  mania;  and  it  was  not  the 

"Tlic  American  consul  estimated  the  total  mining  population  of  British 
Columbia  for  18G2at  15,000,  three  fourths  of  the  people  being  from  California, 
Oregon,  anil  Wiishingtoii.  A  lien  Francin,  in  (I.  S.  Commercial  Rel.,  ISO'J,  148. 
Discoveries  continued  to  be  made  as  amatter  of  course  every  year  after  1801, 
but  they  were  of  local  rather  than  of  geographiopl  importance,  and  {K-M'taineil 
chiefly  to  mining  developments,  in  localities  henceforth  having  a  history  of 
their  own.  Tlie  three  principal  mining-camps  in  1862  were  AVdliam,  Light- 
ning, and  Lowhee  creeks,  employing  a  total  number  of  5,000  minors.  Cony- 
teiry'n  Mii\.,  B.  C,  MS.,  10.  From  these  local  discoveries  important  milling 
devoloj)mont8  were  made  in  all  directions.  On  Last  Chance  Creek,  a  tribu- 
tary of  Lightning  Creek,  hill-diggings  were  found  early  in  18(i2  wliii'h 
■were  deemed  highly  important;  Van  Winkle,  Davis,  Anderson,  and  dlher 
gulches  in  the  same  neighborhood  were  successfully  worked,  and  on  Bums, 
Lowhee,  Nelson,  Sugar,  and  Willow  creeks,  similar  developments  were  luado 
the  same  season.  Ji.  C.  Directory,  18G3,  202.  Up  to  18(54  the  list  of  richer 
creeks  developed  by  sinking  shafts  into  the  deep  channels  embraced  Keithloy, 
(roose,  Cunningham,  Lightning,  Jack  of  Clubs,  Orouse,  Clii.sholin,  Sovereign, 
Last  Chance,  Anderson,  Fountain,  Harvey,  Nelson,  Stevens,  Snowshoe,  Cali- 
fornia, Tliistle,  Sugar,  Willow,  McCallum,  Tababoo,  Conklin,  Lowhee,  ami 
William  creeks,  etc.  jfarjin's  V.I.  and  B.  C,  14G.  A  series  of  letters  written 
in  the  autunni  and  winter  of  1801-2,  by  Donald  Fraser,  the  Lonuon  7V/(«'-' 
correspondent,  pictured  the  discoveries  and  excitements  of  the  preceding  year 
in  somewhat  roseate  but  not  overdrawn  coloring.  Fraser  simply  oniitteil  tiio 
dark  side  of  the  picture;  and  he  was  particularly  blamed  by  tiie  English  arrivals 
for  speaking  prematurely  of  the  stage-coaches  on  tlie  proposed  wagon-ruail, 
when  it  appeared,  to  their  grief,  after  travelling  7,000  miles,  that  a  walk  nf 
400  or  500  miles  farther,  carrying  a  load,  would  be  necessary  to  finish  t\w 
journey.  Allan's  Cariltoo,  MS.,  8.  In  all  several  thousand  British  subjects, 
from  England,  Canada,  Australia,  and  New  Zealand,  were  induced  by  these 
letters  to  undertake  the  journey  to  British  Columbia  in  the  spring  of  1  Sii'J. 
Macfie  vouched  for  the  substantial  correctness  of  the  statements  inadc  by 
Donald  Fraser.  V.  I.  and  B.  C,  75.  Some  of  the  British  immigrants  lirouglit 
with  them  placards  of  a  speculative  transportation  company,  circulated  in 
England,  where  tickets  were  sold  for  Cariboo  direct,  picturing  the  stage- 
coaclies  that  were  to  carry  them  from  Yale.  But  the  hoblers  of  such  tickets 
ascertained  a.s  soon  as  they  landed  in  America  that  there  were  no  arrange- 
ments to  make  good  the  promise.  On  the  way  from  Yale  to  Caribod  there 
were  comparatively  few  houses,  so  that  provisions  had  always  to  be  carried 
at  least  from  one  to  three  days.  An  overland  party  from  Canada  by  way  of 
Yellowhead  Pass,  late  in  1802,  abandoned  their  horses  at  tlie  head-watera 
of  tho  Fraser,  and  turning  them  loose,  built  rafts  to  float  down  +hc  river 
to  Fort  (Jeorge.  Four  of  tlie  party,  not  caring  to  venture  on  so  perildiis  a 
journey,  turned  back,  but  not  finding  the  horses,  they  finally  unilertoidi  to 
reach  Fort  George  on  foot,  two  of  the  Rennie  brothers  perishing  during  a 
snow-storm.  Those  on  the  raft  soon  entered  a  cafion  where  a  number  of  them 
were  drowned.  Allan's  CarUmo,  MS.,  15-18.  In  1862,  P.  H.  Lewis  and  othir 
Oregoniana  went  to  Cariboo  overland  by  way  of  Okauagaa.  Lewut'  Vual  Z'w-, 
MS.,  16. 


I^rci 

the 
aid  ' 


>tw  ■ 


,hus  far  of 


tors  there 
ts  were  of 
that  was 
[itry  under 
IS  not  the 

ition  of  Kritisli 
roni  California, 
ReL,  1802,  148. 
^^ear  after  1801, 
,  anil  t)i;rtiiincil 
ing  a  history  of 
^ViUiain,  Lij;ht- 
)  miners.    <  'oin- 
iportant  mining 
Creek,  a  tiilm- 
iii    1802  which 
rson,  and  othtT 
and  on  liuriis, 
cuts  were  niaile 
lie  list  of  richer 
iraced  Keithlcy, 
lolm,  Sovereign, 
Sunwshoo,  C'lili- 
1,  Lowhee,  anil 
f  letters  written 
Loimon   Tiini'<' 
preceiliiig  year 
)ly  omitted  till! 
English  arrivals 
led  wagon-niail, 
,  that  a  walk  of 
ry  to  finish  the 
Jritish  sulijects, 
duced  hy  tlicse 
spring  of  ISiii. 
nients  made  hy 
igi-ants  lii'ought 
y,  circulated  in 
ring   the  stage- 
of  such  tiekcta 
ere  no  arrange- 
o  Cariboo  tliere 
ys  to  be  carried 
.nada  by  way  of 
;he  head-watera 
down  +lic  river 
n  HO  perilons  a 
ly  nndertiiiik  to 
ishing  duiing  a 
number  of  them 
Lewis  and  other 
U'Wm'  Coal  !>*■■<■, 


THE  HEROIC  IN  GOLD-MINING. 


483 


custom  of  the  time  to  dignify  the  search  for  the  sor- 
did metals  with  any  title  of  heroism.  Yet  had  such 
deeds  been  performed  in  the  name  of  war,  science,  or 
religion,  doubtless  their  stories  would  have  been  told, 
and  the  names  of  the  heroes  preserved  and  honored. 
T!i(!  prospector's  fame  depended  upon  his  success  in 
finding  gold;  and  it  was  restricted  to  the  small  circle 
that  shared  in  the  benefits  of  the  discovery,  to  be  lost 
siglit  of  as  soon  as  the  last  nuggets  parted  company 
with  him.  The  romantic  and  tragic  extremes  seemed 
naturally  united  in  his  career,  but  otherwise  than  as 
jirospectors  and  discoverers,  the  lives  of  Keithley,  Mc- 
])(inald,  Rose,  Dictz,  and  Cunningham  were  blank, 
and  might  have  been  fitted  to  any  imaginary  previous 
or  subsequent  career  belonging  to  the  scene.  Rose, 
an  American,  and  McDonald,  a  Canadian  from  Cape 
Breton  Island,  are  credited  by  Governor  Douglas  as 
the  greatest  of  the  discoverers  in  Cariboo.  McDon- 
ald worked  hard  for  three  years,  and  amassed  con- 
sideiable  wealth,  with  which  he  ^ame  down  to  Victoria 
to  recruit  himself  Rose  left  shortly  after  this  dis- 
covery in  quest  of  new  mines,  and  was  found  in  the 
woods  dead  from  starvation.  William  Dietz,  the  dis- 
coverer of  William  Creek,  the  richest  stream  of  all, 
survived  till  1877,  only  to  die  a  pauper  at  Victoria. 
Keithley,  who  gave  his  name  to  the  first  discovered 
o{  the  rich  creeks  of  Cariboo,  held  a  valuable  claim  at 
Quesnel  Fork  in  1860-1." 

''  Keithley's  claim  at  Qnesnel  Fork  was  on  the  hill-side,  and  was  one 
of  tile  richest  in  that  vicinity.  B.  C.  Papers,  iv.  50.  Keithley  Creek,  the 
first  discovered  of  the  characteristic  rich  creeks  of  Cariboo  proper,  was 
only  twenty  miles  distant.  In  regard  to  the  discoverers  of  Antler  Creek,  an 
entry  in  Douglas  journal  made  at  Lytton,  June  5,  1801,  mentions  that 
'Ko-ic,  an  American,  and  McDonald,  a  Canadian,  are  the  two  great  pros- 
Iitctiirs  who  have  discovered  the  Cariboo  digging.s.'  Doiiylas'  Private  Papers, 
Ms.,  1st  ser.,  140.  In  a  despatch  to  the  duke  of  Newc;istle,  written  on  '  ' i 
return  to  Vancouver  Island,  he  said  that  '  the  Cariboo  gold  district  was  d.s- 
covered  by  a  fine  athletic  young  man  of  the  name  of  McDonald,  a  native  of 
tlio  Island  of  Cape  Breton,  of  mixed  French  and  Scotch  descent,  combining  in 
his  ])ersonal  appearance  and  character  the  courage,  activity,  and  remarkable 
I'ow  ers  of  endurance  of  both  races.  His  health  had  suflfered  from  three  years' 
constant  exposure  and  privation,  which  induced  him  to  repair  with  his  welJ- 
eiinipil  wealth  to  this  colony  for  medical  assistance.  His  verbal  report  to  me 
u  interesting,  and  conveys  the  idea  of  an  almost  exhaustless  gold-field  extend* 


;    iji 

!.'; 

1 
1 

'-'      ;■ 

' 

■ 

i 
i 

1 

1 


II 


484 


GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRY. 


The  hardships  of  exploration  undergone  in  those 
remote  and  rugged  regions  afforded  frequent  examples 
of  the  miracles  that  can  be  wrought  by  the  will  over 
tlie  body.  From  Quesncl  Fork,  the  highest  point  in 
the  basin  of  the  Fraser  River  where  supplies  could  ho 
delivered  by  means  of  pack-animals  in  18G0,  journeys 
of  several  months  were  undertaken  through  tungkd 
forests,  rugged  canons,  and  over  lofty  mountains,  bur- 
dened until  late  in  the  spring  with  snows.  The  pros- 
pector ventured  hundreds  of  miles,  in  the  face  of 
starvation,  into  a  country  which  contained  little  gaiiio, 
and  was  scarcely  visited  even  by  Indians.  The  ad- 
venturer of  the  Rose  type  threw  himself  into  the; 
mountains  with  reckless  abandon,  risking  body  and 
soul  in  their  fastnesses,  and  trusting  to  the  genius 
of  the  region  to  take  pity  and  guide  him  into  the 
subfluvial  caverns  lit  up  by  the  yellow  light  he  lo\  ed 
so  well. 

The  miner,  like  the  sailor,  had  glimpses  of  nature  in 
supernatural  moods.  He  learned  the  lesson  of  a  soli- 
tary man's  helplessness.  Fancies  and  superstitions 
took  hold  on  him  in  one  form  or  another.  Alone  witli 
his  thoughts  sometimes  for  days  and  wo(;ks  togotlier, 
delving  in  unfamiliar  surroundings,  under  the  iiiHu- 

ing  through  the  quartz  and  slate  forniationa  in  a  northerly  direction  from  ( '.iri- 
1)()(i  Lake.  B.  C.  Papers,  iv.  58.  Rose  was  one  of  the  nio.it  adventurou.s  ipt  tlie 
pioneers.  Milton  and  Cheadle,  Whyuiper  and  others,  all  toll  tlio  same  stcniia 
of  the  first-named  author,  only  diflering  from  Douglas  in  calling  him  a  Sciittli- 
man.  When  the  crowd  rushed  in  upon  Rose,  McDonald,  and  Dietz,  ou 
Antler  Creek  in  1860-1,  Rose  and  Dietz  loft  in  search  of  new  diggiiif,'.s.  Kdsu 
disappeared  for  months.  His  absence  gave  no  concern  to  his  friends,  aiiKiUL,' 
whom  similar  prospecting  journeys  into  the  wilds  were  of  every-day  ocoiir- 
rence.  Finally,  another  party  of  prospectors  happened  to  follow  liis  triuk 
far  into  the  wilderness,  and  came  upon  his  body  in  the  woods.  Near  it 
on  the  branch  of  a  tree  was  hanging  his  tin  cup,  on  which  was  sciat'luil, 
with  the  point  of  a  knife-blade,  the  legend,  'Dying  of  suarvatio:i,  lliw. 
X.  W.  Pass,  by  Land,  3G4-5;  W/njmpers  Alaika,  35.  Wdliam  Dirt/,  the 
discoverer  of  the  diggings  on  William  Creek,  ascended  Bal  1  Mo'mtaiii  Inmi 
Antler  Creek  early  in  1801,  and  was  the  first  to  report  the  position  ni  tlie 
valley  of  Willow  River.  Ho  afterward  prospected  its  head-waters,  bi:i  witli 
little  success,  and  announced  the  discovery  of  gold  on  the  stream  cilliil 
AVilliam  Creek  by  some,  and  Humbug  Creek  by  otiiers.  Dietz  died  a  iiauiK"- 
at  Victoria  in  1877.  Another  of  the  earliest  miners  on  Willia-ti  Creek,  wlw 
became  wealthy  as  the  owner  of  the  Black  Jack  mine,  was  at  Victoria  in  tlie 
winter  of  1877-8,  dependent  on  charity  for  his  daily  bread.  AUan'ti  Cni-ihoo, 
MS.,  11. 


!  in  thoso 
,  examples 
;  will  over 
t  point  ill 
8  coukl  liO 
I,  jouriK'VS 
;h  tan^K'd 
tains,  l)ur- 

Thc  pros- 

10   face  of 

ittle  game, 

The  ad- 

f  into  the 

body  aiul 
the  genius 
n  into  the 
,t  he  loved 

f  nature  in 
n  of  a  soli- 
ipcrstitioiis 
A.h»no  with 
3  together, 
the  inllu- 

ctinnfroiiit'ari- 

eliturinirf  ot  the 

tliosiuiiu  stcrita 

g  liiiii  a  Scutch- 

ami  iJii^tz,  (lu 

iggiiifi.s.     Kt^f^ 

frieiiils,  iiniiHi'4 

ci-y-<lay  dcoiir- 

oUiiw  Ills  track 

)()il3.     Near  it 

was  scratclicd,^ 

u-vatio'i,   l!"-^'-'' 

iam  I'ictz,  tlio 

M(i>iutaiii  fi'iiiii 

position  ii!  tlic 

ratcM-s,  l.v.t  \ntli 

.stream  callcl 

7.  dkd  a  iKiul""' 

ia-iiCrci-k.  wli') 

Victoria  i"  tlio 

Atlan'i  Oiriliio, 


THE  QUESNEL  AND  HORSEFLY. 


48S 


encc  of  natural  objects,  encompassed  by  the  evolu- 
tion imps  of  the  dark  canon,  the  elevated  region,  the 
lonely  lake,  the  unknown  stream,  not  unfrequently  his 
dreams  or  haps  of  a  trifling  nature  formed  hia  solo 
mental  pabulum;  and  the  imagination  found  wing  in 
the  direction  of  his  desires,  often  shaped  by  some 
creed  spiritualistic.  Hera,  the  goddess  who  loved 
Jason  and  all  his  crew  of  adventurous  Greeks,  would 
keep  an  eye  on  his  fortunes  also,  and  would  lead  him 
straight  to  his  goal,  as  among  the  thrice  worshipful 
of  the  Argonauts.  In  some  of  these  men  a  mental 
or  moral  bend  due  to  prior  life,  furnished  the  tragic 
woof  that  ran  through  their  web  of  romance,  forming 
its  most  essential  part.  Everything  had  gone  wrong; 
there  was  no  human  remedy.  All  that  could  be  done 
was  to  throw  themselves  away,  to  give  themselves 
wholly  over  to  wickedness,  since  the  worst  fate  staring 
them  in  the  face  might  be  modified  and  temporarily 
or  [)artially  escaped  by  the  aid  of  the  appreciative  if 
not  pitying  spirit  of  evil.  Whatever  their  fancies, 
scores  of  venturesome  miners  were  lost;  some  never 
more  to  be  heard  of. 

Having  accounted  for  the  settlement  of  Cariboo, 
wc  are  prepared  to  survey  the  history  of  the  several 
creeks  in  detail.  At  Quesnel  Fork,  the  Fraser  River 
miners  worked  during  the  larger  part  of  the  season  of 
1859,  and  this  was  the  first  point,  aside  from  Fraser 
River,  to  develop  into  a  permanent  camp.  Quesnel 
Fork  had  an  important  geographical  position,  and 
was  easily  reached  by  the  plateau  trail  from  William 
l^akc.  It  was  the  point  of  divergence  in  two  or  three 
diflbrcnt  directions,  chiefly  along  the  north  and  south 
forks  of  the  Quesnel,  the  latter  branching  into  Horse- 
fly River,  and  formed  the  supply  depot  for  the  Cariboo 
reoion  during  the  discovery  period,  and  even  after- 
wards to  some  extent.  The  mining-camp  here  was 
beside  the  centre  of  an  extensive  mining  district, 
with  tunnels,  dams,  and  water-wheels,  and  as  such  it 


■   I'll! 


486 


GOLD  IN  TllK  CAIilBOO  COUNTItY. 


early  assumed  the  dignity  of  a  village  or  town.''' 
Though  much  of  its  prestige  departed  on  the  coiu- 
pletion  of  the  Cariboo  wagon-road,  by  way  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Quesncl,  its  permanency  and  local  iia- 
])()rtance  were  sufficiently  well  established  to  maintain 
down  to  1875  three  well-filled  stores  doing  a  lar^o 
business  with  pack-trains,  and  two  butchur-bli(»[is, 
besides  the  usual  miscelluneous  establishments  ot"  a 
mining  town ;  but  the  white  miners  had  by  this  tiiiio 
abandoned  the  diggings  to  Chinese,  who  were  conti  nt 
with  the  less  yielding  bench  deposits/^ 

The  enterprising  men  who  worked  the  bars  of  tin; 
Quesnel  in  the  summer  of  1859  were  most  succcsst'ul 
in  the  valley  of  the  main  stream  or  south  branch, 
oj)ening  into  Quesnel  Lake.  Proceeding  on  rafts  ulonj^f 
the  shores  of  that  lake,  the}''  came  to  a  large  livor 
entering  from  the  south,  which  was  named  Horsttl  - 
River.  They  ascended  the  stream  until  it  branch 
and  on  the  smaller  tributary,  Ilorsefiy  Creek,  lead 
to  Horsefly  Lake,  they  discovered  the  richest  placers 

'*H.  M.  Ball  reported  to  Governor  Douglas  under  date  of  Lyttou,  Dfo.  18, 
1859,  that  at  tiio  fork  of  the  Quesnel  some  miners  had  struck  tlio  Miliio 
l,:ad,'  a  deposit  of  auriferous  gravel,  'well  known  in  California.'  It  was  must 
extensively  developed,  wrote  Ball,  at  Horsefly  River,  and  was  supjiosi'il  to 
cover  largo  areas  of  country.  £,  C.  Papers,  iii.  93.  In  the  wiiilrr  of 
18G0 -1,  during  the  low  stage  of  the  water  in  Qucsuel  River,  mining'  wns 
carried  on  actively  and  successfully  in  the  bed  of  tlie  river  at  the  iurl.i. 
Several  companies  constructed  wing-dams  and  water-wheels,  extracting  cva- 
siderahle  quantities  of  gold  from  the  river  in  that  manner,  'ihe  river  foriiicily 
ran  in  different  channels  through  the  alluvial  flats,  and  at  dill'ercnt  Kvili 
along  the  benches.  Good  prositects  were  obtained  on  the  benches  100  U>  JDO 
feet  above  the  river,  which  it  was  supposed  would  remunerate  a  large  lioily 
of  miners  under  more  favorable  conditions  in  the  future.  KeithUy  and 
Diller  had  a  claim  on  tlie  hill-side,  sixty  feet  above  the  river.  This  wiis 
discovered  in  18(50,  and  proved,  after  some  tunnelling  in  search  of  the  kail, 
remarkably  rich.  Afterward  the  lead  appeared  to  have  been  lost,  yiwl,  in 
B.  C.  Papers,  iv.  50.  'Both  branches  of  the  Quesnelle,'  wrote  Donald 
Fraser,  in  the  midst  of  the  Cariboo  excitement,  'are  highly  auriferous,  ilio 
returns  for  last  summer,  1861,  were  that  nine  out  of  ten  of  the  claims  paid 
over  an  ounce  a  day  to  the  hand... The  diggings  must  be  rich  to  have  re- 
tained any  miners  so  close  to  Cariboo,  where  fortunes  -were  made  in  the  itoni'so 
of  a  few  weeks.'  London  Times'  cor.,  Vancouver  Islaml,  Jan.  20,  ISii'J,  iu 
JiawUnifi'  Vot^f'ederation,  117-18. 

"In  1875  no  white  men  remained  in  the  diggings,  nor  in  the  disti'iet  in- 
cluding Keithley  Creek.  In  order  to  work  the  large  flat  back  of  tlie  Mllauu 
of  Quesnel  Fork,  a  ditch  a  mile  in  length  was  constructed  in  1875  liy  tlm 
Chinese,  who  anticipated  that  the  ground  would  yield  them  from  ^  to  c'l  a 
day  each.  Hare,  in  Min.  Mines  Ilepl.,  1875,  13-14. 


I 


I 


COQUETTE  AND  CEDAR  CHEEKS. 


487 


ftmiul  up  to  that  timo  in  the  ])a,siM  of  the  Quosnol, 
l)i'iii'iiit^  a  close  resemblance,  it'  the  declarations  of 
Califoriiiaiis  could  be  trusted,  to  the  'i)lu(>  lead' 
inavels  in  the  foot-hills  of  the  Sierra  Nevada.     One 

P 

jKiity  of  tive  miners  working  near  the  close  of  the 
season  of  1859,  with  two  rockers,  took  out  one  hun- 
dred and  one  ounces  of  gold  in  a  week;  after  wliich 
tlu'V  were  obliged  to  abandon  their  operations  on  ac- 
I'ouiit  of  the  severity  of  the  weather.'^" 

Owing  doul)tless  to  the  common  difficulty  here  en- 
countered for  the  first  time,  in  reaching;  and  followinix 
the  bed  of  the  old  channel,  mining  ftiiled  to  be  perma- 
iioiitly  profitable  on  the  Horsefly  and  the  region  lying 
to  the  northward  of  Quesnel  Lake.  After  1867  o[)era- 
tions  came  to  a  stand,  to  be  revived  for  a  short  time 
only  in  187(),  when  some  good  prcspects  crcii.L'd  a 
rush.  This  failed  to  realize  the  expectations  formed, 
and  the  district  relapsed  into  oblivion.  From  Ques- 
nel Lake  to  Fraser  Kiver,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ques- 
nel, extending  all  along  Quesnel  River,  there  Avas 
siH)[)osed,  from  innumerable  developments,  to  be  a 
,i,^ood  hydraulic  mining  country,  which  in  the  future 
would  ])rove  to  be  valuable.  On  the  south  branch, 
Itelow  the  outlet  of  Quesnel  Lake,  mining  continued 
to  1)0  prosecuted,  and  in  1872  a  Chinese  company  was 
sii})[)()sed  to  be  still  making  ten  dollars  a  day  to  the 
nuiii.-^  Meanwhile  developments  had  been  made  at 
C'o({uette  and   Cedar  creeks,   pointing   to  the   exist- 

'"Jidir^  Reporf,  Doc.  18,  18r)9,  in  B.  C.  Pnyciv,  iii.  93.  It  was  reported 
bifdii!  tliu  clo.ie  of  1859  tliat  they  had  stiuck  the  identical  '  hhie  lead,'  pre- 
sLMitiiig  the  same  indications  of  an  almndame  of  gohl,  and  extending  m  a 
(lirectiou  nearly  nortli  and  soutli  across  Uorsetly  ('rc'(;k.,  \\ii\\  a  lateral  extent 
of  nearly  ten  miles.  Tliis  '  blue  lead '  was  traced  '  a  distance  of  thirty  miles. ' 
All  the  indications  of  the  upper  strata  were  said  to  he  sinular  to  tho.io  of  the 
Mill'  1 'iid  in  California,  tlie  lirst  gold  stratum  heing  foun<i  at  a  depth  of  twenty- 
ti\e  feet.  There  was  a  false  bed-rock  of  'bastard  talc,'  which  the  uuncrs  did 
imt  understand.  The  whole  country  to  the  southward  of  (.^)uesn(d  L.die  was 
fiiuiid  later  to  contain  deep  gravel  deposits  resembling  the  blue  Liails.  llar- 
inll  .-i  I.rr/,iiri:%  .SO;  Dnwuoii  Oil  MincK,  41. 

-'  Tliey  worked  on  a  bench  of  tlie  south  fork  of  the  Quesnel,  00  feet  above 
the  river,  bringing  water  upon  their  ground  by  i>  cans  of  a  wiu^cl.  Cariboo 
Si'iiiiiiii,  Aug.  II?,  1872.  Being  easier  of  access  than  William  Creek,  with 
li'tter  climate  and  longer  season,  and  perhaps  low  expensive  to  work,  these  dig- 
gings were  considered  to  have  ii  iportant  advantages.  I lanivt'.'s  Lectures, '^3, 


m 

i;j|M]^™j|j 

litit    . 

';  ''!^«H^H^H 

H  ■  '' 

Wm 

l< 

'if  !  : 

H 

^^^H(». 

1   !i 

m 


■t  t  <.\ 


El  ii 


488 


GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRY. 


eiice,  probably  throughout  the  entire  basin  of  Qikjs- 
nel  Lake,  of  a  widely  extended  and  important  placd' 
region.  The  Cedar  Creek  diggings  proved  to  be  val- 
uable, yielding  steadily  as  well  as  largely  for  mnuv 
time.  The  Aurora  claim,  with  Humes  and  sluices 
costing  $8,000,  yielded,  mostly  in  18GG,  $20,000;  tlic 
Moosehead  claim,  costing  $2,000  to  open,  paid  $7,000 
the  first  year;  tlie  Barker  claim,  also  located  in  18(Wi, 
and  costing  $7,000  to  open,  paid  $2,000  in  a  year; 
and  the  Discovery  claim  was  yielding,  in  SepteHil)i>r 
18GG,  $  i5  to  $20  a  day  at  a  point  where  it  was  slialldw. 
In  August  18G7,  the  Aurora  was  paying  one  liundrod 
ounces  a  week,  and  other  claims  from  $10  to  $20  a 
day  to  the  man.'^'  Coquette  Creek  failed  to  respond 
to  the  prospects  first  obtained  in  18GG,  and  was  chiefly 
given  over  to  Chinese.^* 


t 


On  the  north  branch  of  the  Quesnel  there  were  ( 
velopments  not  unlike  these  on  the  south  brand  i, 

'''■Victoria  Wcrlli/  Coloiii.4,  June  25,  18G8.  Cedar  Creek  was  iirst  asot'inlcd 
by  a  prosixicting  party  in  18G2,  but  was  abandoned  until  Ifjiio.  In  KStill 
a  party  of  miners  from  William  Creek  obtained  there  a  prospect  of  .Sll'.l, 
causing  a  rush.  Id.  In  Septemlier  1807  both  the  Aurora  and  Discovery  avcio 
averging  5-0  a  day  to  the  man.  Curilioo  Scii/iiicl,  Sept.  '2(),  18(;7.  Tlio 
Discovery  company,  which  li.ad  t;ikcu  out  several  thousaml  duUirs,  ex- 
})ended  that  amount  further  upon  tlicir  claim.  A  few  miners  still  Murk- 
mg  in  June  1807  were  taking;  out  from  §5  to  $20  a  day.  1'lie  piy  ilirt 
was  from  (i  to  8  feet  thick.  Visionary  Californians  pronounced  it  to  lir  tiio 
'  blue  lead  '  that  had  paid  so  well  at  William  Creek,  'commencing  ou  llnrse- 
fly  Creek,  and  running  directly  through  this  section.'  Tlic  Aurora  ( 'oinp.iiiy, 
in  July,  1807,  comiileted  a  tlunie  2,000  feet  iu  length,  dumping  i:ito  tjhn  siicl 
Jj:ike.  Some  of  the  ground  on  the  bed-rock  yielded  $2.25  to  the  pan.  /■/,, 
Jidy  30,  1807. 

'■'•'The  discovery  of  ('(upiette  Creek  was  credited,  t!';_'ctlier  witli  that  (it 
Cedar  Creek,  to  J.  K.  Kdward.s,  one  of  the  p.rospectors  of  tlie  Aurora  elaini  mi 
William  Creek,  in  lS(iO.  Vi'iarii  Cokmi.-t,  July  28,  1800.  Auothti'  a«- 
tliority  states  that  Cocpiette  Creek  was  originally  opened  by  a  Corni-linian, 
l)resuniably  K.Kvard.4,  who  lost  the  lead,  whereupon  it  was  seld  to  tii'! 
Cliinese.  Jfitnictf's  L(Ctiiir^,  29.  No  prospects  were  found  by  t!io  coiiiiiaiiy 
i.i  the  opening  made  by  them  on  the  sujiposed  bed-rock,  which  it  was  reini'icd 
resembled  ,in  ash-pit,  a  cut  00  feet  in  width  having  lieen  sluieeil  across  tlic 
neck  to  tost  it.  For  twenty  daj's  expended  in  accomplishing  that  work  t'lrrt; 
was  a  yicM  of  only  .^52.  ViHarin  C()loni.-<t,  Sept.  25,  18;>0.  Lining  and  <  oiiii'an,", 
after  j)rospecting  at  another  place  for  a  month,  al -o  abandoned  their  giiniiiil. 
//.,  ]>  tilii,  **'^'t-  ilt-b.  Tlie  pertinacity  of  the  Cliinest!  in  1807  again  attraittil 
white  men  to  the  creek,  but  w  thout  producing  auj"  important  resflts. 

'*  Black  Bear  Creek  iu  the  same  range  of  mountains  as  Ce(Iar  a-id  C(i(|iii'tt(' 
creeks,  but  on  the  opposite  side,  draining  into  the  nrrth  foik  .f  t!"'  (,Mi»sn«l, 
was  nunc  1  by  a  discovery  company  in  18(';7.  They  sluiced  .ito  a  blue  ■ '  iv, 
finding  coarse  gold.    Victoria  Colonist,  Aug.  0,  1867. 


A 


^p 


lii! 


1  of  Quf.s- 
taut  placer 
I  to  be  val- 
(  for  soiiu' 
lud  sluices 
:0,000;  tlie 
•aid  $7,000 
A  in  IHCC), 
in  a  year; 
Scpteinher 
as  shallow, 
le  iiuiidrod 
)  to  %-10  a 
to  respond 
was  chiefly 


*e  were  de- 
1  brand  I,"' 

■)  iii'st  asci'iiiluil 
l;s>)5.  In  iMili 
)si)c.'i;t  of  81111, 
Discovery  vt'iu 
.'(),  ISCT.  The 
(lull:ir,-i,  ox- 
ers still  Work- 
'J'liu  I'lV  dirt 
jd  it  to  l>i'  the 
ring  o;i  Jlorsf- 
■ora  ( 'oiiipaiiy, 

g  into  (jhirslll'l 

thu  pan.   /'/. , 

r  with  that  <il 
.urora  claini  on 
Another  ini- 
i  t'oriii.-liiiiaii, 
IS  sol.l  to  th' 
■  t!ie  comii.iiiy 
t  was  ri'ci>riii'il 
ii'oil  across  tiu' 
Kit  work  t'liTi' 

mil  <  'oiiqiaii;-, 
I  their  gri'Uiiil. 
igaiii  attrartcil 

ri'f'i'.lts. 

•a-l'l  ('o(|llrtt(' 

.1  t'o'  (,Mi»sn«l, 
(>  a  blue  ■ '  l^. 


GENERAL  MINING  DEVELOrMENT. 


489 


])artlcularly  on  the  right-bank  tributaries,  the  Keith- 
ley,  Snowshoc,  Harvey,  and  Cunningham  creeks, 
draining  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Bald  Mountains, 
and  whereon  modern  erosions  had  laid  bare,  ft,r  short 
distances,  the  deeper  channels  of  the  ancient  streams. 
Wlien  tiie  bed  of  the  north  branch  was  jirospected  in 
18r)i)-G0,  it  was  found  to  contain  profitable  jdacers  as 
far  up  as  the  C'ai'iboo  lakes,"^''  but  here  in  the  absence 
of  gold-bearing  soil  at  the  surface,  want  of  success 
]iad  the  effect  to  throw  back  the  advance  upon  Cari- 
boo proper  for  that  year,  so  that  Keithley,  Harvey, 
and  C  rouse  creeks  were  not  worked  until  the  autunni 
of  18  GO. 

On  Keithley  Creek  mining  was  so  successfully 
prosecuted  in  18 GO  that  several  stores  were  er'.'cted 
there,""  and  near  its  mouth  the  town  of  Keithley  came 
into  existence  in  l^Gl,  as  supply  depot  for  the  entire 
region  of  the  north  branch  of  tlie  Quesnel."'  The  gold 
on  tlie  cret^k  consisted  partly  of  solid  nuggets  paving 
the  bed-rock  within  a  few  feet  of  the  surface.  A  party 
of  fi-o  men,  in  June  18G1,  divided  one  thousand  two 
liuiK.red  dollars  between  them  as  the  product  of  a 
single  day's  labor,  and  their  daily  average  for  some 

'-■'  In  tlio  spring  of  l>Si)2  preparations  wore  inade  on  a  large  scale  for  win(i;- 
(Iniiiiiiing  at  (liH'erent  pi. ice.;;  I)nt  an  early  thaw  raised  the  waters  of  the  lake 
aiiil  rivir,  sweeping  away  all  the  dams  and  water-wheels,  the  result  of  several 
months  of  hard  work  in  the  coldest  part  of  tlie  winter,  li.  ('.  Dirii'lnrij,  l.S(i,'{, 
■_M1).  The  north  folk  was  rich  down  to  the  l)rid;,'c,  where  the  trail  from  QuvS- 
III 1  !''( I rl.s  crossed  it.  ]5elow  that  point  the  clnnate  changed.  Jlonutl'i  Lie- 
lurfu,  21. 

'''Two  store  Imililings  were  erected  near  its  mouth  at  lower  Cariboo  I^ake; 
aiintlior  store  was  built  and  opened  by  Davis  in  advance  of  the  lirst-nicrn- 
tioiucl  six  niihs  \\\)  the  stream,  on  the  line  of  the  j)ioneer  trail.  A'/'/c/'.t  I'c- 
pni-f,  March  'J7,  liSdl,  iu  Ji.  ('.  I'liperx,  iv.  50  1.  Keithley  was  reachcil  liy 
•  'oiiiiiiissioner  Nind  in  the  winter  of  liSliO-l;  crossing  over  Cariboo  Lake,  he 
Iniiiiil  tlie  two  store  buildings  not  yet  occupii'd,  whih;  D.^vis'  store  w,as  already 
II  iciitre  of  trade  and  mining.  Alany  thousand  feet  of  liiiuber  wore  whip- 
siHcil  and  leaily  in  March  IStil  at  tlio  latti.T  point  for  lluniing  the  bed  of 
Keitliley  Ci'cek. 

'''  In  .Juno  1801,  the  town  of  Ki'ithloy  consisted  of  three  grocery  stor  's,  a 
liakery,  restaurant,  butcher-shop,  blacksmith-sho[i,  and  seviMal  taverns,  kc[it 
ill  teii..H  and  log  houses,  lieef  cattle  wi^ro  drivtMi  to  that  point  from  Oregon. 
'I'licre  were,  in  .Juno  18(')1,  '200  men  in  the  crti'k,  of  whom  To  were  engau'cd  in 
milling.  Ciirilmo  Oolil-jiclth,  .">;(- 8.  In  1875  it  still  KiipiJortcd  three  or  four 
stores,  one  of  them  ke|it  by  a  Chinaman.  J/nrc,  in  Min.  J/'H'W  /'•))/.,  1875, 
!■(.  It  contimiod  until  recent  years  to  be  the  principal  uiimiig  and  trading 
liiiiiit  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Cariboo  lakcjs. 


If 


Ill 


M 

I     K'll    •! 

1 

'        1 

J" 

S 

1 

■  S'  ; 

.( 

'  '{<^\ 


y* 


490 


GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRY. 


time  was  said  to  bo  a  pound  weiglit  of  gold.  In  Sep- 
tember 18G1,  severi.'.  companies  were  making  from  fil'iy 
to  one  hundred  dollars  a  day  to  the  man  in  the  bid 
of  the  creek,  and  one  hundred  dollars  in  the  dry-dig- 
gings on  the  hill-side.  Flumes  were  built  of  enormous 
size  and  length,  and  numerous  wheel-pumjis  were  set, 
in  motion.^**  In  18G7  the  lead  was  lost;  yet  the 
Chinese  on  the  creek  continued  to  make  '  .;y,  the 
claim  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek  j)aying  h\.  \  twelve 
to  sixteen  dollars  a  day  to  the  digger.  After  1875 
the  yield  fell  otf.=^ 

Harvey  and  Cunningham  creeks,  also  tributaries 
of  the  north  branch  of  the  Quesnel,  and  discovered 
in  the  autunm  of  18G0,  received  no  attention  until 
the  Antler  Creek  excitement  in  1801,  and  were  not 
entered  upon  in  larger  force  till  18G4.  On  Harvey 
Creek  the  conditions  and  history  of  mining  resembled 
those  of  Keithley,  Droughts  and  floods  and  other 
serious  difficulties  of  deep  mining  stood  here  also  in 
the  way  of  development;  so  that  tlie  stereotyped 
verdict  of  exhaustion  was  passed  upon  it  in  lH"(i, 
On  Cunningham  Creek,  a  stream  about  tliirty  miles 
in  length,  a  numl)er  of  claims  were  taken  up  in  the 
middle  of  February  18G1;  and  in  the  following  yciif 
the  deep  diggings  were  prospected  to  some  extent,  but 
abandoned  as  unprofitable. 

In  18G4  further  developments  were  made  whicli 
surprised  the  old  minors  who  were  acipuiinted  witli 
the  ground.  Four  of  the  white  men  nuule  a  dis- 
covery near  the  mouth  that  the  old  bed  of  the 
creek  was  not  beneath  the  present  stream,  but  iu 
a   deep    chamiel    parallel    to    it,    a    hundred    yards 

'"Tlio  ImnlHT  was  suiiplicil  by  a  Baw-niill  cniiipUted  in  Sc'iittuiiltor.  Tiii.^ 
waa  a  in  in,;  in  ilsolt',  funiialiiiif^lunibt.'rat  2")  cunts  a  loot  ami  uji  wards.  Loiihn 
'J'iiiirn'  fur.  Vidorht,  Nov.  29,  18(il,  iu  Ciiriliim  (lolil-fnids,  51-8.  .In.siph 
I'atter.son  and  lirotliur  inl'onnud  ( JovL-rnor  Douglas  that  tlio  miners  at  Kiilhlty 
Criick  in  18(U  wen;  making  from  two  tothroeounco8a<lay.  J>0U(ihis'  Jh'.ij>iif'"li, 
0i!t.  -24,  18(il,  in  //nzl.ti'.t  Carihoo,  1'24. 

-^  lltirnfit  n  /.ir/iirrs,  '27.  Tho  cruok  was  protitalily  worko<l  as  late  as 
1877,  but  tlu!  bust  ground  was  bclievod  t)  bu  worki^d  out.  Kcitlduy  (ivck 
v,,iH  always  subjuct  either  to  a  drought  or  a  tlood  Mia.  Miiiai  Jx'eiit,  1870, 
420;  1877,  3t)'J 


II  :^ 


It 


■  I, 


fifefhilli 


VERY  MANY  CREEKS. 


491 


In  S(>p- 
g  from  filly 
in  the  bed 
lie  dry-dig- 
f  enormous 
)s  were  set, 
t;  yet  tliu 
■ij,  the 
V.  ^  twelve 
^fter  1875 

tributaries 

discovered 

ition  until 

Avere  not 

)n  Harvey 

resembled 

and  other 

ere  also  in 

ttireotyped 

:  in    187(;. 

lirty  miles 

up  iu  the 

iwiiii;'  yan- 

.'xtent,  but 

ide  which 
nted  with 
ide  a  dis- 
!d  of  the 
m,  but  in 
'ed    yards 

tomlnT.  'riii.< 
ivarils.  J.iiiil III 
'lis.      >losc]ill 

rsat  Kt'ltliley 
I(/1(m'  Jh'.*i>iitcl(, 

i!(l  iiM  late  HH 
icitliloy  Creok 
ai  L'ejit.,  1S7(), 


aside.""  The  deeper  they  went  into  this  channel  the 
licher  they  found  it,  and  in  one  day  four  hundred  and 
sixty  dollars  apiece  were  obtained.  The  result  was, 
that  about  two  hundred  miners  located  fresh  claims 
on  the  creek,  many  of  them  yielding  well.^^  The  ex- 
( itement  conthiued  throughout  18G5,  and  then  fol- 
lowed another  decline,  the  result  of  failure  in  tracing, 
or  working  the  deep  lead."'^ 

Antler  Creek,  the  original  objective  point  of  the 
gdid-seekers  who  explored  Cariboo  in  ISGl,  was  the 
iirst  in  that  ix>gion  to  attain  a  decided  reputation  after 
Keithley  Creek,  and  the  first  to  establish  the  char- 
acter of  the  Cariboo  region.  Its  fame,  like  that  of 
Keithley  and  William  creeks,  also  rested  upon  the 
circumstance  that  the  present  stream  had  in  one  or 
more  places  cut  down  into  the  ancient  channel.  The 
Ijoudon  Timcs^  corresj)oiident  wrote  that  the  Ix^d-rock 
was  found  paved  with  gold.  Every  shovelful  con- 
tained a  considerable  quantity,  in  some  cases  as  much 
as  lil'ty  dollars.  Nuggets  could  be  picked  out  t)f  the 
soil  by  hand,  and  the  rocker  yielded  fifty  ounces  iu  a 
'(vw  hours. ^^  The  secret  of  the  wonderful  riches  of  the 
de})osit  in  Antler  Creek  was  too  important  to  be  kej)t. 
It  drew  all  the  venturesome  members  of  the  po})ula- 
tioii  domiciled  in  the  nei<xhborhood  over  the  dan<jfiTous 
winter  trail  of  the  Snowshoe  ^Mountain  in  the  months 

A  single  log-cabin 


of  January  and  February  18G1. 


34 


'^"lliire,  in  Miu.  Mines  llejit,  187C,  420;  Nlmls,  in  B.  C.  Papem,  iv.  51. 
Tliiy  li:;;l  found  tluit  the  channel  worn  iu  the  l)j(l-rock  uud.T  tlie  pre.sent 
Kliiiini  liail  a  rim  on  one  side  l)LyoiKl  wliiuli  tlie  hud-rouk  full  off  into  a  tleeper 
<il  1  rliauuL'l  to  a  deptll  then  linkuowni. 

■'  Virtorla  Wc'i'lli/  Colonist,  Sent,  (i,  18(14.  The  ])roi)rietors  of  the  Keu- 
huUv  fliini  eng;u;cil  in  ground  sluicing,  took  out  ifioO  one  day  in  1S;J."),  and 
*l,tHUtho  d.-.y  following.  J(L,  July  II,  ISOj. 

■'-A  Victoria  cnupmy  employing  twenty  men  erected  costly  niachiuery 
uiiiiuthc  crei'k  in  UtTCi,  fortlie  purpose  of  exploring  the  deo]i  ground,  l)y  nil  otli- 
tTs  so  far  iiUHUcce.ssfully  attempted.   Boirson,  in  Mill.  Miiict  Iti-jit.,  187<>,  41 S. 

•'■'  Mncjie'n  V.  I.  and  B.  C,  '_'44.  Tlie  discovery  vas  made  so  late  in  the 
autuiMu  of  1800  that  on  the  morning  following  it  a  fi>i)t  of  snow  had  eov(Ted 
till' fiiduud,  and  nothing  could  ))0  ilono  at  mining  until  the  spring  of  18til. 
11  ''/A',  in  Om-land  Moiilhli/,  Dec.  ISCiO,  5'2G.  Comin'ssioncr  Niiid  testifies 
(lilt  tliu  lied-rock  was  but  a  short  distance  under  the  surface  in  a  narrow 
vilhy.  B.  ('.  J'itpi'r.%  iv.  51. 

'<!old  Coinniissioiior  Kind,  who  was  called  to  settle  mining  disi)utes  hero, 
ani\  cd  at  Antler  Creek  early  in  March,  and  found  the  snow  six  or  seven  feet 


492 


GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRY. 


U!       M 


built  by  Rose  and  McDonald,  the  discoverers  of  the 
diggings  in  the  fall  of  18G0,  was  at  this  time  the  only 
evidence  of  settlement,  but  by  June  ten  houses  and  a 
s_iw-iuill  had  risen,  and  during  the  following  months 
mining  was  at  its  height.  Eleven  companici-j  were 
working  witli  large  profits,  and  individuals  were  iiuil;- 
iug  as  much  as  $1,000  a  da}-,  wlule  the  yield  of  tho 
several  sluice  and  flume  claims  was  60  ounces  a  (hiy 
to  the  man,  and  the  daily  aggregate  of  the  creok 
during  the  summer  of  1861  over  §10,000.  j^.Iucli  of 
the  ground  yielded  $1,000  to  the  square  foot.  Tlu'ee 
quarters  of  a  mile  below  the  town  of  Antler  two  ]):irt- 
ners  were  said  to  have  obtained  from  40  to  60  ounei's 
a  day  each,  with  the  rocker. ^^ 

The  town  of  Antler  grew  as  if  by  magic,  and  counted, 
in  Auguist,  twenty  substantial  buildings,  comprisinn^ 
stores,  whiskey-saloons,  and  dwelling-houses,  sur- 
rounded by  a  much  larger  number  of  tents,"^**  yet  tlic 
community  was  on  the  whole  remarkably  sober,  law- 
abiding,  and  quiet. ^^ 


Tifn 


1 


deep,  and  tlio  miners  living  in  holei,  which  they  had  dug  in  the  snow,  subaist- 
iiig  (i;i  tiio  soaaty  supplies  carried  ia  over  the  Suowslioe  trails.  Thu  cnu- 
missiouer  waj  occupied  six  days  ia  ascertaining  the  claims  to  ground,  iiii  1 
everything  was  finally  settled  witliout  difturhauco,  for  '  English  law,'  it  v.:h 
maintained,  coi'hl  not  he  transgressed  '  with  the  same  impunity  as  California 
law.'  Nind,  j        .  V.  Papers,  iv.  SO-l. 

^^  Water  ■  .,8  selling  at  50  cents  an  inch.  Times'  cor.,  in  Cariboo  Cold- 
Jiclds,  5.'J-8.  In  a  leader  of  Feb.  7,  18G1,  the  London  Times  sii:  nnarizcd 
the  developments  on  Antler  Creek  from  May  to  September  18G1,  and  DonaUl 
]''raser's  stateaieats  as  correspon<lent  were  reviewed,  and  accepted  as  trust- 
worthy. A  miner  named  Smith  was  spoken  of  as  having  obtained  'i\  pouiuls 
of  gold  per  day  with  the  rocker.  Other  claims  working  with  sluices  Aviro 
ro[)orted  to  bo  yielding  regularly  as  nmch.  Quoted  in  McDonald's  B.  (.'., 
110-1.5.  Small  claims  on  Antler  Creek  yielded  from  100  to  'W'.'d  ouucls  a 
day.  In  3  wc^eks'  washing  one  company  of  3  men  obtained  §83,300;  anntlur 
of  3  men,  $r/7,nOO;  still  another  of  5  men,  $20,000;  and  another  of  (j  men, 
.^28,000,  in  tlie  same  ptiriod.  London  Times'  cor.,  in  Jlacjie'a  V.  I.  and  B.  C, 
214-5.  Governor  Uoujjhis  vouched  for  the  authenticity  of  the  stateiinnt 
t!iat  4  men  obtained  regularly  from  16  to  37  ounces  a  day,  or  from  4  U<  % 
ounces  eacli.  Id. 

^''Cnrilioo  Oold-Jields,  55.  A  Spanish  muleteer,  when  asked  in  re^'anl  to 
the  merits  of  the  Cariboo  mines,  from  which  he  had  recently  returni>i,  .x- 
plicid  that  he  had  doubts  until  he  liad  seen  the  gaming-tiible  at  Antler  Cncli, 
Three  miners  gambled  away  ^'.27,000  at  a  sitting. 

"'  Beybie  wrote  to  the  colonial  secretary  in  September  18G1:  '  I  never  saw 
a  mining  town  anything  like  this.  There  were  some  hundreds  in  A-.iilir.  :.ll 
sober  and  quiet.  It  was  Sunday  afternoon.  0:ilv  a  few  of  the  claims  am  -u 
worked  that  day.     It  woa  ixa  (j^uiet  as  Victoria. .  .'i'hey  told  me  it  was  liku 


lU 


■I'm 


w^M 


COMPARATIVE  YIELD. 


493 


rers  of  the 
le  the  only 
>uso.s  and  a 
ing  months 
anici-j  Were 
were  nuik- 
ield  of  the 
nces  a  (hiv 
the  creek 
j^.Iiieli  of 
r)t.  Tliree 
r  two  }):irt- 
>  60  ounces 

id  counted, 
coniprisinLf 

luses,  siir- 
i-'"  yet  tlic 
sober,  law- 


e  snow,  suliaist- 
:lil.s.  TIk!  Cii:.'!- 
to  ground,  iiii  1 
ish  lav,'  it  \v,:h 
ty  as  Califoriiin 

1  Cariboo  Cold- 
'les  sxv.:nmuT/.:i[ 
^01,  a:ul  Jhiiiakl 
eptod  as  trii.-t- 
lined  S]i  pouiuls 
ith  sluices  wxTo 
Donalir.s  B.  C, 
o  ]',,'d  ounces  a 
83,300;  aiintliiT 
)ther  of  (j  mt.il, 
\  /.  uihI  B.  C, 
tlie  statuiiiiiit 
or  from  4  t«  ilj 

ed  in  rej,'aicl  to 
ly  reiunii  >1,  .i.- 
t  Antler  CriM't. 

L:  'Inevoi-N;;W 
Is  iu  A;.i:l.T.  1.11 
the  claims  a\'  ru 
uie  it  was  liku 


xVs  in  the  case  of  Keithley  Creek,  and  as  any  one 
ini.^ht  liave  anticipated  had  the  facts  of  the  hniited 
extent  of  the  old  channel  laid  bare  by  erosion  been 
understood,  there  was  difficulty  and  disappointiuent 
in  store.  Expectations  had  been  raised  which  could 
not  be  realized  at  that  time,  though  the  conclusions 
ill  r«\L;ard  to  the  wealth  of  the  creek  had  been  entirely 
ooiTect.  After  the  shallow  part  of  the  old  channel 
was  exhausted,  the  problem  of  working  the  buried 
pi  lit '.on  was  encountered,  and  without  syi:teinatic  work 
the  lead  could  not  long  bo  followed.^*  The  declension 
onine  about  gradually.  In  18G7  the  town  of  Antler 
was  deserted,  and  onl}'  a  few  men  remained  on  the 
creek,  cleaning  up,  for  the  second  time,  the  old  ground. 

Chouse  Creek  was  mined  to  a  limited  extent  in 
18(;L-i:,  a:id  then  abandoned  until  loG4,'"  when  the 
Heron  claim  was  located  upon  it.  After  an  t  xpendi- 
ture  of  C' 150,000  the  Heron  claim  yielded  $;]00,000. 
Under  the  supposition  that  the  ground  was  worked^ 
out,  it  was  then  sold  for  $4,000 ;  but  on  cutting  an 
oe.llet  18  inelics  deeper  the  claim  continued  to  yield 
lio::i  r .)  to  100  ounces  a  week  throughout  the  ensuing 
season."     The  creek  v/as  aixain  abandoned  until  186G, 

Callfonii.i,  ill  '49.  Why,  you  wouhl  have  acouall  these  fellows  roaring  drunk, 
and  i;i.iLoli  au  I  bare  k.iivea  i;i  every  luuul. '  B.  C.  Papt'iv,  iv.  61. 

^'^  l;i  !!■  )4  a  bcd-roc'.c  llumo  company  v,-.ii  formed  at  Antler.  Tiio  company 
ol)taiiicd  a  ten  years'  Ica.o  of  sinteeu  and  one  half  miles  of  the  creek,  in- 
duiaiiga  f-.-:'.i>  of  ground  ICO  foet  i:i  ■vvidtli  along  the  creek,  with  tlio  inteulidu 
of  intnid-,;:  ing  hydraulic  mining.  No  heavy  mechanical  appllanci's  liad  been 
used  on  tl  ij  creek  up  to  that  time.  Mufjlts  V.  I.  and  B.  C,  215.  Iu  connec- 
tion wiLh  t  lie  mining  operatious  on  t'.ie  creek,  and  tlio  prosjiecti:;;.;  that  was 
il  ic  f.ir  t'le  recovery  of  t'.ie  lost  lead,  t'le  fact  was  djvelopod,  and  reniarl;ed 
upon,  tliat.  oa  the  one  side  of  t'.io  Creole  t';ere  was  nothi  ig  Init  line  gold,  wliilo 
o:i  llic  o:\i  r  si  le  it  was  all  coarse.  At  t'..c  head  of  Antler  e';\!r';,  formerly 
tlie  ciinliMiitioii  of  Sawmill  Flat,  extended  a  plain  many  miles  i:i  tlic  opposite 
(lirec'.idu,  and  it  was  supposed  that  the  extensive  area  e:n)>race(l  by  there 
pliysleal  ,i  atures  was  for:  lerly  the  site  of  a  great  la'.;c.  T'.io  more  ancient 
Kireani  oi  Ujep  channel  of  Anller  Creek  was  siippo.jcd  to  liavo  co;:ie,  much 
K';e  the  juiisent  crijok,  from  the  mouutai  i'.  at  tlic  we.;t.  Jts  gr  ivels  werj  a 
jKirtion  o;  an  auviferous  formation  extending  to  Grour.e  Creek.  J/'n-nell'.i 
Lcc/io-i'-t,  l.'7. 

""Dcca  .  o  three  men  in  1801-2  would  not  investi~ato  properly  their  in- 
terest i,  h  vi^i'T  lojt  faith.  Jlann'ti's  J.cHutrx,  21.  T!:o  c/eelc  i.i(>nly  five 
111!  i  e  ist  of  William  Creek,  runnin;^  paraUel  to  it,  and  (lr;uni;i;j  with  Antler 
ail  V,"/'liiin  creeks  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Agnes  Bal  I  Mountain. 

*'  V idoAa  Colonist,  Jan.  21,  18G8;  Harnett's  Lccturcn.  33. 


I'   1,  'I 


I'll 

i  1 


m 


m 


'  t     : 


t"   Rl=f 


-IP 


I 


494 


GOLD  IN  THE  CARIBOO  COUNTRY. 


wnen  the  lead  was  rediscovered ;  and  the  Heron,  Dis- 
covery, and  other  claims  yielded  from  $15,000  to  $20,- 
000  to  the  share,"  raising  the  creek  to  the  dignity  of 
one  of  tlie  principal  mining  fields  in  Cariboo  for  tlie 
ensuing  season."  In  18G7,  thirty -five  mining  companies 
were  at  work;  a  saw-mill  was  in  operation;  and  two 
respectable  villages  sprang  up  in  the  valley/^ 

Rich  strikes,  alternating  with  failures  to  keej)  tlie 
loads,  varied  the  history  of  Grouse  Creek  througliout 
subsequent  years.  Bear  River,  emptying  into  tlie 
Fraser  above  Fort  George,  had  numerous  lakes  and 
former  lake-beds  along  its  course,  but  beneath  their 
recent  and  ancient  se  Mments  the  miners  do  not  ap- 
pear to  have  found  any  old  channel.** 

*^  Allan's  Cariboo,  MS.,  10-11. 

*'  Many  of  the  cliiim»  were  yielding  from  $25  to  $50  a  day.  Victoria  Wedhj 
Colonist,  Oct.  23,  18G0. 

*^  A  charter  was  procured  for  a  hcd-rock  flume  company,  but  this  M'as  suli- 
sequeiitly  revoked,  and,  as  a  result,  many  additional  claims  were  located  and 
recorded  upon  the  creek.  During  18G7,  some  Frenchmen  were  wasliing  out 
.V4  to  ^;15  a  day  with  the  rocker,  while  sluicing  in  California  fashion  paid  Irom 
i?10  to  $12,  and  hydraulic  work  $'J0  to  $25  a  day.  Harnett's  LcHuns,  24-5. 
Tiie  Heron  Company,  in  March  18G7,  paid  a  dividend  of  $800  to  the  share; 
and  tho  Full  Rig  Company  a  dividend  of  $230  for  a  week's  work.  Carihm 
Sentinel,  March  30,  1807.  These  companies  worked  out  tho  lead  for  a  thou- 
sand feet  on  the  channel,  while  above  and  below  them  it  could  not  be  foiiml. 
In  May  1SG7,  the  Blackhawk  and  Cana-.lian  companica  were  seeking  it  liy  a 
tunnel  and  incline.  The  V/ater  Witch  Company  sank  a  shaft  near  tlie  centru 
of  the  creek,  and  drifted  into  deep  ground,  causing  an  excitement,  but  it 
proved  to  be  only  an  uiidulatiou  like  that  in  the  llard-ux)  Company's  tunnel. 
Victor!  I  Coloni.it,  May  7,  11>G7.  There  wore  two  distinct  leada,  t'.io  more  an- 
cient being  aside  from  the  present  channel.  From  the  boundariv'-s  of  tlie 
Heron  and  Hard-up  claims,  at  t'.ie  lower  e:i(l  of  the  diggings,  the  creek  cdu- 
tinned  in  a  series  of  flats  where  tho  channel  was  never  found. 

^♦In  i;;,;9,  a  'new  creek  '  was  reported  '75  to  100  miles  north-east  finiii 
Cariboo,'  which  was  much  lower  than  tho  Cariboo  diggings,  hail  been  burii  il 
over,  and  was  o\ergrown  by  small  t;::ibcr.  It  was  said  to  prospect  12j  cents 
to  the  pan  at  the  surface.    Victoria  Colonist,  March  10,  18G9. 


Victoria  Wi'Mij 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

MINING  IN  CARIBOO. 

1863-188Z 

Rise  of  William  Creek — Ricn  Discoveries — Large  Yield— Decline — 
Deep  Mining— Marysville  Lead— Drainaoe  Operation-s— Rich- 
field— Mosquito  and  Mustang  Ckeeks — Odtskirt  Placers — Light- 
Mxo  Creek — Van  Winkle — Decline  and  Revival — Lowiiee— 
CaSon  Creek  and  its  Quartz — Character  of  Cariboo  Veins — Scm- 
MARY  OF  Yield— Cariboo  Life — The  Low  and  the  Intellectual. 

William  Creek  has  a  history  in  many  respects 
similar  to  that  of  Antler  Creek.  Its  first-discovered 
rich  deposits  were  shallow,  and  in  the  bed  of  the 
present  stream,  above  the  canon.  Below  these  dig- 
gings was  a  flat,  supposed  to  have  been  the  bed  of  a 
former  lake,  in  which  the  channel  sank  and  was  lost. 
Here  the  problem  of  working  the  deep  ground  by 
means  of  shafts  and  pumping,  was  for  the  first  timiO 
systematically  attempted,  and  profitably  solved.  The 
crossing  of  Snowshoe  Mountain  by  the  inflowing 
prospectors  of  18G1,  and  their  descent  into  the  basin 
of  Bear  River  (Antler  Creek),  thence  into  the  basin 
of  Willow  River  (William  Creek),  changed  the  centre 
of  operations  from  Keithley  to  William  Creek,  and 
with  it  the  approach  from  a  circuitous  to  a  more 
direct  route  into  the  Bald  Mountains  of  Cariboo.  On 
the  completion  of  the  road  along  Lightning  Creek, 
in  18G5,  Barkerville  on  William  Creek  became  the 
principal  distributing  point  for  the  Cariboo  region, 
the  aggregate  product  of  which  amounted  in  seven 
years  to  $25,000,000.  The  creek  received  its  name 
from  William  Dietz,  a  German  who  prospected  upon 

(4115) 


1  I  I 


ii. 


fi 


i  I' 


i  J 

I 

1 


'^ 


HI 


',1 ' 


t!)fl 


MINING  IN  CAllIEOO. 


tlio  licad-Nvatcrs  of  Willow  River,  and  was  the  first  in 
the  spring. 

The  discoveries  iti  the  summer  and  autumn  of  18(il 
of  tlio  astonishinj^ly  rich  laiids  on  \/iHiani,'  Lowlicc, 
and  Liiji'litnin;;'  cnnks  gave  an  immense  impetus  tf) 
i'urther  prospecting." 

A  rush  i.t  once  set  in,  and  claims  were  worked  in 
tlie  shallov,'  ground  with  great  success,  for  the  gold 
lay  thickly  studded  in  a  lo,yer  of  blue  clay  consisting 
of  deconipo;;ed  slate  and  gravel,  wliich  in  some  cases 
gave  pro:  pects  of  over  .$000  to  the  p;in.  In  tlie 
Htato  claim  tliis  layer  was  six  feet  thick,  and  had  a 
top  tri})ping  which  ranged  from  a  few  feet  to  tiirct! 
fathoms  in  depth,  Ctliers  had  less  difficult  ground  tn 
work,  and  the  yield  was  rapid,  amounting  in  several 
claims  to  over  100  ounces  a  day  for  the  season.  Tlio 
Steele  party  was  leported  to  have  ol-tained  in  two 
days  (587  and  409  ounces,  and  in  two  months  $105,000.' 

'The  namo  of  llumlmg  Creek,  at  first  applied  to  this  most  faiiious  of 
Ciirilxio  stieanLS  on  account  of  iU  suppo.seil  wortlilcja  charactor,  w;;s  siKin 
abandoned,  a:id  the  proper  name  of  William  (.'/e.  k  gained  tlie  ascciidonoy 
to  which  it  became  justly  entitled  when  the  liiot  noteworthy  di.scovcry  w;is 
juade  at  tho  Canon.  Three  seasons  elapsed  before  the  richest  de]io.:it;<  found 
in  tiie  deep  ground  of  William  Creek  were  fairly  developed.  'B.  7).,'  Earktr- 
ville,  Oct.  'S.'id,  cor.  of  Victoria  Wcekbi  Colovid,  Nov.  7,  1805. 

^  Thomas  IJrown,  an  American,  also  laid  claim  to  the  discovery,  and  to 
having  located  the  first  claim.  Doiii/loji'  JhsjHitrli,  Oct.  '2\,  ISlll,  in  J/ir.liU'.i 
Cariliiin,  id.  It  was  mouths,  says  awriter  from  tho  spot,  l)cforo  any  authentic 
news  of  there  discoveries  reached  Victoria.  Kcpoits  came  lii'st  tliat  urwit 
quantities  of  gold  were  being  obtained  in  a  small  sjlroam  iioar  the  summit  (if 
the  mountain  ;  no  names  being  then  attached  to  tlie  localities.  The  daily 
yield  was  said  to  be  first  20  oz.,  then  50  oz.,  100  oz.,  .'liiO  oz.,  and  at  last  4M,) 
oz.  a  day,  to  four  or  live  men.  !Many  of  the  companies  were  reported  to 
have  so  much  geld  that  they  were  obliged  to  detail  men  to  watch  it  day  and 
iiiglit.  At  Victoria  these  rumors  were  not  conlided  in  until  the  gold  bcLMa 
to  arrive.  Kagged  nuuers  finally  camo  to  the  sea-coast,  staggering  under  t!io 
weight  of  their  summer's  accumulation.  Mules  were  load.ed  wilh  the  \r.r- 
cious  metal.  .Men  were  paid  .*;;0  and  .^oO  a  day  to  carry  the  gold  whii  h  tie! 
owners  of  it  had  not  tho  strength  to  bring  alone.    Wriii/it,  in  Overlaml  .Moiitldij, 

Dec.  is;;;),  .51:0-7. 

^fjovernor  l)ou;;laa  took  down  from  the  lips  of  Mr  Steele,  an  American, 
the  frdlowing  statement  in  regard  to  the  Steele  claim  in  ISOl:  Their  claim 
did  not  pro.pect  .so  will  as  .some  of  the  others,  and  it  M'as  furthermore  a  dilli- 
cult  one  to  Work,  having  from  8  to  18  feet  of  stripping  overlying  the  am  iiVr- 
ous  (1  •t.  Tlio  latter  was  a  blue  clay  layer  0  feet  in  thickness,  contain- 
ing decomposed  slato  and  gravel.  A  space  of  25  by  80  feet  of  this  groiuid 
produced  in  two  months  §105,000.  A  sluice  was  constructed,  and  four  aiMi- 
tional  lien  were  hired  to  clear  away  the  tailing.  RivrUwjx'  Cnnfcili'mt'im, 
lis.     I;i  tho  f..ll  of  ISt^l  Dawjo'.i  and  co:iij)any  took  out  of  their  claim  na 


'; 


I 


WILLIAM  CREEK. 


497 


Toward  tlic  dose  of  the  season  of  1861,  all  previ- 
ous discoveries  were  exceeded  by  tlie  developnuiits  in 
the  rich  ground  lying  fifty  or  sixty  feet  under  tlie  Hat, 
l)tlo\v  tlie  'Canon.'  To  the  Barker  Company  Ix  longs 
tlic  credit  <jf  having  sunk  the  first  paying  shaft  into  the 
wvw  deposit,  and  in  honor  of  tliis  event  tlic  nucleus 
of  a  town  which  here  sprang  into  existence  was  named 
Ijaikcrville,  Supported  by  tlie  underground  mining, 
the  town  grew  rapidly  in  jmpulation,  and  maintained 
fur  years  the  position  of  tlic  principal  town  in  Cari- 
lid.)/  Tlie  Diller  Company  were  among  the  next  in 
Older  to  bottom  a  shaft  into  the  deep  ground,  wash- 
iii;4'  out  in  one  day,  it  is  said,  two  hundred  pounds  of 
i;'r)l(l,  the  largest  yield  recorded  for  one  day  in  Cari- 
IxM).'  A  nund)er  of  claims  were  located  all  over  the 
Hat,  and  l)y  means  of  the  sj-stematic  drifting  and  tun- 
luHing  introduced  in  18G2,  and  carried  on  througli- 
out  tlie  year,  the  old  channel  of  William  Creek  was 
traced  for  a  ecnisiderable  distance  beneath  the  surface. 
Some  claims  yielded  100  ounces  and  more  daily,  dur- 
iii^f  tlic  season,  three  taking  out  .$100,000  eacli  between 
October  18()2  and  January  1803.  The  Cunningham 
turiu'd  out  over  GOO  ounces  a  day  on  several  occasions; 
tlie  Caledonia  yielded  at  one  time  from  $r),000  to 
!?<i,000  a  day;  and  the  Cameron  and  Tinker  were  not 
for  behind.*' 


S'h 


li- 


I  ^'1 


\Villiiini  C'rcuk  S()00  in  a  single  pan.  Abbott  and  Company  took  out  .?000 
ill  (nu-  iiaiil'ul  of  dirt  obtiiiuud  three  feet  under  the  surface.  JlnzliU'n  Carilmi) 
(!'nd-ji  /'/.>■,  1, ").'!- 8. 

'  Jt  was  dustroyed  by  fire  in  the  summer  of  1808,  but  by  tlie  end  of  Sep- 
teiiilur  40  now  buildings  had  risc^n,  Clowrnors  Dcjqiitir/i,  dated  Sept.  l(i,  lS(i8, 
mr,irll,noSnitiiirl,  Sopt.  l!9,  18(i8. 

•'  Alt'iiii'i<  Ciiril/on,  j\lS.,  10,  11.  Mr  Allan,  as  editor  of  the  TfrnVjoo .'>('/(/,■/(('/, 
WHS  ill  a  position  to  know  the  fact,  and  ou.^lit  to  be  good  authority.  That 
aiii(iu:it  ecpials  2,400  ounces,  at  i-lG  worth  .S;{8,400. 

'•('niirhii'i/'s  Mill.  li.  ('.,  .Sis.,  G.  The  C'uiininghani  Ciaiin  averaged  .$'2,000 
a  ilay  throughout  the  season.  It  had  a  frontage  of  GOO  feet.  ():i  sevi'ral  oeca- 
siiiiis  .VJ  pouiuls  of  gold  were  taken  out  of  it  in  a  day.  The  bi.sliop  of  Jiritl.ih 
Cnluiiiliia  witnessed  the  taking  out  of  COO  ounces,  or.'iO  pounds,  from  one  day's 
wiii'k.  Tlie  Adams  Coiniiany  in  1802  paid  .s40,()00  each,  clear  of  exiieiises,  to 
tlii(  e  partners.  Jiroirn's  E<.<aii,  .'5Q-1.  The  claim  of  William  iJictz,  the  ili.^- 
ciivi  riT,  proved  to  bo  one  of  the  poorest  on  the  creek;  but  generally  the  d aims 
wliiili  Wire  lirst  worked  at  a  doiith  not  exceeding  12  feet  yielded  remarkalilo 
ri  tarns.  '/'.  Evans,  in  OivrUind  Montfdu,  March  1870;  B.  C.  Director!/,  18o3, 
201.', 

Hist.  Brit.  Col.    32 


Hit  ■ 


i% 


'¥ 


l#ll| 


408 


MINING  IN  CARIBOO. 


Large  as  was  the  yield  of  18G2,  the  followlnir 
season  proved  even  more  prosperous,  and  rcceivo(l 
the  aj)pollation  of  the  golden  year.  Accordhig  to 
!Macfio,  the  creek  was  then  worked  over  an  awn  if 
seven  miles,  and  of  the  numerous  claims  about  -10 
yielded  handscmiely,  while  about  20  produced  steadily 
between  70  and  400  ounces  a  day.  l*almer  states  that 
the  chief  owner  of  the  Cameron  claim  went  home 
with  .$150,000  saved  by  him  in  one  year,  and  ]\[ihon 
and  Cheadle  witnessed  the  process  of  cleaning  up  from 
a  day's  washing  in  the  Raby,  of  310  ounces,  wliilo 
they  found  the  Cameron  yielding  from  40  to  112 
ounces  daily.^  A  number  of  claims  were  only  reacliiiii,' 
the  bed-rock  in  18G4,  and  obtaining  the  usual  rich 
prospects,  the  Wake  up  Jake  Compan}',  for  instance, 
washing  52  ounces  frt)m  a  panful  of  dirt.  Other 
claim  again  were  yielding  even  better  than  befnic, 
as  the  Ericsson,  which  opened  in  18G3  and  tunud  out 
an  average  weekly  amount  of  1,400  ounces  during  tlic 
summer.  In  1805  this  claim  paid  nearly  twice  as  hirge 
dividends  as  before.*^ 


~r 


iv 


'The  average  total  yiclil  of  the  claims  on  William  Creek  was  not  less 
than  2,000  ounces.  Three  partners  of  the  Hani  Curry  Coiniiany  ilividoil  ICJ 
pounds  troy,  the  result  of  a  sinjilo  day's  washing.  Pabiii'i;  in  Loml.  (•'m,;.  Sii\, 
Jour.,  xxxviii.  101-2.  'In  ISiiS  aliout  4,000  were  engaged  on  tlli^^  iii'tk' 
Marj!i''.-i  r.  /.,  218;  Nort/iiiVfif  Pa.tmi'jc  Inj  Lund,  ,S73. 

•■In  ]f->i)4  Douylas  says  the  claim  paid  .SS,00;)  to  the  share,  or  a  total  nf  .'jOO,- 
OOOclcarof  exi)enses;  and  in  ISliathodividcnds  were  .^'14,000  to  the  nh.ni-;  lii;t 
of  the  above  the  government  received  $r),()00.  Dotn/lits'  I'rirolc  /'ii}iir<,  MS., 
i.  151-2.  Ifiinit'tt'/i  Lcr/iircs,  12.  I'or  seven  successive  weeks  the  fiillowi",' 
yield  was  ri  ported  from  the  Ericsson  claim:  .June  17,  181)4,  900  oz.,  .'^1  1.4(H); 
June  24,  1SG4,  G40  07..,  .«!10.240;  July  1,  ISOt,  l,4:J0oz.,  ^22,40;);  Julv  S,  I8(;4, 
1,!)2G  oz.,  JtillO.SlG;  July  15,  KSW,  I,L.-.(i  oz.,  4.20,0'.)();  July  22,  l.S.;i,  ],:i(KI 
oz.,  $20,800;  July  20,  1SG4,  2,CiO0  oz.,  541,920;  in  all  10,012  ounces,  f.  liiO.d?.'. 

Victoria  Colonic,  June  21,  May  24,  18(54;  Modie'it  V.  I.,  240.  Wake  \iy  hkt 
claim  was  sold  in  IS;)?  for  .^lOJ.  ('urihoo  Scntind,  ^lay  2;?,  18()7.  Tlie  AdaiiH 
Cinnpany  had  yielded,  so  far  as  known,  in  all  .';50,000  to  100  feet;  tlie  Sticl-, 
^120,«)J  from  80  feet;  the  Diller,  $240,0,10  from  50  feet;  the  Cumiin-li:"", 
$270,000  from  500  feet;  the  Burns,  $140,000  from  8:)  feet;  the  Cauulia^ 
$180,000  from  120  feet;  the  Neversweat,  $100,000  from  120  feet;  the 
Moflatt,  $90,000  from  50  feet;  the  Tinker,  $120,0;)0  from  140  fit  t;  tii' 
Watty,  $l;!0,000  from  100  feet.  In  addition  to  tho-e  already  iium  1 
were  the  B:irker,  B;ddhead,  Crier,  Griflin,  Wihon,  l?eaure;,'ard.  llili.v, 
Cameron,  Prince  of  Wales,  and  many  others,  whose  fame  went  tlirmiu'li- 
out  the  world.   Cr<nr/or<l'n  Proxpi'ctiis  Artesian  Conrpamj,  (juoted  in  Mnrji'^ 

V.  I.  ami  B.  C,  248;  McDonald's  B.  C,  110;  ,S'afcw  Utatenmaii,  Nov.  i3, 
18G3. 


wmi 


i 


LABOR  AND  RETURNS. 


499 


Despite  tliis  showing,  the  facts  could  not  be  dis- 
jfuisi'd  that  the  excitement  was  over,  and  that  the 
iiiiiurs  were  diniinishincr  in  number.  Of  the  fifteen 
Imndred  forming  the  estimated  j)()pulation  of  William 
Creek  in  November  1804,  half  only  remained  through- 
out tlie  winter,  and  the  former  number  was  not  made 
up  again.  For  this  there  were  good  reasons.  Tlie 
large  yield  came  chiefly  from  few  claims,  while  the 
larger  numbia'  had  returned  but  a  small  share,  TIk^ 
shallow  diuijinjxs  which  formed  the  attraction  for  the 
Uivat  majority  were  now  pretty  well  worked  out,  and 
the  indications  for  locating  deeper  claims  on  the  more 
easily  worked  ground  were  becoming  less  sur-e.  The 
cost  of  working  the  deeper  claims  was  a  further  draw- 
back, and  as  tlie  miners  were  now  chietly  intereste<l  in 
tills  class  of  ground,  it  became  a  momentous  question 
to  solve  the  problem  of  cheap  and  effective  operations. 

The  great  difficulty,  the  flow  of  water,  had  hitherto 
liccn  overcome  with  the  aid  of  the  limited  water-power 
<if  William  Creek,  and  with  the  home-made  wooden 
]tuia[)s  of  small  capacity.  But  these  means  had  failed 
iu  several  operations,  such  as  drifting  the  meadows 
lieloNv  Barkerville,  which  had  been  undertaken  on  an 
extensive  scale  covering  a  distance  of  three  miles." 
Tlie  Artesian  Company  which  had  obtained  a  twenty 
vcars'  lease  of  one  half  mile  of  cjround  three  eighths 
ot  a  mile  i.i  width,  below  Barkerville,  })roposed  under 
Crawford's  direction  to  prospect  by  meansof  an  artcsian- 
wcll  auger  bringing  up  a  panful  of  dirt  at  each  raise; 
but  the  flow  of  water  was  not  disposed  of  by  this  scheme. 
Adit  levels  or  bed-rock  flumes  with  powerful  steam- 
pumps  appeared  to  be  the  only  effective  means.  In 
I >i<!5, accordingly,  a  costly  'bed-rock  Hume'  1,(')00  feet 
in  length  was  laid,  at  a  first  cost  of  $120,000,  com- 

'  Ami  at  a  cost  of  several  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  work  extended 
from  Marysville  to  the  junction  of  William  Creek  witli  Willow  River,  a  dis- 
tHiicc  (if  tliree  miles,  where  a  former  lake,  or  series  of  lakes,  was  supposed  to 
liiuo  ixisted,  discharging  its  waters  into  Jack  of  Clubs  Lake,  by  the  western 
l«si'  ot  the  Island  Mountain,  instead  of  by  the  eastern,  as  at  present.  Macjie's 


'i 


Hit 

■,tv. 

ill 


% 


M;4 


ii 


■i:ii 


500 


MININO  IN  CARIBOO. 


.  1-   .. 


nicncins^  at  tho  Canon,  holovv  tlio  Black  Jack  tunrn  1, 
and  sevoral  conq)anio8  boj^an  wasliiiii^  into  it  with  a 
groat  increase  of  forces,  takinj^  out  some  coarse  jj^old, 
including  a  thirty-seven  ounce  nuj^ij^et."'  Anu)nj^  the 
claims  most  successively  worked  at  this  time  were  ti  j 
Conklin  (iulcli  and  Ericsson  companies;  tho  former 
l)ein<|  re[)orted  as  taking  »)ut  an  avera«(e  of  127  ounces 
a  day,  and  the  Kricssan  from  DOO  to  2,000  ounces  ;t 
week." 

Although  the  decline  of  tho  district  was  a  conceded 
fact  after  18(!5,  there  were  in  1 807  still  over  sixty 
paying  chiims,  apart  from  tho  Hume  companies  tuid 
hill  claims.  Siane  of  them  had  heen  producing  tur 
six  years,  and  w^ro  still  producing  remarkahly  wdl, 
the  })oorer  paying  wages  of  from  eight  to  ten  dollars 
a  day  to  the  hand.  The  Cunningham,  California,  and 
Tontine  claims  stood  each  credited  with  a  yield  un  U> 
I8G5  of  $500,000.'- 

'"  A  ditch  completed  from  Jack  of  Clubs  Creek  in  1864  at  a  cost  of  ij-.'O.dOO 
was  used  in  connection  witii  tho  fl\unl^  The  ditoii  eiiteriiiise  sutt'cred  iimlir 
legal  (lilficulties  during  Ititiu.  Varilnxt  Sititincl,  ([uoted  in  Vktorhi  )ti</.// 
C'lloiiM,  July  4,  ISCk").  Tlio  Hume  had  not  heen  long  in  ojxinition  mIkii 
William  Cieek  exiK^rieneed  a  Hood  which  resulted  in  great  injury  to  JMipnivi- 
inents  of  every  sort,  especially  at  t'anieronton.  A/.,  Sept.  1!(,  \H(i'i.  Mr 
Gentile  in  Octolier  ISdo  photograidied  most  of  tho  prominent  claims  aiui 
buildings  at  IJiirkerville.   J,/.,  Oct.  ;tl,  1805. 

"This  was  in  June  aiul  July  l.SiJ5.  ViHoria  Coliiint,  July  4,  25,  KSO.'i. 
One  day  1,!(2(>  ounces  were  washed  out.    H'/ii/nijycr'n  .tiinhi,  ;?4. 

'-An  idea  of  the  co.sts  and  individual  prolit-,  in  tiie  years  18(12-7  may  U' 
obtained  from  tho  following  statistics:  The  Cunningham  claim  al>i>ve  tin' 
(^luon,  located  in  18(')I,  with  four  interests,  cost!i?l(K),OUi.)  to  work,  and  yii Mul 
up  to  1805,  §5()0,()0lt.  The  Tyack  claim,  located  in  1801,  had  four  inlnv.-its, 
and  i)aid  from  iJlO  to  §20  a  day.  The  California,  located  in  1801,  co^t  sl.'il),- 
OOO  to  work,  and  yicMed,  up  to  1805,  .i!;;')()i),O0O.  In  lS(iO  ai\d  1807  thi^  iliim 
was  still  paying  from  .?15to!i<20aday.  The  Black  Jack,  located  in  ISi. '. 
0  interests,  gave  in  '2  years  §200,000,  under  a  total  expculitun  .(  5>.')ll. 
for  work  at  ijlO  a  day.  In  1807  it  was  worked  as  a  h\<  '!-  dm.  Hi' 
Tontine,  located  in  1804,  witli  4  interests,  cost  iq)  t'  ,-ive  .'Sl(K).- 

0^)0  for  development  and  working,  and  yielded  §5()0,()<  i)utz,  Im  >i.'l 

in  1804,  paid  good  wages  steadily.     These  were  all  ah.  e'aflou.     iVlow 

the  CaSon  mining  was  begun  in  1803  at  tho  mouth  •  "ut  (Jul  Tlio 
claim  of  Higii  Low  Jack,  located  in  1804,  with  5  interests,  ,  dd  in  '  ik:  '80" 
^12,(X)0  to  the  share.  The  I'ioneer  yielded  as  well.  The  Alturas.  >rateil  in 
1804,  with  8  interests,  paid  off  in  5  weeks,  during  1800,  an  indeiaodiicss  of 
Si2;{,(KX).  On  tiie  Taft  Vale  el;;im  5  shafts  were  ' lost '  before  the  diaiii:ig« 
tisud  by  the  miners  below  vas  extended  to  its  boundaries.  It  cost  siiO.OOil 
to  open,  and  yielded  finallv'  from  100  to  200  ounces  per  week.  Jlariu '>'■■'  /-"'■ 
turp'),  12-17.  Tho  deepest  shaft  in  tho  vicinity  of  VVdliam  (.'reek,  or  .Mnliawk 
Oulch,  was  134  feet,  without  reaching  the  bed-rock,  or  less  than  hall'  the 


BENCH  CLAIMS 


SOI 


The  bed-rock  drain  constriu'tiul  in  tho  lower  j)iirt 
(,if  Williiun  (*roek  wan  daniajj^t'd  by  the  lii^h  water  of 
I^(i7,  and  as  a  result  tlio  product  of  one  third  of  tho 
licst  claims  on  the  ereek  vv;ih  lost  for  t'te  season,  all 
the  claims  dejiendent  upon  it  lyiii>;  idle  from  Juno  to 
l)(c(,'nibor  18()7  (ireat  preeautions  were  taken  to  pr<;- 
viiit  a  recurrence  of  such  a.  misibrtune.  lli^ji  bulk- 
luads  w'vvv  (Tectod  round  the  mouths  of  shafts,  and 
iii^i'ueral  bulkhead  Was  proposi-d  for  tlu'  protection  of 
lilt!  town  of  Harkervill(\  My  tlu;  end  <»f'  January  J  SCiH 
iht!  repairs  were  well  advanced,  and  provisions  bein<^ 
ciiiiiparatively  cheaj),  ^u'rations  wei-(!  icnewed  with 
^(iihI  prospects  for  tlu;  ensuing  season,  aided  to  a  ii^reat 
txt(;nt  bv  the  mininj'  board  whicii  had  been  fonned 
jure  in  18(!()  with  twelve  nx'mbei's.  In  \H('>7  a  strike; 
\v;i>  made  by  the  United  ('ompanyon  the  Fr<!nch 
and  Canadian  ci-oeks,  which  revived  to  some  extent 
f!i"  hopes  formed  of  thtnn  as  early  as  lsr);)-4,  owing 
to  tl  cir  proximity  to  the  supposed  fountain-head  of 
ti  vV^illiani  Creek  dej)osits.'''  Bi'nch  or  hill  claims 
Were  developed  tii(!  same;  year  between  lliclitield  and 
the  (\»rion,  but  suflei'ed  u^reatly  for  want  of  water.'* 
Duiiiii^  tlic  prosperous  days  of  William   Creek,  the 

ilciith  iif  tlu!  rioliost  iluposits  in  Austnilia,  and  tlii.s  f.int  w.is  hclil  up  ii»  ;in 
argmiuut  against  tliose  wlio  liuj^aii  to  (li;H|>i)ii(i.  Victuria  ( 'n/oni.if,  5fi)v.  7, 
ISii'i;  Mtiiii  <  t'lirilion,  MS.,  10,  II.  Alter  ISlili  tin;  local  iiiiiiing  history  was 
fii  ly  iri'iirdcil  liy  tiiu  prosperoUM  tlioiigh  not  Vi'ry  loiif^-livod  I'lirihoo  Nin/iinl, 
imSlislu'd  l>y  AloxaiuliT  Allen  at  the  town  of  Harkeiville.  A  complete  list 
<it  Aw,  eoiiipaiiio.s  worlviiig  upon  William  Creek,  with  tlio  nuiiiher  of  shares, 
mill,  s  of  foremen,  and  wiiat  they  wimo  doiiii,',  was  puMi.shed  in  tliu  niimher 
fill- .M  ly  I'S,  ISdIi,  jind   copied  in  tho  ViHnrii  Dnili/  < 'itlnnid  of  dutii!  8,  ISlKi. 

''Three  liun  Ired  ouiiees  were  taken  from  ono  .sliift  of  timher  in  a  hill 
tnriicil  hy  tlie  rnited  Company.  Thesu  ereelis  liad  been  ])rospeetv'il  during  this 
^  'ili'rof  lS(i,'{  4,  under  tiu!  lielit'f  that  ivoui  their  position  in  tiie  11,.! d  .Moniit.iin 
til  y  must  lie  near  tlio  fo\intain-head  of  tiie  rich  deposits  of  William,  (Irou^o, 
aiiii.lac'iof  (•ln))sereeks.  \'!rt.M-hi  ]>'•, H;/ r,,/,,iiht,  Feb.  I'J,  '2:>.  IS'/i.  i,.  ♦im  old 
(Jiirrand  I'oint  elaim.s  the  Chinese  in  1S;17  extraetecl  .vIO.O'rtt  from  a  sui.ill 
ci'iviec,  ('(irifioo  Si'iitiiii'l,  Oet.  H,  1S()7.  Coiikliii  (luhh  wa  <  stak<^d  anew  on 
I'otli  ides,  and  from  ono  side  to  the  other  a  numlierof  turn. els  \ver(5  runuiideT 
the  liill-sidos  for  tio  purpose  of  striking  tiie  ricii  eha'.nid  workcid  hy  tho 
liiitrd  Company.  Victoria  Daily  Colonist,  Fol».  '2"),  18()7:  Vulf  /•J.nniiiiicr,  .Ian. 
I,  I  SI  is. 

"  A  hn  channel  was  discovered  in  .Tune  C,o7,  3(H)  feet  in  tho  hill  liehind 
the  l)(iwn,  claim,  anil  tho  West  Britain  Company  in  tins  same  vieinity  liot- 
tniiM  il  a  shaft  at  the  depth  of  47  foot,  ohfiining  a  prospect  of  J^U.^O  to  the 
jiaii.    i'ldoria  Weekly  Colonic,  Juno  11,  ISO/. 


^'iiii 


1 


. .  I  >  il 


1 


'  1 '  i ' 


ifl't ' 


802 


MINING  IN  CAIUBOO. 


gold  dcpos't  was  traced  in  paying  quantitic*  down 
the  stream  to  beyond  Marysville,  several  niilca  below 
Barkerville. 

Wherever  the  deep  ground  had  been  prospected  ])y 
means  of  shafts — usually  about  sixty  feet  in  deptli — 
it  proved  remarkably  good,  yielding  from  ten  to 
twenty-five  cents  to  the  pan  But  here,  unfortunuttly, 
occurred  the  excess  of  water,  after  the  gravol  was 
reached,  which  prevented  the  shafts  from  being  worked; 
and  with  tlie  failuie  of  the  district  the  vilWe  of  ]\[arvs- 
villo  was  deserted.  This,  and  the  similar  fate  wliidi 
overtook  the  Meadows,  added  to  the  gradual  exliaus- 
tion  of  the  available  and  jtrotitablc  ground  on  William 
Creek,  proved  a  heavy  blow,  not  for  the  creek  altnuj, 
but  for  the  whole  of  Cariboo,  From  ISGOto  18G7ilie 
deep  ground  on  William  Creek  had  been  tlie  main- 
stay of  Cariboo,  as  the  latter  was  the  main-stay  nf 
British  Columbia,  and  mining  was  prosperous  in  pro- 
portion to  the  engineering  skill  brought  into  l>lay,  the 
problem  being  sini[)ly  one  of  gaining  access  to  the  liold 
deposits  in  the  old  channels.  It  was  evident  that  the 
late  engineering  metliods  had  not  answered  tlie  pur- 
pose, and  that  a  still  more  efi'ective  system  of  draina^o 
must  be  adopted  to  overcome  the  obstacle  in  the  way 
to  tliis  rich  ground.  A  deep  cut  was  proposed  tor 
shiieing  the  old  claims  along  the  wliole  length  of  Wil- 
liam Creek,  from  the  Canon  to  the  ^leadows.^' 

But  nothiny;  was  done  for  a  lon^r  time:  finallv  soiin' 
San  Francisco  capitalists  obtained  a  lease  of  ground  for 
four  miles  along  the  creek  for  twenty-one  years,  and 
the  Lane  and  Kurtz  Com})any  in  1870  erected  jxiwi  r- 
ful  steam-pumping  machinery,  on  a  scale  hitlnito 
unknown  in  the  colony.  A  sliaft  of  one  hundred  ami 
twenty-five  feet  was  sunk,  partly  in  rock,  and  dril'tin^' 

"  Tho  first  puMie  proposal  of  .-v  scheme  for  <1raining  the  Mr.ulow.s  was  in.i  li; 
in  18()8,  siij,'j,'i';-tting  tliat  the.  govoniinent  shouM  grant  a  hag  ll■aM(^  of  l'iihiihI 
equalling  400  clai!iiH,  each  50  feet  wide,  ami  exteiiiling  ;'eross  the  vallrv ;  tii" 
proponed  company  paying  !;?I00  for  each  claim,  i'irton  t  Wcikiy  <  ixn///-',  Oct. 
.^1,  I8t)8.  This  proijosition  was  aulunitted  to  a  nie.'ting  of  the  mint  is  mi 
William  Creek,  hut  was  ohjeeted  to  on  the  ground  tiiat  it  would  monii[iiilizc 
too  large  ou  area.  Id.,  July  17,  18ti9. 


itltie«  down 
niilcM  below 

ospectcd  l)y 

in  deptli — 
•f)m  ten  to 
fortunatcjly, 
gravol  was 
)'mg  worked; 
jGof  j\[arys- 

fatc  which 
ual  cxliaus- 

ou  William 
crock  aldiif, 
to  ISCullie 
I  tlio  iiiaiii- 
laiu-stay  cif 
rous  in  pro- 
to  l>lay,  tlie 
i  t(>  tlio  _t;'t)l(l 
nt  that  the 
L'd  the  pur- 
of  drainage 

in  tliu  way 
roposi'd  flip 
;th  of  AVil- 

iiially  sniiiL' 

'  ground  fnr 

years,  and 

:tod  jM)\vrr- 

C     llitlirl'^t 

uiidrv"!  and 


A\d  c 


drit'tiii'. 


idows  was  in.'.lc 
luasi;  (if  l'|iiii;h1 

tlio  vallr\;  til.' 
ti/  I'oiitiii'f,  Oft. 

tlio  iiiiiiirx  nil 
luld  luouiipiilizu 


rnOSPECTING  EXPEDITIONS. 


503 


lK\t;'an  in  the  direction  of  the  old  channel,  which  was 
struck  after  a  run  of  one  hundred  and  forty  feet,  yield- 
iuL,''  a  prospect  of  twenty-five  dollars,  followed  by  good 
riturus.  The  water  soon  compelled  a  suspension  of 
u[Hrations,  but  they  were  renewed  in  Juno  1873,  with 
a  tliirteen-inch  pump,  and  a  new  double  shaft  was 
sunk.'"  Xo  important  result  followed,  however,  and 
in  187G  the  Meadows  drainage  question  was  still  a 
subject  of  agitation/'' 

]ii  18G!)tliere  had  been  a  considerable  improvement 
in  tlie  mining  interest;  liarkerville  assumed  greater 
inifKjrtance  than  it  had  enjoyed  before  the  fire  of 
ISdS;  prospecting  expeditions  came  prominently  be- 
f(»rothe  j)ublic,  and  quartz-mining  began  tobetliought 
of.  Among  the  claims  still  worked  with  success  in  1870 
were  tliose  of  the  Forest  liose  and  Black  Jack  com- 
]);iiii<AS,  which  had  commenced  hydraulic  mining  in 
tlio  liill,  at  the  foot  of  the  Canon,  belonging  to  the 
.siiiie  series  (if  gravel  deposits  that  lo.  ^d  the  east  side 
ot'tlie  creek  above  it,  and  where  the  former  companyhad 

"'Tlio  qnvcrnment  grajiti'd  them  a  lease  for  21  years,  with  the  privilege  of 
i'xti  iiiliiig  it  for  10  years  thereafter.  //.  <V.  <.'oiiinicrciiil  IliL,  1S70,  l-'lil.  The 
li'.i~e  WU.S  signed  on  the  jiayiiieiit  of  a  hnniis  of  .S125  at  the  eoniiiuiieemeiit,  and 
.^i;."i()  as  ri'iit:'.!  annually  thereafter;  the  ground  extending  from  the  IViUarat 
iliiiin  to  .Mos(|uito  ( 'n't!'.;,  a  distance  of  4  miles,  one  mile  or  less  in  width.  The 
iniii]iaiiy  agreed  tohiiild  a  saw-mill  and  a  tcn-stamjuiiiartz-niill,  etc.  I'iitorvi 
W  "Llij  Ci)biiii4,  Aug.  3,  1870.  Edgar  IJewdney  made  surveys  for  t!ie  coin- 
niciici'ineut  of  operations.  A/.,  July 'JO,  1870.  The  capital  cmiiloyud  hy  Kurtz 
iiiid  Lane  was  ahout  87."), 000.  This  was  all  the  eapital  invested  liy  American 
citizen.-'  ill  this  province,  except  a  certain  fluctuating  amount  hy  a  hranchoflico 
el  tlie  tirni  of  Wells,  Fargo,  and  Company.  David  lULitiin,  ■  niipil  Stulcs 
<',,,, iiil  ti(  Vir/oriii,  in  ('iiiKiiicrci'il  lid.,  1S7I,  041.  Langevin,  the  Canadian 
iiuiii.'ster  of  jpuhlie  works,  visited  the  Meadows  in  1871.  The  grouud,  lie 
t;;!).-',  yleldi'd  laigely  hel'oro  it  w:ls  ahaudoned  the  first  time.  The  capital  of 
til'  cipiiipany  was  liomiiially  .S.')(>0,0(K).  Luniji'vln's  /{rpf.  Pu').  W'orLt,  !S7"2.  7. 
.\;t  T  eighteen  months  of  work  the  l..ane  and  Kurtz  Company  suspended 
<i|i  latidiis  on  ac'count  of  the  inoroascd  (juantity  of  water.  (.'onnni'rriiU  J!ii., 
I  ■'7-',  4H."i;  (.''irihoD  tividiiid,  Xov.  2,  1872.  After  a  short  cessation  they  hegan 
)iii:M|iiiig  tigain,  June  27,  1<S7."{,  with  thirteen-inch  puiiips,  and  drained  the 
^^'ll■k.s  gradually.  A  now  <louljlo  .shaft  w.'us  sunk;  a  ditch  a  mile  in  length 
wi-  constructed  under  a  contract  liy  llolioyd  and  Company,  and  a  saw-mdl 
w;i- ciinipleted.  CurilnX)  Sinliinl,  June  21,  'Ss,  1873. 

''  A  Iied-rocktiunie  w  is  considered  necessary  t\\r)andahalf  mihs  in  length, 
aii.l  costing  !ii;l r)l),0(K).  This  should  start  on  a  grade  from  the  falls  of  ^■alley 
'  1'  I  k  and  strike  the  Iied-roek  of  William  Creek  at  the  dcjitli  of  70  feet  from 
tlic  >iirf,u;e,  opening  to  miners  the  mo.<t  valuahle  portion  of  the  creek  lietweeii 
llic  Uallarat  claim  anil  tlie<^'afion,  embracing  the  town  of  Barkerville.  Bowron, 
111  Mill.  MiuM  J{ei<l.,  187C,  411). 


'^j  ¥ 


604 


MINING  m  CARIBOO, 


in  1871  already  obtained  rich  yields."  The  Black  Jack 
Company  constructed  a  ditch  a  mile  in  length.  Hy- 
draulic mining  Avas  also  proposed  for  the  west  side  (if 
William  Creek,  where  good  prospects  had  heen  found 
at  IMink  Gulch,  The  sliallow  di<jr<:jin<»'S  above  tlie  Canon 
were  still  worked,  and  the  bed-rock  laid  bare  for  miles 
witli  more  or  less  success,  A  costly  yet  profitaMc 
bed-rock  flume  occupied  the  ground  nearest  to  the 
Canon,  The  representative  settlement  of  tliis  uppor 
section  was  Richfield,  the  only  other  collection  of 
houses  along  the  creek,  besides  Barkerville,  dignilicd 
by  the  name  of  a  town,  and  consisting  of  the  court- 
house or  government  building,  a  saw-mill,  and  a  dozen 
other  buildings. 

In  18G5  the  government  cfranted  !j2,f)00  for  an  ex- 
pedition  to  prospect  the  Bear  Kiver  country,  and  to 
the  north-east  of  William  Creek,  but  seven  weeks' 
search  failed  to  develop  anything  of  value,  and  tlie  con- 
clusion was  formed  that  further  prospecting  nmst  lie 
directed  to  tlic  nortli-west.  Among  the  prospectiiiuf 
movements,  theivfore,  which  in  18G7  werc^  made  from 
William  Creek  in  search  of  new  fields,  several  took 
the  direction  of  William  Iliver,  On  this  route  lay 
^losquito  Creek,  five  miles  below  Barkerville,  Avliidi 
had  been  prospected  in  18G.']-4,  and  had  now  six  com- 
panies at  work.  Their  receipts  for  the  season  wt  re 
$1,000  and  upward,  the  Minnehahaand  Hocking  yieM- 
inij  from  twentv-five  to  fiftv  ounces  ix-r  Avcek.  hi 
18G8,  tlie  ^Minnehaha  returned  three  hundred  Jtiul 
twenty-four  ounces  tt>  one  pick  in  a  week,"  To  tlie 
north-west  lay  Sugar  Creek,  where  the  coarse,  well- 
washed  gravel  deposits  lying  on  a  hard  blue  slate  were 
found  to  yield  fairly,  Four  miles  beyoiul  this,  I'r- 
(pdiart  and  party  named  Mustang  (Veek,  and  t(»ok  up 
a  discovery  claim,  which,  in  September  18G7,  yiekled 

'"Till!  Forest  Rose,  in  1871,  ]>roilnpcil  in  a  week,  during  Lanfrevin's  visit, 
2().T  oiiiuvs,  anil  iu  anotlicr  week  '^'4")  ounees.  Lawjr.vin  ■■<  f,'i}if.  I'lili.  H'i"/,v, 
1«7I,  7. 

'■'  II  rn/r/f'.'t  Lccfurrii,  1S(>7.  1\\  Virf.nri'i  Wrclhi  Cnhvisf,  Sept.  S,  KSI'i7.  ^lU'l 
Miireiiol,  IStiS;  Cm il>ou  HiitliKd,  Aug.  I'J,  Uet.  14,  180.'). 


''     I 


ittif 


' 


THE  BALD  MOUNTAINS, 


0OS 


Black  J;ick 
igth.  Hy- 
vcst  side  of 
been  found 
i  the  Canon 
re  for  miles 
;  profitiiMe 
rest  to  tlin 
til  is  upper 
Election  of 
e,  di'j;inii('(l 
'  the  eourt- 
md  a  dozen 

for  an  ex- 
try,  and  to 
veil  weeks' 
,ud  the  eon- 
ig  must  Itc 
irospeetini; 
made  from 
!veral  took 

route  lay 
r'ille,  wliii'li 
w  six  eum- 
eason  were 
kinjTf  yield- 
week.  In 
[udred  and 
'■'  To  til." 
>arse,  wrll- 
'.  slate  wci'c 
1  this,  L'r- 
ud  took  up 
G7,  yii'lJt-'d 

ianj.'eviirs  \  i-it, 
l,t.  i'lih.    II  ../,■>■, 

lit. ;?,  iNiiT.  Hii'i 


from  eight  to  ten  dollars  a  day  to  the  man.^  The 
report  hereof  attracted  more  miners,  and  fine  gold  was 
found  up(m  all  the  bars  of  Willow  River,  which  ran 
longitudinally  through  the  rich  rocks  of  the  J^ald 
.Mountain  zone;  one  company  sank  a  shaft  in  search 
of  the  deep  '_'»-avels,  but  after  descending  some  fifty 
fivt,  with  alternate  dr-ifting  along  a  pitching  bed-rock, 
the  water  compelled  them  to  abandon  the  work.  Good 
prospects  were  found,  however,  and  efforts  were  made 
to  form  a  company  with  more;  funds,  wherewith  to 
prosecute  the  search  for  the  deep  deposits;  but  the 
miners  failed  to  respond."^ 

In  the  re<:;ion  east  of  the  Bald  Mountains  were 
.several  other  less  prominent  creeks  and  gulches,  as 
McArthur,  Steven,  Begg,  Whipsaw,  and  l^ite,  mined 
in  1 875-7,"  besides  considerable  rivers  whleh  remained 
undeveloped  on  account  of  their  remote  situation. 
In  the  list  mio^ht  be  included  the  diifufinirs  on  Clear- 
water,  and  the  upper  north  Thompson,  referred  to 
in  a  preceding  chapter,"^  and  rediscovered  by  the 
imckers  of  Sehvyn's  Bockv  Mountain  wolo^'ical  ex- 
ploring  party."-  The  position  of  the  latter  regiitn 
n[)oii    the  map  indicates  an  area  of  still  wholly  un- 

■"  C<trihno  Soitini'l,  Sei)t.  5,  1807.  It  was  also  called  Beavor  Crock  on  ac- 
i"iiiit  iif  tliu  luinicrdus  Iilmvits.  Tho  gravol-ik'iiosits,  at  tinii's  only  rijilit  fi'i't 
iliu  ji,  luul  lying  npoii  a  luinl  liliio  .skito,  rosciiiliU'il  those  of  Sngar  Creek,  ■villi 
•111  iiliiuulauee  of  water.  Caril/no  Sciilinvl,  (luoted  in  I'icturia  Colonist,  Sept. 
'A  KS(J7. 

•^  Cirrilioo  Sentinel,  Oct.  7,  1807.  Siibscrijition.s  were  niailo  in  1808  to  tho 
I'xteiit  of  Jr^d.OOII,  where  the  mutter  rested.  The  intention  was  to  sink  shafta 
.■iiiil  tlien  drift  tint il  the  main  dec])  channel  was  fonnd.  Vicl'irhi  DnHy  ('nldni.tf, 
.'.111.  7,  181)8.  The  sehenie  was  revived  in  I87-,  in  the  form  of  a  jirojiositioii 
flip  a  grant  of  mining  gn^nnd,  ami  in  Anunst  1M7"2,  resolntions  wt're  jiassed  at 
Uii'ki  iville  reeommemiing  the  jirojeet,  with  tiie  condition  that  Imnds  shonid 
li'' ^iviii  liy  (he  eompany  for  tlie  performauee  of  certain  work.  I'ii'/oria  t'ot- 
oiii.>,  Aug." 1 8,  |,S7'_>. 

-'-Sco  talmlar  statement  of  claims,  yield,  and  population,  note  50,  tliia 
tlmptiT. 

■'.Mentioned  liy(iov.  Douglas,  as  n^ported  hy  the  Indians  in  IsCil,  and 
liii'itnl  on  his  milling  ma)).  Iirili.<h  Cul'miliia  /'(»/■'/•-•.•,  iv.  'ti.  The  Oi  r  tiros- 
1'  1  ling  exprdilion  in  M  ly  18(1,5  ascended  from  Kamlooii  as  far  as  the  forks 
<'t  thi' (  Icarwater,  withont  finding  anything  of  vai  lo.  l.'itrilion  .S<  iitiiit  I,  Sept. 
;ii),  IS,;.-). 

'  I'oiiald  McFei',  nn  ohl  Californian  and  Cari'ioo  miner  lOliched  to  Sel- 
N^  Ml  s  party,  I'eiiorted  'liig  diggings'  yielding  coarse  gold  fifty  miles  from 
'  '  iiwater  Jiiver,  in  the  same  lange  df  mountains  tiiat  strike  tliroinzh  the  ( 'ari- 
l""i  iiiiues.   L'ooiuy  s  luyuil,  Sept.  l-'Iid,  in  i'iclorid  Ihiili/  Coloiiint,  Get.  8,  1871. 


"W 


V   St 


M 


i"- 


t 


i 


E^fli 


ll 


m 


^    la: 


'  t  -if . 


f't. 


ip 


^W!"' 


f'V 


I 


me 


MINING  IN  CARIBOO. 


developed  mininf:^  country  in  the  Cariboo  zone,  twice 
the  size  of  that  hitherto  occupied  by  the  miners,  not 
to  nieution  the  region  within  the  Kocky  Mountains 
proper. 

Crossing  to  the  western  slopes  of  the  Cariboo  Bald 
Mountains  we  find  the  principal  mining  district  ujkiii 
the  Lightning  and  Swift  liiver  branches  of  C(.)tt()ii- 
wood  liiver,  and  the  most  inii)ortant  camps  on  A'aii 
Winkle  and  Lowliee  creeks,  with  a  history  parallel  Id 
that  of  Antler  and  William  creeks.  TJie  valley  of 
Lightning  Creek  was  explored  early  in  1801  :y  thrcu 
pr()s[)ectors.  Bill  Cunningham,  Jack  Hume,  and  Jim 
Bell,  who  first  descended  to  Jack  of  Clubs  Creek, 
and  thence  struck  southward  over  the  forest-covered 
mountains.  The  hardships  encountered  in  doscendiiiL;- 
the  steep  banks  of  the  creek  evoked  from  Cunningliam 
the  expression,  "Boys,  tliis  is  lightning;"  whereJipmi 
his  companions  jocosely  acceptc*!  this  as  the  iiauic 
of  the  stream."''  After  a  rough  journey  they  were 
obliged  to  fall  back  upon  their  base  of  sup}di(>s  at 
Antler  Creek,  without  discovering  the  riches  wliirli 
shortly  afterward  placed  Ijightuing  Creek  among  the 
famous  localities  of  Caril)oo. 

In  July  1801  Ned  Campbell  and  his  compniiimis 
opened  a  ricli  claim  several  hundreel  yards  abt)ve  the 
site  of  tlie  town  of  Van  Winkle,  known  as  tlie  seeoinl 
canon,  from  which  they  took  out  seventeen  hundivd 

A  Lrreat  rush  followed 


ounces  i 


n  three  days'  washmg. 


•20 


"'.Tolm  ]'A-;ins,  in  M/'ii.  Miiirs  Ript.,  1S75,  10.  This  story  Evans,  tlio 
iiiini'ig  surveyor  <if  Liglituiiig  Cruok,  ilmibtK'.ss  olitaiiiod  from  Ihu  ixiplorirs 
tliuiii.si'lvcs.  'i\ilii!siii  Kvaiis  varies  the  aouDiiiit  Iiy  attribuf.ing  tlio  reiii.ii  k  tn 
tlio  <iccurrcncu  of  oiiu  of  thi;  tirriliu  thiiniler-.storiiis  eoiiiinoii  at  cvrtaiii  stasdii.s 
ill  tliu  Cariboo  Mountains.    '/'.  Er.nin,  '\n  On  rl«ii<l  Moti//ili/,  Marcli  liSTO,    'Jii'.'. 

^"Ball,  tlio  a.ssistant  gold  foniniissioniT,  rc'iiortud  that  Nu<l  CaniiilnH's 
claim  yiuMud  900  duncos  one  day,  500  ounces  on  another,  and  lilX)  ouiicii  mi 
a  third  day.  Dowihix'  /), sjxtlr/,,  Oct.  'J4,  1S()1,  in  B.  C  I'liyn-^,  iv.  (il.  The 
<)[)ening  of  CanipbiU's  claim  cost  .^'J.-f.OOO,  but  it  yielded  ^ilOO.OOO  iu  thao 
liu)nths.  /tr(>ifn/<  L'.ixai/,  .'11.  The  disc'ovcry  was  on  tlie  later  Sjiruci'  'iiiii- 
jiaiiy's  gnmnd,  covering  Xcil  CainiibcU's  and  the  Whitehall  claim  ad  jniniii;,' 
him,  which  yiehlcd  ^'JOO.OOO  togetlier.  Oirrl'Uid  Mouthhi,  March  ISTd,  2il'-'. 
It  was  reported  that  Ned  C'aiiijil)i  11  and  his  friends  took  out  two  ouiu' s  tn 
the  panful,  and  washed  out  fc^l,100  iu  a  day,  alinoat  aa  soou  as  they  cum- 
niunctid  to  >*ork.  JJazlitl'a  Cariboo,  1-5. 


Jtii 


■/    S'! 


LAST  CHANCE  AND  LIGHTNING. 


507 


tJiis  discovery,  particularly  to  Van  Winkle  Creek, 
wluTe  2,000  feet  at  the  lower  end  yielded  from  $100 
to  $250  a  day  to  the  man,  through  the  season.  Up 
the  creek  the  lead  disappeared.  The  total  product 
of  tliis  stream  in  October  1876  was  $500,904  from 
IjGOO  feet  of  ground  running  with  the  creek,  and 
viiivin<y  from  200  to  300  feet  in  width. 

The  diggings  on  Last  Chance  Creek,  another  trib- 
utary of  Lightning  Creek,  near  Van  Winkle,  were 
likewise  opened  in  1801.  The  Discovery  Company, 
consisting  of  four  men,  took  out  forty  pounds  of  gold 
ill  one  day,  and  the  yield  that  season,  from  half  a 
mile  of  the  creek,  was  at  least  $250,000.  The  Chis- 
jiolni,  Davis,  and  Anderson  tributaries,  near  the  same 
place,  yielded  also  quite  a  quantity  of  gold  from  tlieir 
sliallow  parts."'^  The  second  season  on  Lightning 
Creek  yielded  comparatively  little,  for  the  gravel, 
being  loose  and  porous,  was  difhcult  to  work,  though 
tlie  pay  deposit  was  only  from  eight  to  thirty  fi;et 
lieliiw  the  surface.'-"* 

I'^rom  Eagle  Creek  to  the  Water  Lily  claim  every 
foot  of  ground  was  occujiied,  and  shafts  were  sunk  in 
mail}'  places;  but  they  all  proved  unsuccessful  owing 
to  tlie  inefficiency  of  the  draining  machinery,  and  after 
Iwii  n:')re  seasons  of  disastrous  trial,  in  the  autumn  of 
ls(;4  they  were  all  abandoned.  In  1870,  the  Spruce, 
tlun  called  the  ])avis,  as  well  as  the  Koss,  Lightning, 
A'aii  Winkle,  Vancouver,  and  Victoria  companies  re- 
sumed work  by  sinking  shafts  into  the  deep  channel, 
ami  with  the  aid  of  improved  machinery  and  methods 
the  water  was  controlled.  The  last  three  comi)anies, 
situated  below  the  town  of  Van  Winkle,  I'lfected  their 
oliject  by  sinking  through  the  bed-rock  at  the  side  of 
the  creek,  and  thence  dril'ting  into  tlie  chaimcl.  At 
the  same  time  a  costly  'bed-rock  drain'  was  opened 
at  ihe  lower  end  of  the  diggings.  The  develo])ments 
ma<le  underground  at  ditl'erent  times  proved  the  ex- 

■'"  nuirmii  01)  .\ntti'»,  7;  John  Etnm,  iii  Min.  Mines  Rejit.,  1875,  10. 

■' Hiuini's  E.ix(iij,  ;n. 


W 


I    ■9         Hi 

Wll 


U  '' 


ill!   '   < 


;^  iif 


i 


miP::: 


Jail  . 


50S 


MININGS  IN  CARIBOO. 


istenc(i  of  separate  old  clianncls  at  different  eleva- 
tions, consequently  of  different  ages.^" 

As  a  result  of  this  sueeessful  eriii^ineei'inj^  feat  fresh 
localities  were  opened  for  a  distance  of  five  miles  along 
the  creek,  and  gold  bet;'an  to  (low  again  to  some 
extent,  the  total  yield  of  thirteen  claims  amounting 
in  Xovember  1875  to  $2,179,272,  of  which  the  Vic- 
toria proJuccd  $451,042,  the  Van  Winkle  $;]r,r!,!)S;l, 
and  the  Vancouver  $274,190.*'  But  this  showing  was 
by  no  means  so  satisfactory  as  it  seemed,  for  it  emhracrd 
only  the  successful  companies,  and  did  not  jioint  out  the 
ex])enses,  which  were  very  large,  amounting  in  many 
claims  to  from  $40,000  to' $7oioOO.-''' 

Quite  a  nund)er  of  fortunes  were  paid  out,  in  fact, 
on  inc;flicient  machinery,  and  in  battling  with  excess- 
ive diliiculties  of  ground  and  water  to  reach  the  rich 
sti'ata  from  which  a  few  were  drawing  large  returns, 
wliile  otlicrs  were  doomed  to  C()m[)arative  (.hsappoiiit- 
ment.  Both  the  expenditure  and  the  yield  served, 
however,  to  resuscitate  the  district,  and  by  1875  tin; 
diy'iijinus  and  towns  on  Lin]itnin«x  Creek,  A'an  Wiidde, 
antl  Stanley  had  taken  the  first  place  in  C'ai'iboo  i'or 
production,  prosperity,  and  population,  while  William 

-"Tlio  Butcher  and  Discovery  claims  wore  on  a  boucli  at  a  consiilcnililu 
lieiixlit  iiliovo  tlio  jireseiit  elianiiel,  opiiosite  the  South  Wales  ehiiui,  Wurkiii:; 
helovv  it.  Siinilarly  the  Dunliar  ami  \X  Dorado  deposits  were  on  a  liigh  Imirli 
(if  the  lied-roek  opposite  the  I'ersevenuiee  uiul  Koss  claims,  working  tlie  ilre[i 
channel. 

■""  In  nine  months  the  Van  Wiidile,  Victoria,  and  Vancouver  mines  alimo 
yieldeil  aliout  .'?."iO;),00(),  of  which  .S'JlS/iO'J,  came  from  the  \'an  Winkle.  Tlio 
wliole  of  William  Creek  during  tlie  same  time  ])ro(luced  only  .S(kS,()01),  a  third 
of  whicii  was  extracted  at  Conklin  (Julch.  Tin'  total  amounts  yieldeil  liy 
the  thirteen  leading  claims  from  the  renewal  of  nuning  oi)erations  to  .Noviiii- 
her  I,  1S75,  wore  approximately  as  follows:  Ihitch  am'  Siegel  mines,  now  tlio 
Prcsevurancc  claim,  .Si;j(),000;  Dunhar,  .S;]a,();)0;  Discovery  and  BuI.Ihi', 
$i'_'0,()OU;  Camphelland  Whitehall,  .'iJil.'OO.OO;);  South  Wales,  .Sltl.,").'?!;  I.i.la- 
liing,  .SI.");!,!);;-.';  Point,  .Sl.'iO.O'.T);  Spruce,  .SDD.StOS;  CosteUo,  .'?-0,47(l;  VuK:iii, 
§.')(;,!».").") ;  Vanc.uiver,  8'274,li)0:  Victoria,  ■S4.')l,(i4l.':  Van  Winkle.  .SiiC.i.'.iS.): 
total,  !i•L\~'^:^,•l.  Mhl.  Miiit.f  /;,}'/.,  is;,-.,  ll.  in  ISTl  the  South  Wales  (  o;ii- 
J)any  iiroduced  diii-ing  the  last  three  Weeks  of  Aug.  .'i'JS,  '2\'i,  and -.">l)  niiiur< 
of  g<ild  respectively.  Lnii'jiriii's  ll<]il.  J'lili.  H'dz/w  ]>i]t.,  1S7-,  7.  Duii;ig 
lS7l!  a  niimln  r  of  claims  on  Lightning  Creek  continued  to  yield  handsoiiirly. 
J>.  Erk-ifcin,  U.  S.  Consul,  in  ('niiiiiiriTinl  /,'rl.,  187'J,  4'.t."). 

•"One  third  of  the  money  would  liavo  lu'eii  eiiotigli  in  most  ca.ses  had  t!io 
companies  jiossessed  machinery  of  sntiicient  capacity  a;  the  eommenceiii'  nt, 
hut  they  Were  mo.^tly  |]oor,  coping  with  enornioiis  dilHcMlues  in  their  istriigi^lo 
for  uxistcuce.   Jilin  Ecaiia,  in  Min.  Mines  lUi'l.,  1S7."),  11. 


!nt  elcva- 

foat  fivsli 
lilc'S  along 
to  souie 
Linounting 
L  tlio  Yic- 

8;u;r!,i)s;;, 

c)\vin,!g  ^vas 

einbract  (I 

nt  out  the 

1  m  iiuiiiy 

it,  ill  fart, 
itli  excos- 
h  the  rich 
;'o  ivturiis, 
lisappoliit- 
■hl  served, 
1875  the 
Ml  Winkh', 
'ai'ilxx)  tnr 
|e  AVilliam 

a  cousiiU'ivilili: 

laim,  Wdi-kiii:,' 

u  a  liifili  111  iii'li 

king  tlicj  i\n-[> 

er  niii'.i'S  alone 
Wiiikk'.  Tio 
;(;8,()()0,  a  thii<l 
iits  yk'l'Uil  I'V 
idiis  to  >,'o\  iiu- 
iiiiiieH,  ii""'  till! 
and  lUitrliii-, 
141,:):!1;  i.i-;.t- 
0,47ti;  Vul'i'i. 
ikk\  ?<;iCi:i.'.i^:i: 
th  Wal.se,!,,,- 
uul  '-T)!)  niinri^ 
;•_',  7.  I'lniUi! 
Ill  liaiidsiiiurly. 

t  cases  liail  t'lo 

lllUIK'lU-t'llli  lit, 

1  their  htnigglo 


LOWHEE  CREEK. 


509 


Creek,  with  its  princijial  town  of  Barkcrvillo,  had  fallen 
into  decay.  The  .southern  branch  of  Cottonwood  River 
had  also  a  rich  district  on  Lowhee  Creek,  one  of  its 
head-waters,  which  at  one  time  in-oinised  to  rival  Wil- 
llaiu  C  "eek.  Amoii;^  its  first  locators  was  Richard 
Willoughby,  an  Englishnian,  who  from  July  to  Sep- 
tember 18G1  worked  a  claim  having  a  blue  slate  bed- 
rock within  four  feet  of  the  surface,  and  obtained  as 
much  as  84  ounces  in  one  day,  the  latter  yield  being 
§  1 ,000  a  week.  The  Jordan  and  Abbott  claims  were  at 
about  the  same  time  producing  80,  1)0,  and  100  ounces 
daily ,^''  and  Patterson  with  his  brother  took  out  $10,- 
000  in  five  weeks,  one  day  yielding  73  ounces,  partly 
ill  nuggets  up  to  ten  ounces  in  weight.  Xotwith- 
stiuiding  these  and  other  good  yields,  the  creek  did  not 
attract  tlio  attention  that  might  have  been  expected, 
partly  owing  to  the  rich  discoveries  elsewhere,  and 
their  greater  accessibility  to  travel.  The  develop- 
ments of  18G3-4  excited  a  little  more  interest  when 
the  Sage-Miller  claim,  for  instance,  yielded  for  a  con- 
tsick'rable  time  at  the  rate  of  300  and  400  ounces  a 
day.  After  being  worked  profitably  for  nearly  two 
seasons,  it  still  continued  to  yield  80  ounces  dailv.^^ 

The  deposits  were  evidently  not  of  even  value,  for 
tlic  inining  population,  which  was  never  very  large, 
fell  off  gradually  after  this  season,  and  little  effort  was 
made  to  bring  in  water  for  sluicing  pur[)oses.  The 
\  aughan-Sweeney  ditch,  carrying  one  hundred  and 
I'iglity  inches  from  Stony  (iulch,  partially  sup[)lied  this 
Maiit  in  the  autumn  of  I8()r),  but  the  following  season 
did  not  prove  sufficiently  remunerative,  and  in  I  807 
most  of  the  claims  were  allowed  to  fall  into  the  hands 
of  t]i(>  (^'hinese,  whose  earnings  could  never  lie  ascer- 
tained.''*    Canon  Creek,  a  small  tributary  on  the  left 


^-  I'attcrsoa  found  19')  ounces,  the  rosiilt  of  a.  day's  work  liy  four  men.  Jlaz- 
litt'sCiirilion,  124-5;  Doiii/liin'  Jhapatch,  Sept.  10,  1801,  in  B.  ('.  I'lqn  is,  iv.  58. 

;'''.l/'(-yi.'.s  r.  /.  oil'/  Ji.  C,  1249. 

'"The  Calaveras  Company  in  August  1807  wash  id  out  100  ounces  in  4 
(lays.  ATiothcr  ohtaineil  55  ounces  in  a  week.  CuriliDi)  Snithiil,  Sept.  .'{,  1807. 
Tlnro  was  in  1800  a  population  of  50  white  lutiuund  L'l  Chiii'ise  on  the  creek. 
yao  Wiatiniii6ter  Ihiald,  July  'J4,  1800. 


i:-;    1 1.  ■. • '  .'J!  L 
1 


III 


'^W. 


i^  :  . 

!     I 
1     : 

!;(!^ 


:»!>« 


»'J 


"if 


510 


MINING  IN  CARIBOO. 


bank  of  the  Fraser,  midway  between  the  nioiitli  of 
tlio  Quesnel  and  Fort  George,  formed  the  extreme 
north-western  limit  of  the  Cariboo  region.  Prosper 
tors  were  probably  aequainted  with  the  creek  at  an 
early  date,  but  the  first  re[)orts  of  diggings  were  made 
ill  ISGa.''''  The  following  season  Hixon's  party  of 
five  men  ascended  it  for  twenty-six  miles  to  a  small 
tributary  which  was  named  after  the  leader.  Obtain- 
ing gooti  prospects,  they  formed  two  companies  and 
brought  in  ditches  to  work  ground  which  yit'lded 
from  forty  to  sixty-five  cents  to  tiie  pan.^** 

In  ]y(!7  tlie  whites  abandoned  tlie  main  creek  to 
the  Chinese,  and  occupied  Fery  Creek  tributaiy, 
where  tlie  sliallow  diirofinsfs  yielded  from  six  to  eiolit 
dollars  a  day.^'  Canon  Creek  tributaries  were  still 
occupied  in  1875,  and  worked  with  the  aid  of  ditches/' 
Although  the  yield  was  unimportant,  the  stream 
excited  some  interest  by  the  indication  it  gave  of 
strata  formations  difierent  from  those  of  central  Cari- 
boo, as  exemplified  by  false  bed-rocks. ""^^  Of  still 
greater  interest  was  the  discovery  by  Hixon's  party, 
in    18GG,   of  gold  quartz,  which  was   soon  found  to 

^■' The  approacli  to  the  Caflon  Creek  appears  to  liavo  been  made  hy  way 
of  Willow  River,  aa  the  diggings  when  lirst  reported  were  described  to  lie  '  ten 
miles  from  Beaver  Pass.  Ten  men  were  on  the  ground  in  1805.  i'unhm) 
iSi'iifhifl,  (pioted  in  Viclorln  Weekli/  ColoiiiM,  July  4,  18C5. 

^''Finding  good  ground,  they  at  first  worked  the  hanks  of  Hixon  Ciiik 
while  the  water  was  high.  The  ricline.ss  of  the  placers  discovered  was  sulii- 
cient  to  enalile  the  owners  of  claims  to  pay  wages  of  §10  a  day.  The  jilacir 
mining  operations  began  by  finding  prospects  of  §1  and  §1.2.")  to  the  pan.  bi 
a  place  '2S  feet  by  10  feet  §70  was  t;ikcn  out  in  one  day.  Jicpls.  of  Wali/n-n 
and  lli.rnu,  in  Victoria  Cotoiii.it,  July  3,  31,  1800. 

^'  The  main  creek  was  oecuijicd  by  150  Chinese.  Cariboo  Sentinel  and  tlio 
Victoria  Colotiift,  July  2,S,  1807. 

•"'  Russian  Ci-eek  (Iocs  not  appear  upon  the  record  till  1875.  It  is  descri'Kil 
as  locate<l  nine  miles  north  of  Beaver  Pass.  A  prospect  was  obtained  tlii  it 
in  the  autumn  of  1874  which  was  deemed  sufficiently  good  to  justify  briiiuin^' 
in  a  ditch,  which  was  duly  completed  ready  for  the  hydraulic  macliiiKiy. 
Carihoo  Sciitiiivl,  March  27,  1875. 

'''•'On  all  of  the  lower  part  of  Hixou  Creek,  including  the  Blue  Lead  Cum- 
pany's  ground,  and  half  a  mile  beyond  to  the  Go-ahead  Company's  grouinl, 
the  '  bed-rock  '  was  a  '  soft  sandstone, '  supposed  to  have  gravel  under  it.  1  "• 
toria  Coloni.it,  July  31,  1800.  On  Fery  Creek  there  was  also  a  'false  luii- 
rock,' described  as  a  liind  of  lava.  The  miners  never  penetrate<l  thniuj;li 
these  sedimentary  strata,  but  contented  themselves  with  cleaning  uji  tlic 
'  scraggly '  gold  of  local  origin  which  the  cruoka  had  concentrated  upon  tlieir 
surfaces.  Id.,  July  23,  1807. 


mmnn 


THE  SHORT  SEASONS. 


611 


'>i 


0  nioutli  of 
he  extrt'iiie 

Prosper- 
;rcok  at  an 

wero  made 
8    party  of 

to  a  small 
r.  Obtaiii- 
ipaulus  and 
ich  yielded 

in  crock  to 
tributaiy. 
ux  to  oi^-lit 
i  wore  still 
:)fditdios.'^^ 
-he  stream 
it  ^ave  of 
'utral  Cari- 
'  Of  still 
on's  party, 

1  found  to 

I  made  liy  way 
•iheil  to  lie  '  ti'ii 
1  18U5.   Ctinhiii) 

if  Hixon  ( 'ri'ck 
•ored  was  sulli- 
TIk'  jilacci- 
:o  t]u!  pan.  III 
Hs.  of  Wntilma 

enliml  and  tlic 

It  is  dosiTilii'il 
obtained  tli'ic 
iistit'y  briiiiiin^' 
tic  niachiiKi-y. 

luc  Lead  Cum- 
[lany's  firoiiinl, 
under  it.  I  /'- 
a  'false  lini- 
rated  tiii'"U^'h 
uaiiing  u[i  tlif 
ted  uiioii  tlLuir 


extend  on  all  sides,  some  of  it  in  apparently  wc^ll 
defined  ledges  so  as  to  justify  a  systematic  develop 
nient  thereof.*" 

Among  the  elements  which  governed  mining  events 
in  the  Cariboo  region  were  the  comparative  inaccessi 
])ility  of  the  diggings,  and  the  shortness  of  tlie  open 
season,  alternating  with  the  '  close  season,'  the  severe 
A\ inter;  but  it  has  been  seen  that  wherever  a  sufHcicnt 
drainage  could  be  provided  by  bed-rock  drains,  or  by 
means  of  sufHciently  powerful  pumping  machinery, 
tile  conditions  of  the  country  permitted  underground 
Avork,  and  to  this  the  severity  of  the  climate  proved 
no  obstacle.  So  rich  were  the  concentrations  on  the 
lied-rock  of  the  old  channels,  that  drifting  for  them 
was  indeed  profitable  to  a  degree  probably  never 
e(|ualled  in  any  other  gold-mining  country.  They  lay 
in  heaps  at  the  angles,  and  in  crevices  and  pockets,  on 
the  bed-rock  of  the  buried  streams;  but  in  the  smaller 
stri'anis  particularly  the  leads  were  subject  to  abrupt 
changes  in  level  and  direction  that  bafiHed  the  most 
e\})erienced.  This  inequality  of  distribution,  caused 
partly  by  glaciers  and  slides,  was  in  many  cases  more 
a]>])arent  than  real,'*^  however,  the  difhculty  calling 
simply  for  systematic  working  and  a  sufWcient  expen- 
diture of  money.  A  layer  of  cla\^  everywhere  cover- 
ing' the  deep  channels  ])rotected  the  subHuvial  drifts 
along  the  old  beds,  from  what  would  otherwise  have 
amounted  to  an  extraordinary  and  ruinous  influx  of 

'"In  ISGG  aljoxit  8,")00  worth  of  coarse  Cafion  Creek  gold,  which  had  been 
litile  .sidijectcd  to  tlic  action  of  water,  was  exliibited  at  the  Hank  of  Kritish 
Cohiiubia  in  Victoria.  It  was  obtained  from  a  .streak  three  feet  below  the 
Huii'uce  and  was  mixed  with  fra/jmeiits  of  quartz.  I'irfnria  ColnniM,  May  2!t, 
1'^  iti.  The  quartz  ledge.s  for  which  the  creek  afterwards  liecanie  noted  were 
(liscovercil  by  llixon'.s  party  three  miles  below  their  diggings.  Jti'^iort  of  llirnn 
toJii'/;ieS])alilin!/,in  VkUiria  Week!;/ Colonist,  July  ^i,  lS(i(j. 

*'If  the  streams  had  run  in  exactly  the  same  chamiels  as  they  did  when 
the  gold  came  down,  the  matter  would  have  been  simple  enough,  but  great 
cll:Ln^e3  had  taken  place  since  then.  The  changes  here  referred  to  were  duo 
p  irtly  to  the  .slides  which  had  changed  the  position  of  the  stream-beds,  but 
they  were  more  commonly,  perhaps,  the  result  of  glaciers  occupying  the 
t  uioii.s  after  tlie  old  conceutr.-.tion.s  had  been  deposited.  Milton  and  Chvcuik'a 
^'uiihux/st  I'lusm'ja  by  Lund,  3G8. 


III! 


p 


r:i 


I 


512 


MININU  IX  CARIBOO. 


water,  and  rendered  underj^round  j^lacor-niining  alto- 
gether impracticable.  On  William  Creek,  and  ni'uily 
everywliere  in  Cariboo,  the  })ay  .strata  consiated  of  blue 
clay,  with  various  admixtures.'*^ 

In  comicction  with  the  difficulties  mentioned  came 
this,  that  the  rich  deposits  were,  as  a  rule,  trom  twelve 
to  one  hundred  feet  beneath  the  surface,  under  the 
beds  or  banks  t)f  streams,  frecjuentlv  runninj^  thr'ou^h 
swani[)S  and  lakes,  and  on  the  beds  of  former  lakes. 
8uch  a  state  of  thinj^s  could  not  fail  to  render  the  iielil 
unattractive  to  individual  adventurers,  since  prospect- 
ing- without  al)undant  resources  became  unj)roHtable.'' 

These  gravel-deposits  on  the  hills  gave  rise  to  tlie 
reiterated  hopes  of  developments  like  those  of  the  old 
river  hill-gravels  of  California,  but  they  often  proved 
vain,'*'*  because  the  altitude  of  the  gravel-layers  was  not 
thesame,  Insome  instances,  as  on  William  Creek,  there 
were  two  distinct  leads  with  difl'erent  qualities  of  gokl, 

*-Oii  sinking  a  shaft  through  the  alluvial  ileposits  of  the  strcani-InMls  df 
Carihoo,  the  miner  comes  to  a  clay  stratum  wliicii  is  sometiiiies  as  inuih 
as  ',i  feet  in  tliickness.  'Tiiis  stratum  of  clay  was  a  great  henelit  tn  tiio 
miners,  lieiiig  a  jirotection  against  water.'  Under  the  clay  was  the  oliUr  allu- 
vial deposit  varying  from  0  iiiclies  to  18  feet  in  thickness,  in  which  lay  tlio 
gold.  Ferifx  (I'olil  Seiurli('!<,  MS.,  2,  .'}.  The  pay  <lirt  on  \\'illiam  ( 'reck  was 
generally  from  8  to  5  feet  ill  tiiickness,  and  was  worked  out  in  low  galh  rii.<. 
Milton  anil  Clifddlr's  Nortlnn'H  J'liKMr/e.  hy  Lmid,  373.  In  the  Steele  claim  mi 
William  Creek  it  Wiis  (J  feet  tliick,  and  consisted  of  a  hlue  clay  mixeil  with  ilt- 
composed  slate  and  gravel.  DouijUis,  \n  Rairiiii'js'  Coiifulirntioii,  118.  The  liM 
in  Carihoo  was  found  '  in  the  hluisli  clay  wiiieli  is  on  and  in  the  slaty  hi4i";a 
sometimes  as  far  as  a  foot  deep;  streaks  of  yellowish  clay  are  also  found,  wliiili 
are  sonietinies  very  licli.'  Itmiim's  EnKdif,  20.  Ou  William  Crcik  it  was 
'scattered  through  hard  hlue  clay  in  pieces  weighing  from  oO  cents  tn  •-.').' 
It  cost  abo\it  .§4,000  in  18.J2  to  sink  a  shaft  to  the  hed-rock,  less  than  ]();)  tret. 
Vourtmifs  Mill.  B.  C,  M.S.,  (i. 

^■'^luch  faith  was  entertained  among  the  miners  in  the  richness  of  the  .IrC'i) 
ground  on  Willow  liiver.  Jack  of  Cluljs,  Antler,  Cunningham,  and  ntii.  r 
favorably  situated  creeks;  and  claims  that  were  well  opened  in  many  iiistaiicis 
paid  steadily  as  much  as  SoOO  a  day  to  tlic  man.  The  Nasou  Coiiipaiiy,  o:i 
the  other  hand,  expended  §30,000  to  test  tlie  deep  ground  on  Antler  (rcik 
up  to  1875  witliout  success.  John  liowron,  in  Min.  Mines  lieyt.,  187.'),  1-. 

*'Tlie  great  problem  of  finding  gold  in  the  hills  was  solved  this  Viar, 
wrote  'B.  1).,'  Barkerville  cor.,  Oct.  23d,  in  Virtoriii  JIVc/l///  Citloiii.^/,  Xnv.  i, 
181)5.  Another  writer  more  dctinitely  expressed  his  belief  that  lull-ilii;--iL'>i 
■would  1)0  found  along  a  supposed  ancient  stream  running  from  the  liiU 
Moimtains  across  tlie  head  of  MeCallum  (Uilch  thrfiugh  the  hill  on  the  i'  i^t 
side  of  William  Creek,  thence  to  tlio  middle  or  upper  portion  of  Curikliii 
(iulcli,  behind  the  line  of  the  United  and  Aurora  claims,  and  on  to  the  !•'.  lest 
Rose  and  I'rairie  Flower  claims  at  the  Meadows,  formerly  a  lake,  or  one  it  :i 
series  of  largo  lakes.     JlanwU'd  LwXurvs,  10,  17. 


PRODUCT. 


r)i3 


.\'.i,' 


lining  alto- 

and  lu'iuly 

sted  ot'l)liie 

ioned  came 
Torn  twi'lve 
.  uiidur  the 
[i«^  through 
nnor  lulus. 
Icr  the  field 
•G  prospcct- 
Lprofitahle,''' 
!  rise  to  the 
e  of  tlu!  (lid 
fteu  proved 
'crs  was  not 
Jrcolv,  there 
tics  of  yold, 

e  strcani-lmds  (if 

lOtimos  as  imii'li 

t  liuuflit  to  t!iu 

IS  tlio  iiIiUt  allii- 

11  wliicli  l;iy  tlic 

Uiaiii  (.'ivtk  was 

11  low  galhries. 

Stoulo  claim  mi 

iiiixuil  «  itli  il<'- 

,118.     TIicl;i.M 

ho  slaty  Imtiiiia 

'so  fdUUll,  wliiili 

II  C'rui'li  it  was 
50  coiits  to  •-.').' 
ss  tliau  100  l\'ot. 

IICSS  of  till!  lil'Op 

laiii,  anil   otlirr 
many  iiistaiicfS 

III  C'ii!ii])aiiy,  (la 
III  Autlor  t'n'L'k 
'..,  ]S7,'),  1-'. 
IvL'il  this  yiar, 
['oloiii.-f,  Xiiv.  7, 
at  hill-cii.t.'- ai'i 

from  till.;  il'1'1 

hill  on  thr  I'l^-t 

tiou  of  C'liiikliu 

nil  to  the  l''..ri.!>t 

,u!i.o,  or  oiiu  ui  .1 


helow  the  Lvel  of  the  present  stream,*^  and  it  was 
(ihscrvod  in  niost  Kiinini^  operations  ujton  the  gohl- 
luMiiiii''  creeks  of  (V'rihoo  that  tlie  ])avin<if  yfround 
was  usually  liiuited  to  an  area  of  a  mile  and  a 
liaU'  to  two  niiljs  alonj^  tlio  centre  of  their  course, 
or  within  that  aroj,,  at  least  the  principal  niininij;  was 
done,  unlike  that  ot  the  o(d(|-l)earin<^  streams  of  Cali- 
fornia, which  j)aid  throughout  from  source  to  mouth.''*' 
The  rocks  of  the  Bald  Mountains,  consisting'  of 
nutainor{)hic  clay  slate  traversed  by  broad  bands 
iinprfLifnated  with  auriferous  quartz,  were  indeed  only 
a  sample  of  numerous  other  zones  in  the  slaty  g(dd- 
lieaiinijf  rocks  of  the  northern  })lateau,  to  be  brou<.jht 
into  ])rominence  as  soon  as  the  proj^ress  of  develop- 
ments would  pcrmif*' — developments  which  durinj^  the 
two  tiecades  comnu  '•ins*'  with  the  discovery  of  ^old  in 
British  Columbia  were  retarded  chiefly  by  the  great 
cost  of  supplies  and  transportation. 

Amon*^  those  who  went  to  Cariboo  in  18G1,  one 
third,  according  to  Macfie's  estimate,  made  indepen- 
dent fortunes,  another  third  netted  sev^ei-al  hundred 
jiouiids  sterling',  and  the  remaining  third  returned 
from  the  mines  wholly  unsuccessful. '*'*     All  who  were 

''Tho  one  containcil  gold  alloyed  with  a  good  deal  of  silver,  the  other  gold 
of  a  lii  ;hrr  eolor  and  much  purer — liotli  liattered  and  worn  to  suoli  a  degn^e 
iis  to  iinjily  transiiortatioii  for  some  distance.  The  gold  of  Lowhco  Creek 
was  ii'si  worn  than  that  of  William  Creek;  that  of  Lightning  Creek  was  more 
so,  and  found  in  smaller  iiartieh.'s.  Mitfnii  and  C/ii'iu/lr'n  Nortlnri-.tt  Pussinjc  hi/ 
I'll  I,  ;{.)7- 8.  A  talilo  of  assays  of  gold  from  dill'ereiit  jiortioiis  of  Carilioo, 
liiai!tj  hy  Agrell  at  Portland,  Oieiion,  in  ISlil,  showed  the  averaije  to  lie  .§l<i 
til  tlie  ounce.  Jfiizlilt'.i  Ciiri'ioci,  l.'iS.  The  gold  from  the  several  creeks  of  Cari- 
lioo (lill'iied,  however,  lioth  in  aiipcaranco  and  value.  On  William  Creek  it 
wassiaootli,  water-worn,  and  largly  alloyed  with  silver.  On  Lowhee  Creek, 
five  ihihs  distant,  the  golden  jiartieles  had  a  more  crystalline  structure,  were 
I'Xi'ciiliiiuly  pure,  and  worth  f_'  an  ounce  more  than  on  William  Creek.  Lien/. 
P'lluii;  in  I.oiid.  (leoij.  Soo.,  .Innr.,  xxxiv.  101. 

*"This  'singular  and  rclialde  fact'  was  attributeil  to  glacial  action  liy  the 
local  ohscrvers,  some  of  whom  supposed  that  the  old  deep  cliannels  verj 
eniilctl  hy  the  actioa  of  iee.  There  was  no  regular  stratilication  of  tiie  gravel 
iH  i:i  (-'alifornia.  The  clay  of  the  bottom  varied  from  light  blue  to  very  dark. 
.\Wi!,\<  Ciri'iDo,  MS.,  9. 

*'  Murchison,  Forbes,  Hector,  Bauerman,  Selwyn,  and  Dawson  have  writ- 
ten more  or  less  about  the  position  of  these  rocks  in  conuectiou  witk  their. 
gi'M  l,;'iring  character. 

'^.7  u'jk's  V.  I.  and  B.  C,  74-.5. 

IIIST.  BuiT.  COL.     33 


i '  ■  I 


i 


h>' 


t 

:.i 

fiU 


MINlNd  IN  CAUI1500. 


iufcurrot]fatc(l  by  (iovenior  Douglas  in  Octolxir  IHCl, 
ill  roji^ard  to  tlui  jiiiiouiit  of  tln-ir  i-arnnij^s,  iiieiitioiKMl 
$2,000  as  the  lowest,  while  many  had  made  $10, ()()() 
in  the  course  oi'  the  sinnmer.  ]iose  and  Mc  iJoniild, 
tlie  fii'st  discoverers,  botli  declared  that  in  their  opinion 
the  new  dijjj^in^jfs  were  at  k'ast  as  rich,  and  |n'oh;ilily 
richer,  than  those  of  California  or  Australia;  ainl 
Majtjr  Downie,  of  ])ownioville,  California,  went  so 
far  as  to  sav  that  there  was  nothin*''  in  (yidifornia  tn 
be  compared  to  William  Creek;  while  Lieutenant 
Palmer  (juoted  ex})crienced  Californian  and  Australian 
miners  to  the  eilect  that  on  William  Creek  more  ni,],! 
had  been  extracted  from  an  area  of  three  miles  than 
from  a  corresponding  s[)ace  in  any  other  country." 

Ginieral  statistics  show  that  in  twenty  years  a  total 
product  of  between  $:10,000,000  and  $40,000,000  was 
obtained  from  half  a  dozen  princi])al  creeks  witliiii 
a  ri'o'ion  of  rotten  hlialc  less  than  fifty  miles  s(|uarc; 
and  tlu!  averaij^e  ])opulation  for  the  same  period  \\a.s 
probably  about  1,500/'^ 


M-i 


*^  Lirii/eii(rii(  Palmer,  \i\  Land.  Oco;/.  Soc,  Jour.,  xxxiv.  l'.)0;  Doio/lax'  Pri- 
vate J'djxrs,  MS.,  i.  14().  Judge  Bughic,  writing  from  (jiu'sncl  torlis  uin'.r 
<lato  of  Sc'iit.  2i),  18G1,  aaiil,  in  regard  to  the  (luaiitity  <>f  goll-dust  la  t..  • 
hands  of  tlie  iniiicrs:  'I  have  no  doubt  that  there  is  little  short  of  a  tmi  lyi.i; 
at  the  dill'erent  creeks.  I  hear  that  Abbott's  an. I  Steele's  claims  (\\'ilUai;i 
Creek)  are  working  better  than  ever — 30  to  40  pounds  a  day  (^ach.  Tin  y  rcckini 
rieli  claims  as  often  by  pounds  as  ounces  now;  it  must  be  a  poor  claim  tli.r 
is  measured  by  dollars. .  .The  gold  is  aperfect  nuisance,  as  they  have  to  lairv 
it  to  tlieir  claims  every  morning,  and  watch  it  while  they  work,  aud  cany  it, 
hack  again — sometimes  r.s  Tnuch  as  two  inen  can  lift — to  their  cabins  at  iiij;lit, 
aud  watch  it  'while  they  sleep.'  Ji.  C.  Pavers,  iv.  (JO.  The  detailed  statcmiiiti 
of  rich  yields  from  individual  claims,  wliich  have  been  quoted  in  tlie  jncNoiit 
chapter,  could  be  nuiltiiilied  inilefinitely,  and  iii  most  instances  vniliiil 
beyond  question.  Jules  t'ery,  one  of  tiio  miners,  informed  the  writer  that  in 
the  month  of  Septein))er  or  October  IfiCl  he  saw  taken  out  of  one  claim  lU 
lbs.  of  gold,  the  result  of  twenty  hours'  work.    Fi-ri/'n  <!old  Scnrr/n'.t,  NiS.,  'I 

'^The  popuhition  of  Cariboo  in  July  18GI  was  estimated  by  liovernor  Iinui;- 
las  at  1,500.  British  Coliimhia  Pnpcr^  iv.  53.  That  was  the  iigure  acc(|iti''l 
by  the  Lom/oii  Tinii's'  correspondent  with  indepoudent  sources  ofinforMialinii. 
It  was  at  least  doubled  and  probably  quadrupled  during  the  next  few  vi  ai>. 
U.  S.  Consul  Frances  in  1802  estimatecl  the  total  numbers  in  the  couuti /,  in- 
eluding  Cariboo,  at  15,000,  while  Mr  Fery  guessiul  at  20,000,  botli  exagg.  n  ti.l 
figures.  In  1805,  I  liud  tlie  VoloniKt  gives  the  total  of  Cariboo  miners  at  I  .iiSa, 
of  which  1,000  were  on  William  Creek,  08  on  Lowhee,  (iO  on  Burns,  15  on  t'lin- 
ningham,  30  ou  Antler  and  Stevens,  100  on  Lightning,  and  120  nuire  on  etln  r 
creeks.  Victoria  Wvi/.li/  ('okmiat,  Oct.  31,  1805.  The  records  of  tlie  mini-tir 
i)f  mines  showed  the  total  population  of  Cariboo,  inclndiug  children,  feinal  , 
and  Chinese,  to  have  been,  iu  1875,  1,305,  iu  ItiTO,  1,292,  and  in  1877,  l,j'Jb 


[In     '}■ 


COST  OF  SUJ'l'LlKS. 


515 


Aftor  18^)1  tlic!  fa('iliti<!K  for  trariHportatlon  woro 
Hivatly  iinprovcHl.  In  tlic.'  winter  of  IHOI-'i  fVcit^lit 
Ity  (lojiic-slwls  l)ftw(!('ii  Alexandria  and  Antler  alonu 
Wiis  130  cents  a  T)()urid,  and  Hour  Hold  at  (.^uesnel  i'orka 
for  !?72  a  barrel,  beans  45  cents,  and  bacon  08  cents, 
,1  pound.  On  tlu;  coin]il«»tion  of  the  brandi  \va^»'on- 
road  in  1H05,  freitjjlit  from  Yale  to  William  ('re(;k  was 
reduced  to  7  and  12  cents  a  pound,  according  to  the 

The  winter  itnjmlatiori  in  I.S(!4-5  -w.-vs  I)(!tw(tcii  4(M)  and  500  on  William,  and 
lidiii  HO  to  40  (m  Lowliuo  ('reck.  A/.,  Jan.  10,  18(i5.  Aliont  1,0J0  iHiPHons 
wiiitcreil  in  and  about  ('arii)(>o  in  lS()(>-7.  Miniiii;  niitt  Sricntijic  I'rtnn,  Jan. 
I'J,  1S;'j7.  Tilt!  H"l'l  product  of  (-'arilxio  in  I8(il  was  estimated  l>y  tliu  \'ic/'iria 
Jtiiili/  friM  at  ^'.'jOOIJ.OOO,  and  by  tlio  Lniii/nn  2VraBs  corrcHpoiulent  at  S'J.'-'Ul,- 
iM.  'Jiio  latter  figure  wa.s  obtained  l)y  estimating  that  there  were  400  elaitn 
(iwiitirs  wlio  cleared  ^J00,000;  I'J  miners  who  cleared  S'.)'_'(i,()80;  and  1,()'JI 
l.ilMinrs  at  $7  a  day,  whose  share  w.is  ^■7(;4,7'2!t;  total,  it'2,'2'M  ,40'J.  In  1871. 
haii^cviii.  the  Canadian  mini.ster  of  ])ul)lie  works,  jdaced  the  total  yield  of 
('anlK.oat?l,047,i.'t.").  Il<i>t.P''-  \Vmk.\  Wl'l-l.  After  1S75  the  stati.stieal 
i(|inrts  puhliihcd  1)^'  the  minister  of  mines  furnished  authentic  ti^ures  which 
tihoucd  a  eonsideraljlo  reduction;  for  187."),  .?7(i(!,'-48,  of  which  .'J.")00,OI)0  came 
licjiu  hightning  Creek;  for  1870,  .'i?44.'{,84H,  showing  a  falling  off,  ehii'tly  in 
hiiiiitiiing  Creek;  and  for  1877,  f'404,772.  The  following  summary  is  com- 
jiiUd  from  the  tabular  sheets  aeeompanying  the  reports  of  1875-7,  giving  the 
imiiluct  of  each  creek: 


MINKS  l.\  THE  CA1UI;00  DIHTKICT. 


Cheeks. 


187.'). 


w    I  !fl  (  "- 

1.^    c 


3  I* 


T.if-'litiiing ■1<1 


iliirns 


('■iii.iiiwood. 

Swill  i;  

V»  ill. -1111    

('ii;ikUii  Gulch, 

ii|iii;l.i  Gulcli. 

(iriiM  c  Crock  

Viiri  .'IS    Creeks  —  as 
I  "Wlii'c,  .lackof  Clubs, 
Mii-.|iiit(),  McArthur, 
.Viitlcr 

N.  iiiiii  S.  Vorks  Quesnel. 

Ki'iCiIcy  Creek       

llurvijy,  Snowshoe,  etc. . 


145 


177 


1870. 


v■>^ 


192  117! 


Totals 


20 

14) 

14) 


.'J!5ta,,')27 

lo.uio:  ,■) 

9,750    (1 


5  000    fi 

.<i,;!Oo!  0 

G8,7C,I)'_7 

41,200,  4 

4,200i  4 

4,414;  n 


202 

i(h) 


^'188 


172 


4) 


1877. 


•I    "   B 

u  ,  is  '  o 


225 


2f>,400  17 
|(aj 
40,040 

2.'>,5ir) 
i;i,iC2 


j*760,258 


181 
6 
$137,300'  5  I   134 

0 

I'l 

3 
U 


224,071 


208 


J-  I7(i  215 


82,400 


l25| 

|(cj| 


:38 


!(H4;i,837 


23  177 


.f222,0n 


102,385 


20,370 


$404,772 


(ii)    Inelndlnpf  al.so  Cunningham,  Stevens,  Bbrks,  and  Whip  Saw  creeks. 

Ill)  Including  Coulters,  I^ragon,  Koeham,  Davis,  i'eters  Canon,  and  Dead  wood 
creek.s. 

(■•)    InehullnK  Pate  Creek. 

''1)  Includini;  Perkins  Uuleh,  Last  Chance,  Anderson,  Chisholm,  Davis,  Coulter, 
and  I  auon  creeks. 


'^m    " 


% 

:,ji 


'I 
.'I 

r ! 
■  i 


H 


\l'} 


'lit 


516 


MINING  IN  CARIBOO 


season,  and  prices  in  (\iril)oo  Ijocanio  licncefortli  not 
only  n;oro  niodciute,  l)ut  Averc  better  regulated,  while 
capital  and  labor  stood  comparatively  secure.'''  (It 
the  men  wlio  ex[)l()r('d,  mined,  traded,  and  lived  in 
the  Cariboo  region  durint,^  the  period  described,  two 
thirds  W(!ro  l^ritisb  subiei"ts,  accordino-  to  J)oU"l;is' 
estimates  for  18(!.'5-(),  but  tlierc  t  were  as  cosmopolitan 
in  mixture  as  the  early  inilux  to  California.''" 

Fortunes  and  mislbrtunes  comminj^led  inade  thcsi- 
p(M)ple  j^eru^rous  and  hosj/itable  in  a  bisjjli  device, 
always  ready  to  share  witb  an  impecunious  friend  (ii' 
stranger,  while  as  a  mass  they  were  probably  tin' 
reckless  and  ungodly  creatures  that  the  ]iev(  rcml 
Mr  Brown  depicts  tliem.'"'  The  old  and  well-known 
classic  and  time-honored  traits  of  the  animal  niaii 
came  to  the  surface  once  more,  developing  chararti  is 
that  fitted  into  the  remote  and  isolated  forest  and  laki 
country  of  the  far  northern  cordilleras.  "I  know  of 
no  place  in  the  world,"  says  a  witness,  "  wlu  re  more  wit 
is  required,  or  where  a  larger  amount  of  snjall  cunniiii( 
is  the  slue  qua  no)i  f)r  getting  on  in  life;,  than  in  Cari 
boo."  Without  $500  to  buy  into  a  good  claim,  aii(' 
without  tlie  necessary  judgmcMit  to  buy  shrewdlv.  ;i 
man  had  a  hard  liattle  to  avoid  ruin."'  Winter  111'' 
liad  its  nottiworth)'  features.     During  the   lirst    I'fW 

■'■'In  November  I8!)4  wages  at  Barkcrvillo  were  ijlO  a  day;  flimr  w^  "- 
cciit.s  a  pouud,  bacou  50  eeiit.s,  imtatoes  20  ceiit.s.  Murjii'.i  T.  /.  ((/((/  /)'.  (  .. 
1')'1.  Tliusc  ])rices  were  rarely  aii|ir()aelieil  after  the  cninpletioii  of  tlio  \\:vz^'  • 
mail.  In  the  spring  of  ].S()5  the  iiitroiluetion  of  the  new  fr  nght  tarilf  h"'l<ii.:,' 
til  Iho  completion  of  the  wagon-road  was  made  the  oeeasi m  for  a  '  eor':i  r  i  i 
(lour,  ei:;ar.s,  Hiigar,  chaMijiagne,  et(^,  every  pundiasalile  article  of  wliieli  \\a\ 
l)oug!it  in  fro:u  Iho  small  deaU'r.s.  Tlie  Hudson's  May  (inip.iny  ia  tlio 
jierson  of  Mr  I'iidayson  madi;  arrangements  in  ISdTfor  oi)eni  ig  storis  ;it 
(^*^lesne1^lOlltll  aiid  Barkerville.  yi'ir  ]Vi'!<tiii'nislt'r  Kninihit'/;  .Jiinii  u,  ISIlTi 
lliizUtt:.-iVanh()o,  llf). 

'"/'rimih:  I'-pcrs,  jMS.,  i.  ]ri'2.  The  following  li.-it  of  shareholders  i.t  tlio 
Eriesson  Company,  on  William  (.'nudv,  thougli  not  altogether  an  index  ■  t  I'l' 
jirevaihng  nationality,  will  B>\'ve  to  show  tlu' varied  origin  of  thoenmmiiiiuy: 
dolm  Nelson,  foreman,  Norway;  .John  Taggart,  Ireland;  Alex.  Kri'  — mi, 
iSweden;  I'eter  ■ 'ricsson,  Swi'clen;  Alex.  MeKenzie,  Seotland;  Kpliiaim  II  i  pii', 
Canachi;  K.  IJ.  Hilt,  Canada;  ])a\  id  ( irier,  Wales;  Kvaii  Davis,  Wales;  Inliii 
I'errin,  United  States;  SaimnjlTlionipsoii,  Norway;  I'eter  I'etLison.  i)einii  .il<; 
W.  J  Miller,  United  States;  Charles  Taft,  United  States;  M.  Simtii,  I  ml 
States. 

"^fVjth  livpt.  Col  J//.SW.,  isa;i,  (■);  Co„rf>ir,/'s  Mill.,  B.  C.  MS.,  11. 

'^*r'oo!c's  Queen  ChmioUe  Island,  Lomlon,  1872,  './8.     The  u))j  and  downs 


MINING  L^.WS. 


5i; 


years  of  mining,  in  1801  and  18G2,  underground 
wmking  had  not  yet  begun,  and  as  it  was  too  cold  to 
wnik  in  the  mountain  creeks,  nianyoftiio  miners  who 
retained  their  cabins  on  tJio  Fraser  retired  tliither  to 
work  the  bars  during  tlie  h)W  water  of  winter,  while 
others  who  had  mono}'  made  it  a  rule  to  spend  the 
season  in  Victoria  or  San  Francisco,  often  in  reckless 
tlehauchery.  ■'"''' 

Fulling  into  the  custom  of  the  country,  (ui.^inally 
iVoiu  necessity,  the  miniiu'"  laws  iirovided  for  the 
'laviuLT  over'  of  all  claims  (.lurinu*  the  inclement  season, 
uiKler  which  arrangement  miners  were  permitted  to 
ahsent  themselves  without  losins'- their  title.  Althouij^h 
wdik  underground  soon  became  a  common  winter 
(leeujiation,''^  yet  one  third  or  one  hi>lf  of  tlie  popu- 
lati(in  continued  to  leave  for  the  v. inter;  freighting 


n 

t 

iif  lift',  tli(>  glories  of  success,  and  the  power  and  indispcusaljility  of  gold  are 
iqitly  ilopicti.'d  in  tlu  following  verse; 

I  krnt  II  Imdv  TTinke  a  strike — 

lie  liioked  a  little  lord! 
An'  liiid  a  eliin  o'  followers 

Aniiini;  a  needy  hoido. 
Wliiine'er  lie  d  enter  a  saloon 

Vnn'd  see  the  barkeep  Miiile— 
His  lordsliip's  linnible  servant  ho 

Wilhont  a  Ihocht  o'  ),'iiile! 

A  twaV  months  past  an'  a'  is  (lane, 

liaith  freendsan'  braiKlv-bnllle; 
An'  iioo  the  |>uir  soul's  leit  aliinu 

\Vi'  noeht  to  weet  his  throttle  1 

Jiiiiiic/  T.ctfer  to  Sniimic  hi  Fife.     Jtnm:^,  .imhr.'<o}i,  William  Creek,  18<)8. 

"A  Caiilioo  man,  Iniviiig  made  §'?().0()0  or  §40,0)0  in  the  season  of  18(12, 
uiiit  to  Victoria  to  ''iijoy  liini;  •■If.  At  .1  saloon  he  treated  ail  he  could  tiiid  to 
.ill  the  chani[iagni;  ho  could  i',  ike  tlieiii  drink.  The  chuinpagne  held  out  long- 
est, all  ot  the  company  gatlieri^l  from  within  and  from  witliout  being  uiialilu 
t'li'onsume  the  harkeeper's  stock,  (^iir  man  then  ordered  every  glass  rtiiiiaining 
111  the  estahlishment  to  be  tilled,  and  with  one  graml  sweep  of  his  cane  sc  .it 
tlii'iu  s|)inning  oil  thecounter.  Stdl  the  chauipagne  held  out.  To  win  liisvi<-- 
tnry  n\  cr  the  la- 1  liamier  be  jumped  u[ion  it,  ciilting  bis  shins,  ll.ivin:^  si  ill 
a  iKiiidful  of  goldjiieces  with  bun.  he  walked  \\\)  to  a  large  mirror  worth  se\eral 
liinidied  dollars  adorning  one  end  of  the  room,  and  to  [irovi!  that  gold  was  sov- 
eiii-u  of  all  things,  be  daslu'd  a  shower  of  his  heavy  jiieces  into  the  face  of 
liis  own  image,  shivering  it  to  fragments.     The  next  yi'ar  he  was  worki;iL'  as 

II  luhciivr.  Milton  ivtif  ('limiUf,  Snrt/i/n.--/.  I'dxni;//-  lii/  Lmul,  .'{70.  'J'liree  olliers 
witli  'an  enormous  lug,L'age  of  gold 'received  on  their  arrival  at  San  Francisco, 

III  I'M').'},  sjiicial  notice  from  the  newspapers.  Tliey  were  Frast^r  iJiver  tni:ier.4 
<if  hViS.  From  Hill  Bar  they  had  gone  to  William  (.'reek  to  work  unsiiccess- 
liilly  for  seventeen  months;  lint  linally  they  lonk  iiilt  i^^'JoO,!  )0  in  two  nionths, 
iiii'l  their  claim  was  still  g-  'od  for  .'jlOO  a  (biy  to  the  share.  H  /<'.  Btdktin,  Sept. 
it,  l^illt;  Frrif.<<l„iil  Siuirhis,  MS.,  H. 

'The  following  companies  on  William  Creek  worked  throughout  the 
Winter  of  18G(>-7,  with  good  suucess;  the  Caledonia,  Ijiist  Oliuuce,  Cameron, 


518 


MINmci  IN  CARIBOO. 


ceased;  the  mails  were  periodically  interrupted  l.y 
snows,  and  even  the  newspafKT  hibernated  tiL  sprinu.  ' 

The  remainder  set  about  to  make  themselves  com- 
fortable for  the  season,  and  their  snugly  thatched 
and  nmd-plastcred  log-cabins,  with  large  cheerful  fiic- 
places,  aided  to  impart  to  winter  life  in  Cariboo  a  social 
and  hospitable  cast,  not  equally  deveh)ped  in  nioio 
southern  latitudes.'"'*  With  sociability  came  a  peaceful 
intercourse  which  becam*^  more  and  more  manifest  by 
the  gradual  disuse  of  cdriyirig  weapons,  which  liad 
been  the  custom,  on  the  road  at  least,  in  early  days.  ' 

(Gambling  followed  as  usual  in  the  wake  of  tl.o 
diggers,  and  piles  of  g(»ld  might  be  seen  changii/<,f 
hands  over  green  tables  to  the  strain  of  merry  nmsic, 
particularly  at  such  places  as  Antler  and  Williaiii 
creeks.  A  check  was  early  placed  on  this  vice,  but  it 
continued,  nevertheless,  tfj  ti<')urish  in  private. **' 

Priiico  of  Wales,  Kaiigoon,  Wiile  Wcwt.  Miiiirietta,  and  Forward,  Woll  Mary 
Ami,  Brouso,  l»utcli  iJill,  BeaU-.  Steiidinan,  and  Six-toe<l  IVti;.  Tlio  J''i>n'>t 
Koso  was  worked  during  tiie  greater  part  ot  the  winter  with  a  rcxikcr,  ami 
dei-lared  a  dividend,  after  payjng  tlie  wage.s  of  11  men,  of  §140  to  the  .■•huv. 
i.'iirilion  Hfiitiiit'l,  May  ti,  l.S(i7. 

•■'  77»'.SVH/i/»'/ aiinouneed  Oi-t.  28,  1867,  that  the  niiiiir.g  season  was  aliout 
to  elose,  although  a  few  conipai  hm  were  «till  at  work  under  the  drawhac';^ 
ot  Irosty  weatlier,  and  tliat  tiu  ^lublioation  of  tlie  paper  would  aoeoriiini.'ly 
1)0  .susjiended  until  spring. 

"••Many  were  tiie  '  yani.-f '  evnktMJ  hy  the  wild  surntunding.s  an<l  the  ■\  "f- 
ing  Hauie.s.     On  a  lonely  niount.an  trail  near  JJiirkerviile,  in  ISU.'i,  an  ijH 
calilo  trani])ing  ilown  of  tlie  .snow  wan  olwerved  hy  the  jiassers-hy  froin  : 
to  time.     No  one  had  ever  Hcen  or  heeu  aMe  totraei'  in  these  phenoineiii   i    > 
conneetiou  or  a^ieney  of  llesli  and  lilooil;   Imt  near  tiie  sjiot  lay  a  short    i 
and  the  snow  iiad  no  sooner  '>lditerate<l  the  signs  than  huuiaii  foot.strp<  i 
apiieared,  and  tlie  log  was  foniid  in  a  diU'erent  position.     An  iuvestig  ili  i 
was  I  nally  iuld,  and  disclosen  the  simple  tact  tliat  thc^  tramping  was  proiliin  .i 
hy  an  eeeentrie  elergynian.   m  (pKwt  of  (exercise.     This  discovery  spml'  1  a 
eongenial  mystery.     VicUtr'u'   Wii'khi'  'nhmiiif,  )A,irc\\'2\,  1805.     Tiie  Minin  Lilia 
cl.-.im  on  Mos(piito  (Jtilch,  William  Creek,  gained  the  notoriety  in  KSG7  oi  I"- 
ing  jiaunted  hy  a  ghost.     Long,  weary,  and  eostly  dilvings  by  the  plucky 
indiviiluals  of  the  company  lia« I   lailcMl  to  devdup  anythiiijj.     At  la^t  tlicy 
struck  tile  lead,  taking  oua  «iulit  (umci's  ot  gold  from  the  liottomof  tli'irsliaft, 
and  tlie  ghostly  incidents  were  forgotten,   ('(irilimi  Srntiinl,  Sept.  S,  ]>*' 

''"In  tiie  mines  jirojier.  noliody  went  armed,  even  in  tlie  early  day*.  lli« 
cn.^tom  of  carrying  weapons  fell  into  disuse  witli  the  disaimcarame  ol  '  i' 
eiii-ik  of  money  and  tiie  .sound  of  gami)li'rs' voices '  in  pulnie  piuces.  /■'  < 
<;ol:/  Smrr/ii's,  NIS.,  1,  2 

"*  As  late  as  18C8,  our  Barkerville  popt  niailn  mention  of  th'  'act  that   - 

AmauKllie  tiuiiders  livln'  liere, 

I  tieri'.-  liiirely  Icn  per  cent 
IhRt^hiiii  the  vice  <v  cwrdx  an' dice. 


as 
as 

iiii^ 

Ulij 

aia 

of 
\n\ 
boo 
liif 

lV]l| 

liirl 
iiat 


.sueli  i.-i  tlio  natural  l>unt. 


Jiama'  l.i-Utr  (i>  .-•avmie. 


l!>i 


MI  NINO  SOCIETY. 


519 


rr^ptcd  l.y 
tiL  spring'.' 
selves  coiii- 
y  tluitched 
leerful  firc- 
l)0()  a  social 
d  in  iiioie 
J  a  peaceful 
iiaiiif'est  l»v 
which  IkiiI 
arly  days.  ' 
ake  of  tl.c 
I  chan^ihif 
jrry  music, 
kI  "Williaiu 
\'ice,  but  it 
te."" 

ml,  Wull  .Miirv 
e.  Tlie  F(iie>t 
1  a  rouker,  aiiil 
to  to  tlio  .sli:iri'. 

lusori  was  aljiuit 
the  (lra\viiai'':s 
111  aocorilingly 

I  and  tlic  il.iiM'- 
Mi.'i,  an  iiir 

j-l>y  froiri    : 

lllunOllH'li:!     (!;. 

y  a  Hlidi't   I     , 

,11  foot.-itcjis  I 

II  ilive.stii;:;tl.  i; 
;  was  prdiliiicci 
very  sjiipilr.l  a 
"\f  .Miiiiiil,ali;i 

in  1S()7  iii  li''. 

iiy  the  jiiiir'v 

'At  la.t  thfy 

.of'  tlK'ir.sll.lft, 

;{,  lirr-. 
ly  'lay*      Tlio 
irain«  (p|       '•• 
(liucea,   /■' 

Tact  thut   - 


.\[issionaries  did  tKtt  fail  to  observe  that  miners  were 
as  much  in  need  of  their  services  as  the  natives,  and 
as  (jarly  as  18(>i  elerj^ymen  bej^an  to  visit  Caril)oo 
every  summer,  undei-  the  auspices  of  tlie  Columbia 
missitm  of  the  E})i.sc()pal  church.  But  the  field  proved 
unprofitable,  sineo  the  minei's  contributed  but  liijhtlv, 
and  it  was  abandoned  after  a  te-w  years."'  One  cause 
of  the  failures  lay  doubtless  in  the  lack  of  L?ood  female 
iiiHuence.  Not  a  siniL^le  married  woman  lived  in  Cari- 
I)()o  even  as  late  as  18G~,  and  the  sex  was  represented 
merely  by  a  few  sinL>-le  females,  and  some  of  them  dis- 
reputable."^ In  the  absence  of  so  essential  a  comple- 
iiieiit  to  respectable  society,  the  less  refined  pleasures 
iKiti;vally  predominated,  and  the  time  not  devoted  to 
iiandjliiiL;'  was  oftt-n  spent  over  the  bottle  at  private 
e;.!  iisal  or  at  public  dinners,  and  with  the  votaries  of 
T I  I'iehore,  gathered  in  the  temples  of  the  hurdy- 
^i'ui(hes,  on  wliose  lives  hung  many  a  whisper  and 
many  a  romantic  tale."^ 

A  relieving  feature  of  Bark(;rville  was  the  pul>lic 
ivading-room,  which  in  18(;5  was  already  condbrta- 
lily  fitted  up,  and  well  patronized.  Here  also  the  tal- 
•iited  portion  t)f  the  C(jnnntmity  enlivened  the  long 
winter  nights  with  public  d(^bat(;s,  recitations,  plays, 
and  musieal  performances  for  the  amusement  of  them- 
selves and  the  rest."* 

' '■  The  Rev.  K.  « '.  Linnliu  Drown  lived  for  some  ti mo  during  1802-.3  in  a 
iiiincr's  ('alii  II  at  *  aiiRToiilnM,  ^\'illianl  Creek,  .su  tiering' j^iiat  liardshiiis.    Kiuil 
ill::  tlio  ijiiiiei-.f  .siiiiMiwhat  iiiditl'iriiit  to  roligimi,  ho  attaikcd  tlio  gainhlci'.s  in 
tlirir  cieus,  hut  wan  ultiinatily  olilij.!e<l  to  withdraw  from  tlie  field  uusuccess- 
liil    Bruirii'it  EKKdii,  [jiKsim,  and  t'iflli  Idyt.  ^'ot.  Mlff.iinn,  ISGI5,  lJ-7. 

'^-Tciii/i  iii}>t.  c.ii.  yfisww,  isos,  •..'.")-<;. 

"'  liotiiiie  are  tli<?  hurdies'O! 
The  Oeriiian  hurdy-gurdies  O! 
Th(!  diftcst  hour  that  e'(  •  J  spo(>rt 
Was  daueing  wi'  the  Ininiii-.sO! 

Ji,iin''<'  J.illi  r  :■'  Smi'iii''. 

''  A  manuscript  weekly  newspapci*  oonduetiid  by  .MeLiiren  and  Anderson 
ill  r>'.(),  anil  read  on  these  oee.isions,  jjave  gri  ii*  .satisfaction,  and  aU'orded 
iiiurh  amuseiiieut.    Victoria  WlcUij  ''oluiiii/,  April  'S,  ISUO. 


m 


1 

iilr: 

[&^  HrHlK 

S)    fliB  y  •  «  1 

'H 

1  m^: 

il  1 JM ' 

1     ' 

t  '  Wsfi 

. 

h1)  m 

1 

i|     '' 

1 

^ 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 


s 

1  i'  " 

, 

UPPER    COLUMBIA    MINES. 

1804-1882. 

COHTMIIIA    RiVKR     DF.roSIT.S — FlNE-f!OLI)    TllF.OIlY — AnCIENT    RlVER-Hr.llS  — 

E.Mji.v   lJi(i<i[N(!S  —  Kootenai   Exi'ite-ment  —  Wild    House    Ckkkk 
Saskatchewan    Expedition — Pehuy    Cueeic— Hydkavlics — .Sii.din.i- 

NATE     Dl.STIilcrs,      FoltlY-NINE    C'ltEEK,     MoOYIE     RiVEK  —  Bid     BkMi 

Routes   and   Infux — French,    McCulloch,    and   Carnes   Cukeks 
Later  Exim.oration — Extent  op  the  Airiferous  Rkcion — Tei!ua(  k 
(Jravels— Rock  Cheek — Okanaoan  and  Similkameen  Districis. 

The  little  fluriy  of  the  fur-liuiitcrs  round  Colville 
over  the  spriiikliiii^  of  gold  along  the  aboriginal  liiu'li- 
ways,  so  long  familiar  to  tlieni,  in  a  measure  passed 
away,  or  was  al)sorl)ed  by  intenser  interest  elsewlniv 
until  18G4,  when  it  finally  became  respectably  epi- 
demic. 

Concerning  this  northern  region,  into  which  as  by 
a  divininer-rod  they  had  been  led  bv  their  fine-uDld 
theory,  California's  wise  ones  were  somewhat  puzzled. 
However  true  their  speculations,  which  ap})eared,  in- 
deed, to  be  foundi'd  on  fact,  they  seemed  here  at  tlie 
north  to  fail  in  their  application.  A  partial  knowl- 
edge of  the  facts  had  raised  in  the  breast  of  tliiity 
thousand  hopes  of  sluicing  fortunes  out  of  the  river- 
baidis  of  these  northern  latitudes,  destined  to  be  real- 
ized only  by  a  few  of  the  more  patient. 

For  here  was  to  them  an  unknown  and  complex 
scattering  of  gold-bearing  rocks,  wliere  the  newer  aiiil 
older  <jravels  had  been  n.-distributed  i)v  the  ice  aij^einv 
of  the  drift  ])i'riod.  Here  were  ancient  river-beds 
under  a  false  bed-rock  of  bowlder,  clay,  and  aiuii  iit 

( :i20 ) 


if 


COLVILLE  MINES. 


621 


river  erosions  deep(^r  than  tlic  modern.  Such  ancient 
river  gravels  as  were  found  were  not  capped  in  all 
riises  or  ])reserved  hy  volcanic  matter.  It*  they  were 
so  preserved  arid  ta})ped  by  modern  streams,  there 
was  tlie  drawback  that  the  whole  countiy  was  cov- 
ered hy  a  mantle  of  drift,  hiding  the  lead  fn^n  the 
prospector.  If  found,  it  was  not  provided  with  an 
outk^t  grade  into  the  modern  canons ;  so  that  mining 
liad  to  he  done  underground  with  the  aid  of  pum[)S 
and  lioisLiiig  njachincry.  The  richer  gold-hearing  roc-ks 
were  remote  i'roni  the  coast,  beyond  rugged  mountains 
more  dilKcult  to  overcome  than  the  Sierra  Nevada  of 
California.  It  was  not  jmssible  for  the  prospectors, 
iiiidi  r  such  conditions  of  transportaticm  as  existed  in 
iJiitish  C'olumbia  from  1858  to  J8G8,  to  remain  long 
in  the  mountains  under  heavy  costs  for  their  sup[)lies. 
The  s(.>arch  was  checked  from  the  necessities  of  the 
case;  yet  the  expectations  which  filled  the  country  in 
iSfjS  proved  necessarily  to  those  who  insisted  on  lind- 
iiig  things  otherwise  than  they  were,  an  infatuation 
so  stupendous  that  between  Kern  River  and  Clold 
Blulfs  there  never  had  been  its  equal 


IBJ 

■1 

1: 

W 

1 

■  ■ 

1 

'      ^ 

m 


^b'ntion  has  been  made  of  the  linding  of  grains  of 
H'old  on  the  bank  of  the  Columbia  at  Colville  in  1855, 
■md  of  the  prospecting  expedition  in  the  same  season 
hy  Angus  ^McDonald's  men,  finding  moderately  remu- 
nerative diggings  at  the  mouth  of  the  Pend  d'Oreille, 
near  the  boundary  line;  also  of  the  connnunication  of 
Douglas  to  the  colonial  otHce  in  IS.V;  annouiH'ing  the 
Working  of  diggings  in  the  upper  ("olumbia  district 
yieliliiig  from  ten  to  forty  dollars  a  day  to  the  man.' 
Dtiring  the  Frase'r  Iliver  excitement  in  1858-9,  att^'ii- 
tioii  was  diverted  fi*om  the  upper  Columl)ia,  and  for 
si'Veral  years  little  was  done  there;  but  tlie  tirst  flush 
oV(  r,  develo{>ments  above  Colville  on  the  (  'ohnnbiaand 


'  Sr.' cliiij).  XX..  t^MM  voIiiiw>.     'This  vicinity,' says  Ros.s  15?'nwMo.  '  lias  at- 
li  iiti'l  iiiuoli  iittui»W»«i  as  ii.$k>t(l-iiiiniiig  tvgiou  since  lcS54.'  Mnnrtil  /iV'.fn»j(f.i, 


I 


022 


UPPER  COLUMBIA  MINES. 


J!  !^" 


its  tributaries  liave  a  liistory  parallel  to  that  of  tlio 
Fraser,  and  after  180 1  to  that  of  Cariboo,  wliicli 
overshadows  all  but  the  Kootenai  and  Big  ^lv\nl 
excitements.''  Some  rich  specimens  of  (piartz  wcrt' 
brouglit  to  Victoria  in  1859  by  members  of  the  Brit- 
ish boundary  connnission  from  the  head-quarters  of 
Kootenai  River.  The  placer  gold  in  the  basin  of 
the  upper  Columbia  was  found  on  the  bars  and  banks 
of  the  streams  between  latitude  49°  and  51°,  com[)iis- 
ing,  generally,  shallow  diggings  not  very  ricli,  hut 
extending  over  a  laru'e  area.  Miners  havinix  crradaallv 
worked  up  the  valley  of  Kootenai  liiver,  rich  di"'- 
gings  were  at  last  discovered  not  far  from  the  l)()uii- 
dary  line,  which  gave  rise  in  1803-4  to  the  Kootciuii 
gold-mining  excitement.  Remote  from  Victoria  as 
was  this  portion  of  the  country,  its  mining  operations 
were  better  known  in,  and  were  in  fact  tributary  to, 
Oregon;  yet  many  Victorians  went  thither,  and  soine 
trails  was  carried  in  that  direction  in  later  times,  not- 
withstanding the  inconveniences  of  the  route.  But  the 
Kootenai  excitement  was  nmch  less  felt  at  Victoria 
than  was  subsccjuently  thatof  tlu;  Rig  ])end  country.' 
Wild  Horse  Creek,  or,  in  the  early  vulgar,  Stud 
Horse  Creek,  the  centre  of  the  Kootenai  mining  dis- 

'^Oii  tho  discovery  of  tlio  Eraser  mines  in  1S;")8,  all  but  a  few  of  tliusc  wlic 
had  l)oei)  previously  miiiiug  on  the  t'<)luiid)ia River  l>ars  transferred  tin  nisilvus 
into  tlic  valley  of  the  Fraser,  and  the  consequeueo  was  tliat  dcveldiniieiils  m 
the  ('<iliinil)ia  Ijasin  were  arresti.-d  for  several  yeans.  Of  wliat  was  dniii'  in 
tliis  distrieh  liotwcen  tlio  Colville  and  Kootenai  excitements  tiie  outside  wmM 
lieard  little  or  uotliinj;.  C'aril)oo,  as  an  extensi(Ui  of  tlie  l''raser  exeiti'iinut. 
made,  upon  all  tlie  loose  Jiopulatioii  of  tliu  nortii-west,  a  second  draft  wiiicli 
was  not  to  he  resisted.  Washoe  and  Esmeralda  alone  at  tiiis  time  fui!ii-lii  i 
field  ouougli  for  all  tlie  spare  population  ami  capital  that  California  ceuld 
aiford. 

•*  Tho  Kootenai  mines  were  almost  inaccessihlc,  remote,  and  liiddcri  in  a 
romantic  valley  witliin  thi  parallels  of  the  Roeiiy  Mountains,  70  or  T.")  lnil^■^' 
uhove  tlie  Tohacco  j)lain>.  'I'lic  other  districts  of  the  upper  (  olumhia.  i 'k;iii 
aum,  and  Rook  *"reek,  were  al<o  heset  hy  unusual  ditiicuUies  of  eoiniMUiiii'.i- 
tiou  from  'ho  liii-ection  of  the  Eniser.  AH  the  stri.'ams  and  mountain  imgis 
of  the  notiieni  plateau,  the  latter  often  forest-covered,  had  to  lie  ems.o.'  m 
Buceessioii.  From  the  lower  ( 'olumbia  they  were  more  remote,  and  sep.iiat'- : 
by  a  wall  of  ni>  small  magnitude  the  boundary  line,  for  it  was  the  sitdi'i 
jirilley  of  the  government  at  Victoria  to  hlock  the  way  aloii;.'  this  line  as  lar 
as  possilile  oast  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  in  onlor  t.>  keep  the  terntnrv  ;,m1 
its  trade  withiu  tho  control  of  tho  political  aud  uuuiuitrcial  capitol  '"  ■'»= 
pmviuco. 


,hat  of  tlio 
il)oo,  Avliicli 
]^ig  Bend 
uartz  were 
)f'  tlio  Brit- 
quarti'i's  of 
.0   basin  of 

I  and  banks 
[°,  coiupris- 
Y  ricli,  but 
g  gra(hially 
%  rieb   diji^- 

II  tbc  boun- 
(3  Kootonai 
Victctria  as 
;  operations 
ribiitarv  to, 
V,  and  sonif 

times,  not- 
e.  But  tlie 
at  Victoria 
id  country.' 

Igar,  Stud 
iniuinij;  dis- 

ow  of  those  will! 
itcmI  tluMiselves 

CVulolllliOlltS    111 

it   \v;is  <loa(,'  in 

0  outsiili'  Wdiii 
istT  I'Xriteiiifiit, 

ml  (lr;Ut  vliich 

tiiiii!  liiniislifi 

L'alilonua  cmilil 

ml  liiiMoii  in  ;i 
70  or  ''>  Miili'* 
oluiiilii.i.  '  'k^iii- 

01  coiiimuiii:"!- 
lountiiin  iMnu'i"* 
,,  hi>  iTos,-.-'  in 

i,  anil  Ki'ii.irat.-'. 

was  till'  si'ttli-ii 
this  line  ii.-  I:ir 
iO  terntorv  iui'l 

1  capiUl  "i   •■>'<' 


KOOTKNAI  DIOaiNGS. 


523 


trict,  discovered  in  18G3,  and  wbich  in  1804  Ix^canie 
tlic  situ  of  an  important  camp,  was  a  small  tributary 
of  tbc  Kootenai  liiver  coming  from  tbe  main  Rocky 
^[()untain  range,  fifty  miles  nortb  of  tbe  boundary  line. 
This  ruime  arose  from  tbe  al)undance  of  borses  in  tbc 
district,  ]^y  May  iHfU,  400  miners  bad  distributed 
thcnisidvcs  along  tbe  bars  and  canons  of  tbe  creek, 
and  more  were  on  tbe  way.  Prospects  were  oi)taincd 
tlicrc  of  $1  to  tbe  pan  and  of  25  cents  to  tbe  sbovel; 
iniggcts  wi're  found  in  tbe  gravel  weigbing  from  $'2.50 
to  .'::;78,  and  ordinary  claims  wire  l>aying  i^'JO  to  $r>0 
a  day  to  tbe  man.*  Tbe  excitenuMit  grew,  and  in 
August,  Hudson's  Bay  Factor  MiKay  n-ported  5,000 
miners  in  tbe  district,  for  wbom  provisions  were  being 
ruslied  in  from  tbe  Dalles,  Tins  report  was  doubtless 
exaggerated,  for  in  Nov(>mber  it  was  asserted  tbat 
oidy  800  to  900  remained,  500  of  wbom  preferred  to 
winter  in  tbe  diggings,''  and  trace  tbe  distribution  of 
the  g(dd-beaiing  rocks  in  tbe  nortbern  Kocky  Moun- 
tain region." 

Mining  experience  in  the  Kootenai  country  the 
first  year  develoi)ed  the  fact  tbat  sluicing  could  be 
' an ii'd  on  for  mine  months  in  tbe  year.  Hill  tunnels 
were  in  progress  during  tbe  winter  where  [»ay  had 
been  strmdv,  and  Birch,  tbe  cidonial  secretarv,  who  vis- 
ited  the  r-egion,  reported  very  hopefully  in  regai'd  to 
tiie.'^e  bill  depo.sits,  one  of  wiiich  yielded  dollar  nug- 
ji'ets  and  prospects  of  seventy-tive  cents  to  two  dollars 
a  ]ian.  JSeveral  (•om[)anies  late  in  the  season  of  18r)4 
stiiK  k  pay  also  on  Toby  Creek,  and  now  Fi*siierville, 
tile  name  given  to  the  principal  camp  uu  tbe  creek, 
liepm  to  figure  in  tbe  chronicles,  though  the  place  was 

'  hdirmii  OH  M/lif.':,  .SS;  B.  C  Dii' ftorjl,  ISt!^,  'JOO:  Broiri,i'\  ^fill.  f?('.irw n-r.i, 
1'i.VJ;    AUtiii'.'i  Ciu-iluiK,  Ms..  II,  l'_':    WiiWi  W'<Uii  Sl<ih:iiniii,.  An-.',  l.'i, '_••_'.  rsti:{. 

'  Kooti'iiai  had  almost  dt'iiojiiiliitftl  the  B>.ise  icaiutry.  .1.  L.  Iiiililu's  Lftlrr 
lo  Ihll  /1,-fir/,,),    Wftori'i  Coloiihl,  Juwv  -2^,  Auu.    I<>,   \>yi>4. 

'■'I' wo  roads  to  f.hc  iiiiiu's  Kailitiji  nspt'otiv  elv  troiii  tlio  Colitniliia  a!i(l  Fra- 
siT  |i;isHL's  wt'iM!  I'otistruoti'd  the  saim^  year,  in  ••oiisc.(|ul'iic-c  of  tlic  rush.  The 
ikft  was  a  wagoii-roail  luadiii),'  fr.iii  ( 'olvillc  to  Peiid  d'Oi'i'illc;.  Iroiii  wliich 
l"'inr  rlie  Oregon  a|i]iroa(^li  was  hy  a  iiiuletia;i  to  Wild  Horse  Ooek.  The 
Hiiil-i.u  s  Bay  ('oiiijiany  also  openeu  a  rough  ti'iol  from  Hope  by  way  of  Simil- 
kiiuii  u,  liock  Creek,  iuid  Peud  d'Cinaitt:. 


!  .HI 


W' 


fi    .     i 


034  UPPER  COLiniRIA  ailNES. 

more  often  referred  to  under  the  general  name  of 
Ivootenai.  Diggings  were  also  reported  on  the  main 
iijiper  Columbia,  eighty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  from  Kootenai,  paying  from  four  to  eight  dol- 
lars a  day  ;  and  at  the  crossing  of  the  trail  to  Hope 
there  were  others  said  to  equal  Wild  Horse  Creek.' 

In  the  early  part  of  the  season  of  18G5  Fishervillo 
had  a  famine,  but  this  was  remedied  by  the  arrival  of 
the  first  sup])lies  as  soon  as  the  roads  were  cleared  of 
Kuow.^  Reiinforcements  also  arrived,  and  by  July  a 
thousand  men  were  said  to  be  camped  on  and  round 
Wild  Horse  Creek.  The  gold  connnissioner  re|)ortcd 
forty  or  fifty  claims  being  worked  on  the  creek,  pro- 
ducing from  one  to  three  ounces  to  the  hand  with  nug- 
gets weighing  several  ounces.  The  Wild  Horse  Creek 
])itch,  just  conij)leted  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars,  was  carrying  two  thousand  inches  of 
water,  and  affording  facilities  for  working  a  hundii d 
claims.'  During  the  summer  there  was  quite  a  st;ui]- 
pede  to  Helena,  in  the  Blackfoot  country,  and  to  tliu 
Saskatchewan  and  Big  Bend,  but  many  returned  in 
October  to  work  the  well  yielding  though  shallow  sur- 
face di<i[i;in';s  of  Kootenai.*" 

'  Fred.  Whit'',  in  Victoria  Cidonht,  Sept.  0,  Nov.  22,  Dec.  27,  18G4.  Dtiiing 
1804  ,1.  0.  Jfayucs  odici.ated  as  gold  commissioner.  In  18C.5  lie  was  succvuilcil 
by  Mr  O'llcilly.  The  favoralilo  conditions  for  agriculture  and  stockiaisini; 
to:^ctiicr\vitii  the  pleasing  scenic  aspect  of  the  terraced  valley  of  the  Kiw'tiiiai 
gave  to  tlie  region  attractions  and  advantages  over  many  other  miniiii,'  dis- 
tricts in  liritisli  Columbia.  Farms  were  established  on  the  terraces,  ami  ii li- 
gation was  resorted  to  in  places,  though  this  was  not  necessary  on  St  Ju.iph 
rrairie. 

'A  letter  from  Wild  Horse  Creek,  dated  May  4th,  mentioned  that  [lovi- 
tiiona  were  very  scarce,  the  miners  living  on  ban-,  marten,  and  lish.  All  tlie 
powder  and  siiot  and  fish-hooks  in  the  c'linp  were  sold;  those  who  lial  re- 
mained in  the  diggings  were  shut  up  all  winter  with  inadeqimte  8U|iiilies. 
When  the  first  provisions  arrived  potatoes  sold  rapidly  at  SI  a  pound,  ami  lluur 
atS1.2o. 

"Mr  Dewdney  estimated  that  there  were  a  thousand  men  on  Wild  Horse 
Creek  at  the  end  of  July.  VoweW^t  H.  C,  MS.,  1,  .S;  I'ic.  Vol.,  Dec.  27,  l>04, 
June(i,  July  18,  Aug. 8,  18C5;  C'on7yoo.SV«/i)ic/in /</.,  June  20, 180:).  Mr  l.you, 
a  trader,  reported  in  Oiegon  tiiat  Kootenai  rivalled  Cariboo;  two  men  hail 
taken  out  sixty  pounds  of  gold  in  two  days. 

"'Virloria(.'oloni4,iiei)t.  10,  ISO,');  West  Coltimbiaiim  V!cto)-ia  Colonist.  ":\o\: 
7,  180,').  On  the  dry  terraced  plair.s  of  the  mountain  valleys  bunch  grass  :;row 
in  abundance;  and  the  Indians  having  largo  herds  of  horses  they  readilv  sold 
them  to  the  miners,  so  that  almost  everyone  owned  a  horse,  and  coulil  niovc 
freely  about.     This  led  to  a  state  of  alTaira  very  unsatisfactory  to  tin   gold 


1: 


al  name  of 
m  the  main 
and  twuiity 
')  eight  dol- 
ail  to  Hope 
;e  Creek.' 

Fishervillo 
lO  arrival  of 
e  cleared  of 
I  by  July  a 

and  roiiiui 
icr  re|)()rtcd 
creek,  pro- 
d  witli  miL;-- 
[orsc  Creek 
^'■-five  tliou- 
l  inches  of 
'  a  liundicd 
lite  a  .staui- 

and  to  the 
returned  in 
(hallow  sur- 


!7,  1804.    Dming 

0  was  suci'i.'uileil 
nd  stock-raisiiij,' 

of  tlu;  KtMitiiKii 
tlicr  iiiiiiiii:^  cli9- 

DITUCCS,  lUlil  iiii- 

iry  on  8t  .ln^opli 

med  that  provi- 
1(1  fish.  All  the 
osc  wlio  liaJ  re- 
Equate  siippHus. 
pouiul,  ami  lluur 

1  on  Wihl  Horse 
,  Dec.  •-':,  1^04, 
18G:>.  Ml-  i •)■()"> 

);  two  men  lia^l 

•la  Colonist.  Xov. 
unch  gni.s.s  j-ow 
;hey  reaclil  v  .sulil 
and  could  ninvc 
,ory  to  tlu   o'olJ 


TOWARD  THE  EAST. 


523 


The  Blackfoot  and  Saskatchewan  countries  had  for 
some  time  been  reputed  rich  in  gold,  and  a  lar<TG 
number  of  miners  was  attracted  to  them,  not  only 
from  Kootenai,  but  from  Cariboo  and  other  di.stricts." 
A.  (x.  Smith  and  several  others,  who  in  ISOG  went  to 
Helena  in  Montana,  worked  successfully  until  August, 
when  an  excitement  was  created  about  the  Saskatch- 
ewan cHi^f'ings,  which  fanned  into  action  the  general 
desire  to  prospect  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  opposite  the  upper  Colund)ia.  Smith  set 
out  at  once  with  seven  others,  for  Edmonton,  by  way 
of  Kootenai  Pass,  and  arrived  there  safely  in  thirty- 
oii^^lit  days,  despite  the  hostile  Indians.  Tlie  gold 
deposits  were  found  scattered  for  a  hundred  miles  above 
ami  below  Edmonton  upon  the  Saskatchewan  bars,  but 
those  coidd  be  worked  only  for  a  short  time  in  the 
s])iing  and  autumn,  when  the  river  was  low  and  the 
yield  was  merely  two  dollars  a  day  or  less,  ^vith 
rockers. '- 

In  I HGG  Fishorville  was  pulled  down  for  the  purpose 
of  working  the  ground  on  which  it  stood,  and  the 
operation  is  said  to  have  been  highly  remunerative. 

coniinissioner,  who  was  also  the  magistrate  and  peace  ofTiccr  of  the  di.strict. 
If  the  LiulcsH  adventuicr  fell  into  trouble  with  the  aiuhoiiticn  he  had  only  to 
smliili-  his  horse  and  escape  across  the  lionndary  into  Idaho,  or  across  tluMiioun- 
tuiiis  into  the  country  of  the  Blackfeet.  A  degree  of  freedom  liordering  on 
oiulaxii y  was  the  conseijuence.  The  route  travelled  from  \'ictoria  to  Koo- 
tenai in  hSU')  was  partly  by  steamer  via  Portland  to  White  Ij'.iiU's,  thence  by 
laiiil  to  (yolvillo  and  on  by  the  «a;,'on  road  opened  in  1804  from  tlierc  to  I'cnd 
dOirilie.      \'oirr/rK  J!.  C.  J/f'iH.s-, 'MS.,  1 -.'{. 

"  Swi'L^ney  of  Cariboo  went  tluTc  and  wrote  b.ack  that  ho  had  made  more 
money  m  tlu;  jJlackfoot  region  during  the  season  'than  anybody  ever  ilid  in 
CaiilMi'.'    \'i<'lori(i  ('olonht,  Oct.  HI,  ISO."). 

"'I'lie  IJhickfeet  were  vry  troublesome  away  from  the  fort,  and  it  was 
dec'aiiMl  tliat  they  had  killed  as  many  as  o!)0  of  the  over-vcnturcsonie  miners 
and  I ii'Oo; lectors  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  lOlk  River  and  I'ort  llcutou  passes. 
.SmiJi  leumied  by  the  northern  pass  and  reached  Xew  \Vcstminstcr  in  April 
ISiiT.  One  of  the  members  of  Moberly's  party  of  cxjilorers  for  tlie  railway, 
who  went  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  .June  ISTI,  made  a  more  thorough  ex- 
ploration of  the  gohbbeaving  country  around  I'ort  Ivlnionton,  ainl  reported 
that,  till:  f.^dd  extended  fifty  miles  west  and  for  four  hundred  miles  to 
the  ra.--t  of  llie  fort,  all  the  bars  of  the  Saskatchewan  within  that  iuea  eou- 
taiaing  auiifei'ous  deposits.  This  was  nearly  all  lino  g(dd,  but  tlu^  tributaries 
W(iu  al.^o  auriferous,  and  promised  to  contain  heavier  metal,  while  it  ^va3 
cx[iocted  that  quartz  veins  would  be  discovered  near  the  fort.  Xcir  WfslDiinxlrr 
L'.nii,i'i,i-r aii</.(Jolunihia>i i[\iotei\  in  ]'icl'r/a(.'oloiiisl,  May  1,7,  \i^C>~;('aiii/)l,cirs 
Hi'l't.,  iu  CoUiiKjicood  liulietiu,  quoted  in  Victoria  Coloiiitil,  May  It),  1S7-. 


if  >i! 


it: 
!. 

i  ; 


f 


II 


r. 


h   :    ili 


I 

■\m 


523 


Uri'KU  COLUMBIA  MINlvS. 


ITvdraulir  ininin<jf  was  carried  on  oxtcnsivclv  after  t!ir 
completion  of  the  largo  Victoria  ditch,  and  yielded 
well;  yot  tlio  [)rosj>cctH  in  genoral  wore  not  sutli- 
ciontly  brij^lit  to  retain  tlu;  lari^o  mass  of  miners.  Tlic 
di,e;']L,''in<4S,  tlion<j^h  oxti-nsive,  wore  .shallow  and  sodn 
exhausted,  and  white  miners  were  content  to  haw 
them  to  the  less  exacting  Chinese.'"' 

In  18()8  mining  gained  a  fn^sh  impetus,  and  seveial 
claims  sold  hy  Johnson,  the  expressman,  in  IH(1(!,  for 
$7f)  wei'o  now  resold  for  $1,200,  while  tin;  whole  liill 
ni>ar  J^'ishervillo  was  covered  by  fresh  locations  df 
nnnini;  ijround.''' 

Chii'f  among  the  discoveries  in  Kootenai  district 
next  to  Wild  Horse  Creek,  and  twcMity  miles  IVom  it, 
was  I'erry  Creek,  a  l)ranch  of  St  Mary's  liiver,  soiiu- 
timcs  called  New  Kootenai  mines.  It  was  ((peiud  l;i 
1807  by  Dan  Kennedy,  Little  Sullivan,  and  a  liall- 
breed  named  Fraidc  l\'rry,  who  had  been  fitted  out 
by  the  miners  on  Wild  Horse  Creek  to  make  locations 
in  their  behalf  The  three  men  took  out  $225  in  livr 
<jays,  obtaining  occasionally  thirteen  and  eighteen  <lol- 
lars  to  the  ])an  in  coarse  gold  T'esend)ling  that  of  Koo- 
tenai. Still  coarser  gold  with  largcjr  yield  was  fniiiid 
above  on  the  creek.  So  far  as  pros[)ected  at  the  cikI 
of  the  season  of  18G8,  the  ground  gcsnerally  yielded  an 

"  VoirrW-s  li.  a  Mines,  MS.,  1-.3.  C.  Oppenheimor brought  §20,00()  df  ilii4 
to  Viftoiia  in  Scpti^iiljor  18U(i.  He  reported  that  chiiins  had  clianged  liaiid* 
at  high  piiius,  and  that  there  were  700  ininera  at  work  in  the  di;.'L:iiiL's  in 
August,  wh(!ii  111!  left.  Virfnrid  CotnnLit,  Sejit.  4,  18(i(i.  I^atur  in  tlie  m  iisini 
parties  from  Kootenai  rejiorted  that  the  t'liincso  were  bidding  for  uliiiiis, 
und  that  many  of  the  miners  bud  sobl  out  for  Sl,(K)l).  The  ('hinusi'  «iri 
biihbng  higli  for  everything  else  about  the  town,  and  ahnont  entirely  lakiiu 
]iosse.ssioii.  J(l.,  Nov.  '20,  bSOO.  In  1807  a  nundier  of  niiner.s  at  K"ntiii;ii 
organized  a  prospeeting  expeiHtion  on  a  large  scale  which  started  on  the  1st 
of  May,  and  followed  up  Koote.iai  Kiver  for  the  purpose  of  prospectiiii!  the 
licad-wati'rs  (>f  that  stream  in  tl.o  Koeky  Mountain.s.  Uiiidtilit  ( 'ulnnilihi  /'ir.«, 
Oct.  17,  18,')7.  The  company  were  well  provided  for  an  extended  caiii]'ii;;n. 
but  I  find  no  record  of  the  res'.'.it. 

"Dove  and  Company  carried  on  liydraulic  mining  extensively,  cli:iririj! 
up  on  (IMC  occasion,  about  midsummer,  !Jl,40()  from  three  days'  workiii;;. 
Captain  Wilson  in  the  Canon  was  making  from  ten  to  twenty-live  dullir-i  a 
day  in  18(1!).  The  Price,  (JrifHth,  Saunders,  Schroeder,  and  Dove  claims  "iri' 
all  prolitalily  emi)loyed.  Indicative  of  general  developments  was  the  i- "iiiiilt 
tion  of  a  saw-mill  by  Wooil,  who  was  also  preparing  to  erect  a  tlour-inill 


]y  art(>r  the 
uuJ  yielded 
-^  not  sutli- 
iiu'i's.  Tlic 
V  Jiiul  sddii 
lit    to   1(  ;ive 

and  suvi'ial 
11  ISCC),  i'lir 
!  ^vllol(^  liill 
locations  (if 


niai  district 
ill's  I'l'oin  it, 
;tiver,  sniiu- 
ls  opened  i;i 
ami  a  liali- 
n  fitted  out 
ikc  loi-atiniis 
$'225  in  livr 

id'lltc^eli  iliil- 

lat  of  Ki Ill- 
was  foiuul 

at   the  end 
'  yielded  an 


itSi.'0,()()()(itMiust 

I  cliangL'd  hands 
the  (li;j:,'iiit;s  in 

cr  in  tin'  sc.isciii 
liiij;  fur  claims, 
lo  ('liinusi'  wore 
I'Utii-ily  taliin;' 

(Ts  at  Kiiiiti-iiiii 
irtuil  oil  tho  1.4 
prospuctiiig  tlio 

(  ( 'iilniiiliiii  /'/•i'-«, 
uded  caiiipii;.'!!. 

(isively,  clearing 

(lays'  woiliiiif.'. 

ity-tivt:  (lullars  a 

)ovi!  claiiii-i  wiri' 

was  tlie  I'.'inlilt- 

a  tiour-iMiU, 


NEW  KOOTENAI. 


527 


ounce  a  day,  thougli  two  out  of  the  eight  claims 
o|)eno(l  this  season  gave  one  hundred  dollars  daily  to 
the  man.'' 

As  soon  as  the  news  spread,  a  large  rush  took  place 
and  a  town  was  formed  composed  largely  of  the  popu- 
lation from  Fisherville  and  Wiltl  Horse  Creek.  About 
one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  arrivals  of  18G8  wintered 
in  the  mines  while  the  rest  prepared  to  return  in  tlie 
spring  with  the  still  larger  influx  which  then  took 
place.'"  At  first  the  blue  clay  was  regarded  as  the 
bed-rock  for  the  auriferous  gravel  below  the  falls;  but 
this  was  penetrated  during  the  winter  of  18G8-9  by 
a  number  of  shafts,  and  gravel  was  struck  which  paid 
in  the  poorest  claims  eleven  dollars  a  day  to  the  man, 
and  frequently  three  times  that  amount.  In  18G9  fif- 
teen to  twenty  miles  of  the  creek  had  been  staked  off 
chiefly  with  the  expectation  of  securing  a  share  of  the 
deeper  rich  deposits;  but  this  met  with  almost  general 
disajipointment.  Only  a  few  favorably  located  shafts 
reached  a  rich  yet  dry  stratum,  while  the  rest  were 
driven  out  by  water." 

Good  prospects  were  also  found  in  1808  by  the 
packer  MeGraugh  on  the  divide  between  the  Koote- 
nai and  Pcnd  d'Oreille  river.s,  and  in  18G9  a  new 
camp  was  located  on  Mooyie  River,  a  stream  running 
parallel  with  Perry  Creek,  and  debouching  into  Pea- 
vine  Prairie  Lak.:;.     At  its  mouth  lay  bars  four  or 

"  TliG  gold  first  found  below  the  falls,  was  like  cucumber  seeds  and  only 
four  to  six  feet  from  the  surface,  in  a  layer  of  gravel  resting  on  a  clay  bed 
aliout  four  foot  in  thickness.  Aliovo  the  falls  the  gold  was  foiuul  on  the  Ijcd- 
rock,  and  several  parties  in  November  took  out  from  SI  10  to  S1.jG  in  a  day. 
Vicioria  ColoiiiM,  Oct.  'Jl  and  Hi,  1808  ;  Dawson  on  Mines,  38. 

'"'  V'irtona  Colonift,  Dec.  'IQ,  18G8,  containing  quotations  from  the  Walla 
M'ala  Statesman  ;  II.  B.  Ward,  in  Victoria  W'lekhj  Colonist,  March  27,  ISO'J. 

''  Vicioria  ( 'olonlst,  April  'J4,  1809.  The  Hough  Company  in  May  took  out 
$1,")00  in 'J  days  from  a  space  8  feet  square  beneath  the  clay.  IT.  J.  Cliun-h, 
ia  iC-'/a  Walla  Union,  May  "I'l,  1809.  McOuill's  claim,  the  first  one  liclow 
the  fulls,  took  out  618  to  S"20  a  day  to  the  hand  in  July  and  August,  and  the 
Disv  ovcry  Company  S'20  to  830.  All  the  claims  in  fact  from  the  falls  to  Jack 
Tay'.s  shaft  were  working  profitably.  Tay's  shaft  was  down  40  feet,  and  like 
the  other  deeper  claims  had  great  trouble  with  the  water.  According  to 
some  of  the  miners  the  ground  was  spotted.  Firry  Cnck.  .\ug.  "2;  Vhtoria 
('(ili.h'id,  Aug.  22,  1809.  11.  Finlayson,  however,  reported  in  1870t!iat  iiono 
of  them  had  beeu  able  to  bottom  a  shaft  yet.    Victoria  Colonist,  Jiuic  19,  1870. 


; 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


>'-^  IIIIM    III 2.5 


■■•    IM    |||||Z2 

'-  i4£  mil  2.0 


1.8 


1.6 


V] 


^ 


/2 


^l 


"^1 


.%. 


^: 


.A 


C»     ,:> 


7 


S 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


^^ 


!\ 


^N- 


% 


N^  .   ^^ 


6^ 


^> 


^^\^  <1? 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  M5B0 

(716)  872-4503 


t/i 


>l 


. 


it  Si' 


! 


\ 
f 


528 


UPPER  COLUMBIA  MINES. 


five  niilos  in  extent  whieh  yielded  from  two  and  a 
half  to  ei'^lit  dollars  a  day  to  the  hand,  and  tin  ikc 
to  St  J().se[)h  l*rairie,  over  a  lart^n'  area,  tlie  ])ro.s|)((ts 
showed  three  to  five  cents  to  the  pan.  Ditches  Merc 
projected  the  same  year  for  working  the  ground. 
Aided  by  the  discoveries  made  from  time  to  tiiiu', 
Kootenai  had  managed  to  maintain  a  prominent  jmsi- 
tion  as  a  mining  district,  chielly  in  the  hydruiilic 
branch,  for  wliicli  it  enjoyed  better  advantages  thiin 
Cariboo;  but  in  1872  Mr  Vowell,  tlie  new  gold  ('(nn- 
missioner  and  magistrate  for  Kootenai,  reported  the 
principal  mines  worked  out,  with  the  exception  cf 
those  on  Wild  Horse  and  Perry  creeks,  which  still  con- 
tained some  of  the  rich  deposits;  but,  reasoning  by  the 
Cariboo  and  other  developments,  miners  still  believed 
that  the  district  would  maintain  itself,  particularly 
as  the  deposits  resembled  the  latter  develo[)cd  cement 
strata  which  had  yielded  so  well  in  CalU'ornia.' 


13 


"  Walla  Walla  Stntexman,  Oct.  9,  18C8.  It  was  stoutly  inaintaineil  liyllie 
ncWN](a[)('rs  at  Victoria  that  the  Kootenai  and  othiT  niiriing  hiealitics  ot'  the 
Si'lliirk,  ( Jdl.l,  anil  I'urcoU  ranges,  iiere  forniinjj;  the  inner  jiaralhis  of  the 
Koeky  Mountain  tlange  of  tlie  plateau,  eomiiri.siil  rich  ami  extensive  jplai^r 
liehls,  ami  that  .">,<RH)  or  even  10,000  miner;)  coul.l  readily  timl  jirnliliililo 
enililoyinent  in  their  streain-heds ami  gulches,  (ienerally  speakinu,  tiuuhiiins 
liad  hitherto  piiid  six  dollars  and  upward  a  tlay  to  the  iiand.  Jhi/l;/  ('olnni.^l, 
Jan.  lit,  IcSlill;  Sprodl's  JJ.  ('.,  70.  If  unlucky  explorers  tailed  to  make  thiir 
fortunes  on  the  new  creeks,  this  was  not  a  sulfieioat  reason  for  declariiit;  the 
liild  exhausted,  for  it  was  shown  by  similar  ex])i'rienee  in  Carihoo  thut  the 
main  deposits  were  seldom  reached.  The  gravel  and  pay-dirt  of  the  Knote- 
iiai  region  appeared  to  the  miners  different  in  many  respects  from  the  mi[iit- 
(icial  aurilerous  gravel  of  California.  The  latter  was  frialde  and  e:i>ily 
Workccl,  while  that  of  the  Kootenai  mines,  as  exposiMl  liy  the  hydraidii'  hnsr, 
was  hke  the  cement  worked  in  California  at  a  later  ilate,  o;dy  with  l;u;.'ir 
outlays  of  capital.  The  value  of  the  dei'ii  ground  on  I'erry  Creek  reiiiaiiiclii 
mystery.  Thout^h  the  I'ureell,  Selkirk,  and  (odd  ranges,  together  wiih  the 
main  Rocliv  Mountain  piirallels,  were  all  proved  to  lie  golddieariiiir,  tlie 
favore<l  formations  witc  hut  impcirfeetly  traerd.  Hetween  the  widely  (lis- 
triliuleil  gravel  formations  of  the  terraces,  or  henehes,  that  might  I)e  voikeil 
jirolitalily  liy  hydrauli('s,  and  those  which  ol)viou;,ly  could  not  iio  so  wiakeil, 
trial  had  faihcl  to  develo[)  any  satisfactory  distii'.ction.  The  terraces  iA  the 
Kootenai  and  upper  Cohwnhia  rivers,  like  those  of  the  Fraser,  eonslitiite  a 
notewoithy  S''cnie  as  well  iis  mining  and  agricultural  feature  of  these  iiiipiiiitain 
parallels.  'J'liey  are  wide  ancient  river  valleys  tilled  to  a  great  dejitli  wilh 
more  or  less  auriferous  detritus.  IJeiiches  rise  00,)  feet  aliovc  the  st'i'aiiw 
anil  4,(KX)  f  'ct  aliove  the  sea  in  successive  stejis  to  M-hat  is  the  ancient  lilK'il- 
up  river  valley  level.  Though  tiie  streams  have  sluiced  down  to  gnat  dnitli'^ 
into  the  gravel  and  lighter  detritus,  they  have  not  yet,  it  appears,  pennr.itcil 
to  the  licd-rock  as  in  California.  Mr  Hector  of  I'alliser's  exploration  vis- 
ited this  uouutry  and  described  its  terraces  iu  1850.     Uu  afterward  \i  iluii 


SALMON  CREKK. 


529 


Tmprosscil  with  this  belief,  prospecting  was  l;ir<j;ely 
pursued,  particularly  in  1874,  under  tlie  stimulating 
iiiilHilse  of  government  a[»propriati<)n,  designed  to 
oiiiourage  new  developments.  Good  j)rospects  were 
(ilitaiiied  on  several  streams,  such  as  Slokcn  River, 
(Mn[)tying  into  the  Kootenai  a  short  distance  above 
i^s  mouth,  but  tliey  were  not  of  sufficient  importance 
ti)  clieck  the  decline.  In  lH7r)  Koot(^nai  yielded  ordy 
,^41.000  fn»m  the  bench  and  creek  diggings,  and  two 
thirds  of  this  came  from  Wild  Hoise  Creek,  the 
iciiiiiinder  lx;ing  from  Perry,  Weaver,  and  Alootsai 
(Tctks,  containing  in  all  twenty-eight  claims,  many 
(it'  tlicm  supplied  by  costly  ditclies,  and  w<)rk(Ml  by  a 
tiital  mining  population  of  forty  white  men  and  fifty 
Cliiiicse.  In  1876  most  of  the  white  men  left  the 
ilistiict,  and  the  total  yield  dwindled  to  .$j:),0()0.''^  In 
Is77  the  total  yield  increased  to  .^.■)7,00(),  obtained 
fmni  twenty-five  claims  on  Wild  Horse,  Perry,  and 
Pahner  creeks,  chiefly  by  Chinamen.  During  this 
yrar  a  trail  was  cut  by  a  govc^rnment  road  l>arty  to 
connect  Kootenai  with  Fort  ^[cJjeod  on  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Kocky  Mountains,  and  to  op(>n  a  path 
tlu'ough  regions  where  gold  had  previously  been 
found. 


i 


sir 


•»f 


11 


Iveturning  to  the  earlier  years  of  mining  in  the 
Uj)|H  f  Cv)lund)ia  basin,  let  us  glance  at  tli«^  other 
mining  localities  Avhich  havt;  a  history  subordinate  or 
paialKl  to  that  of  the  Kootenai  region.  Salmon 
('nvk,  eiiiptying    into   the   I'end    d'Oreille    near   its 


I'l'iriii 

UlIM 

«lllr 

the 

a:ii'l< 

toiui 

«lui 

II! 

Is: 


i,\ilniiilic  iiiiniag  rugion  in  Yuba  and  Novada  i-ouiiticM,  California,  and 

iImi1u[h):i  ' the  gruiit  tsiniilanty  liclwt'cn  the  .suiierlicial  drimsii.-t  of  tliu 

MS  giild  country  and   tliosu  \\'itliin  tliu   Hiiti.sli  ttTritnry  to   the  nortli, 

li,   lu'  conti:iuu.-i,  '  uiicouraL'os  inc  to  a.ssuit  tliat  the  wliolo  rounlry  u[)  to 

iMioti'nai   Kivcr  and    tlio  base  of  tim  lloiky  Mountains,   wiicrcvcr  ti.e 

iit  tirrat'oa  jiirvail,  resting  on  Kilurian  or  nietanioriiliie  roeks,  will  l>o 

1  to  1)0  auriferous.'     Hector  had  an  experiiiici  il  Californian  in  his  party, 

III  ipieutly  washed  color  from  the  stream-beds.  JJirlur'n  J\'< ]i/.,  in  Limil. 

>  .'■.,  (^inirt.  Jour.,  1801,  40()-5. 

'  1  uo  ditches  were  completed,   however,  to  wash  the  henehes  of  Wild 

'  ■  <  icek,  namely,  thu  Victoria  and  the  llaug,  the  latter  by  a  C'hineso  com- 

,  'Klivcring  (i;M)  and  300  inchet)  of  water,  respectively.   Jlin.  Jiliiiai  Jiept. 

,  1-lli;  1S7G,  4'-'4. 

IUkt.  LiiiT.  CoL.    34 


m 


m 


n 


n 


11 

;V  • 


I 


bao 


VVVER  COLUMBIA  MINl-X 


junction  with  tho  Columbia  at  Fort  Shepherd,  was 
winj^-dainincd  in  September  18G5  by  John  Thornton, 
alias  J<jljy  Jatk,  and  coarwe  brijjlit  j^old  obtained. 
J^ars  on  the  cri'ik  as  well  as  on  the  main  Columbia 
were  at  the  same  time  worked  by  a  great  number  of 
Chinese;  and  Forty-nine  Creek,  ninety  miles  fV(»iii 
Colville,  was  a  cause  of  excitement  in  AFarch  iHd?. 
About  twenty  miners  wintered  at  this  j)lace  in  18(»()-7, 
and  reported  that  the  diggings  W(>re  not  oidy  easily 
reached,  but  extensive  and  readily  worked,  with  coarse 
gold  like  that  of"  Kootenai  yielding  six  to  eighteiu 
dollars  a  day  to  the  man.*' 

The  bars  of  the  main  Columbia  above  Colvilli-  had 
been  mim-d  to  some  extent  for  several  years  bef(»rethe 
Kootenai  and  Jiig  litjnd  excitements  attracted  niulti 
tudes  from  a  distance.  At  the  time  of  the  Kootenai 
excitement  in  iHQii  there  were  several  hundred  Chiiiesc 
at  Work  upon  them  above  Fort  Shepherd,  and  doing 
well  a(;cording  to  all  accounts.^' 

As  early  as  February  1805  a  person  brought  news 
to  Victoria  that  extensive  diggings  had  bei'U  found 
"about  one  hundred  and  seventy  mihs  north  of  tliti 
old  Kootenai  district,  equal  in  richness  to  the  best 
known  in  Cariboo."^^    The  report  was  not  lost,  for  ani- 

*'Tli<ise  who  wilitcroil  on  the  creek  worked  I>ciieli  diggings  contuiiiiiiK 
coarse  guM  from  tlie  surface  <h)wn.  In  one  instance  two  ounces  were  t.ikiii 
fronv  a  single  prospect  hole  in  tlio  hunk.  Forty -eight  Creek,  near  l>v,  was 
also  r('i)orteil  ruli,  and  rjuite  a  nuinher  of  boats  left  Fort  Colville  for  tin  two 
creeks  in  March  IS.i7,  followed  soon  after  hy  nearly  one  hundred  iHtMiim 
from  Portland.  I  hiring  the  suninter  another  excitement  and  rush  was  cnatnl 
l>y  the  report  that  twi  Ive  men  had  early  in  the  season  fouinl  rich  diggiiijs  in 
the  hasin  between  the  high  mountains  forming  tho  southerly  contimiatiipii  (if 
KootiMi.ii  V:dley,  on  botii  sichs  of  the  boundary  line  and  southward  as  I'tiiH 
I'enil  il'Orcille.  I'mir  of  the  discoverers,  Allen,  Moore,  Aiiern,  and  Antheiiy 
Cavanaugh,  returned  to  the  Spokane  bridge  for  additional  HUp|ilies,  whence  the 
information  spread.  ( )n  their  way  back  to  tho  mountains  tiiey  were  nnirilired 
by  the  Indians.  Tiiey  bad  eighteen  horses  and  a  large  ((uantity  of  su]i]ilii's. 
In  the  excitement  which  followed  the  announcement  of  the  discovery,  ;i  mii- 
sidcrablo  force  of  miners  was  directed  into  that  country.  I'irloria  ('iil"iiiyl, 
Sept.  17,  lS(i7. 

'"  So  absorbed  were  they  that  Dewdncy  found  it  iinixissiblo  to  engage  iiiDro 
than  scviMity-five  to  work  upon  the  Kootenai  trail  at  Bcveiity-livu  iloll  us  a 
month.  Vir/ori'i.  ColDiiiit,  Aug.  'J*J,  18(>rt  Findlay  Creek  diggings,  fifty  imU'S 
north-west  of  tlio  town  of  Kootenai,  were  discovcreil  in  ISO"),  a  short  tl:iic 
before  tiie  rush  of  tliat  season  waa  started  by  some  half-breed  miners  inmi 
Colville. 

'"  Victoria   ColoHtHt,   Feb.   14,   1805.     Some  prospectors  who  returnd  to 


ROUND  Blft  BEND. 


sn 


hepherd,  was 
hii  Tliorntitn, 
old  obtained, 
aiti  Cf»luiiil)ia 
!at  numlnr  oi" 
y  inilos  fioin 
March  1  H(\7. 
leo  Id  1800-7, 
i)t  only  easily 
d,  with  course 
c  to  eighteen 

3  Colvillr  had 
ars  hct'ore  tlie 
tractcd  niiilti- 
tlio  Kootenai 
idrcd  Chinese 
rd,  and  doing 

hroujj^ht  news 
I   hccn   found 

nortli  of  the 
to  the   hest 

htst,  for  ani- 

liggiiigg  cnntJiiiiiiiK 

clUIiCOS  WCTO    t.lkill 

rcuU,  lu'iir  liy.  wiis 
'"Ivillt-  for  till  two 
liunilrcil  iirisiiiis 
1  rusli  was  in  111  li 
il  rich  (ligj.'iii::s  in 
•ly  coiitimiiitinii  of 
mtliwiinl  as  I'lr  -m 
icrii,  iiiiil  Aiillioiiy 

llJllit'S,  wliclln  till' 

icy  wore  iiiiii'li  ivil 
uitity  of  siijii'lii'S. 
I!  iliacovery,  a  ion- 
Viftoria  ('iit'niixl, 

lilo  to  engagi'  more 
eiity-livo  ilnllirsa 
;.",'iiigs,  fifty  iiiiU'8 
ISO"),  11  Hliort  tunc 
iiceil  iiiiiK'r."  """1 

who  return"!  to 


viils  at  Victoria  from  Colvillc  in  June  stated  that  two 
hundred  men  had  ascended  the  Cohimhia  t<>  Big  Bend, 
and  that  the  river  liad  ahnost  the  appearance  of  tlie 
Fniser  in  1858,  laden  with  canoes,  boats,  barges,  and 
scows.  At  Dalles  des  Morts  good  diggings  were  said 
to  exist,  and  on  the  creeks  emptying  into  the  Columbia 
the  yield  was  twenty-five  cents  to  orio  dollar  and  a 
(|uarter  to  the  pan.  The  excitement  had  begun,  and 
it  was  expected  that  thousands  would  enter  the 
country  during  the  summer.'^ 

The  centre  of  attraction  became  known  as  Big 
lit  11(1,  named  after  the  great  bend  of  the  Columbia  in 
latitude  52°,  where  the  river  turns  from  a  north-west- 
eily  to  a  southerly  course  aftcT  breaking  though  tlus 
Selkirk  range.  The  mining  district  was,  howt^ver,  a 
sliort  distance  from  the  bend  where  several  small 
streams  came  down  from  the  western  sloj)e  of  tiiese 
mountains.  The  first  discovered  to  contain  rich  placers 
Wert!  French  and  McCulloch  creeks,  branches  of  (iold 
("reek.  W.  S.  Stone  was  despatched  thither  as  ex- 
jiressnian,  and  on  arriving  at  French  Creek  in  August 
lie  found  the  ground  staked  otf  for  two  miles,  one  jiun- 
dit  (1  and  twenty  men,  including  many  'fiftv-eightcrs,' 
Ijeing  employed  on  the  various  cn^eks.  The  pioneers 
Were  four  Frenchmen  who  had  settled  on  French 
(reck  early  in  the  spring  of  1805,  and  obtained  sixteen 
•liillars  from  eleven  pans  of  dirt.  All  the  bars  along 
tilt  Columbia  to  Bi*;  Bend  were  found  to  yield  well  in 
couise  gold  not  unlike  that  of  Kootenai,  but  here  all 

WiU.i  WiiUa  about  tlio  saTno  tinio  roportcd  the  tiiipor  (^'olutnliia  <1iggingH  ait 
'  li;iiiil)ii^;.'  W'ltllii  W<iU<i  SUitrmnan,  March  10,  in  Virtoria  ('nlnnint,  Alarch 'J8, 
iMi.'i.  Until  of  thcsi!  parties  tiavclUnl  in  winter,  tlie  foniiiT  reporting  tlio 
rliiiiuti' as  '  spleiuliil.'  It  will  l>  •  Kefii  fn mi  these  authorities  that  Hig  Hend 
WIS  jiriihably  iliacovereil  by  persons  who  (lescuiiduil  tho  C'ohunliia  from 
Kiiiiti'iiai. 

■'IVrry,  'the  well-known  explorer,'  reported  that  sevoral  miners  had 
taki'ii  out  $700  apiece  in  a  very  short  time,  and  ho  himself  wjis  said  to  bo 
iii.ikiiiL,'  $100  a  day,  obtaining  as  imich  as  $4  to  the  pan.  This  was  at  tho 
]iiii:it  H'hero  tlie  Shusawap  trail  struck  the  Columbia,  and  (>0  men  were  work- 
ing there.  W.  llobertson  wrote  in  June  that  IS  boats  liad  ascended  the  C'o- 
liiiiiliia  that  spring,  and  that  the  diggings  mostly  aimed  for  were  250  miles 
aliiive  Colville.  Victoria  Columhum,  (piotetl  in  Vietnrii  Colonist.  .Tuly  11,  ISOC; 
I'lirilioo  Sentinel,  quoted  in  Victoria  (JoloniM,  Aug.  1,  iluly  4,  1SG5. 


)    : 


'•'■  '  1 


'.  f  '' 


can 


Uri'ER  COLUMBIA  MIXKS, 


iji 


trace  of  the  metal  was  lost."^*  11.  T.  SinitL,  who  acted 
as  jj[()kl  counnissitmer  for  the  Bij^  Bend  district  in 
18(')5,  left  there  in  November  and  reported  to  tin; 
government  at  Victoria  that  the  known  yield  of  Freiu  h 
Creek  for  the  season  was  ,s;j2,000 ;  of  McCulloch  Creik, 
$2,700;  and  of  Carnes  Creek,  $;},000;  but  on  account 
of  the  gold  export  tax  then  in  force,  it  was  understoml 
tliatnothalf  of  the  j^old  taken  out  hud  been  reportetl.'' 
b^looded  streams  and  the  lack  of  provisions  and  mining,' 
implements  liad  besides  retarded  tlie  work  of  the  siiasdii 
materially,  but  during  the  coming  year  it  was  evident 
that  eU'orts  would  be  made  to  forward  suj)plics  to 
meet  all  demands,  for  the  colonial  government  wns 
opening  a  trail  from  Kandoop  by  way  of  Shushwajt 
Lake,  and  a  steamer  was  building  above  Colville  to 
navigate  the  u])per  Cohnnbia. 

In  the  8|)ring  of  IHlW!  miners  began  in  fact  to  Hock 
in,  and  Portland  was  doing  a  large  business  with  tlieso 
districts.'"^"  Finding  that  the  trail  would  be  inadecpiate 
to  compete  with  Oregon  roads,  the  government  im- 
proved the  Shusliwap  route  early  in  the  year,  and  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  built  a  steamer,  the  Martin,, 

"  From  Fort  Rhejilierd  it  wiis  reported  September  2,  18(»r),  that  on  Ficiuli 
Creek  thuy  liad  l>ottoined  some  .slialtH  without  HUecuf<.s,  and  that  there  w;is 
iiotliing  in  tliu  eouutry  to  eat  Imt  '  Ihmr  Htiaiglit. '  VkUtriti  Wwklji  (  nlnin.-,', 
Aug.  15,  and  Sept.  I'.),  ISii").  On  the  I'.Hh  of  S^'pteinher  there  were  il.")  i  nii 
oil  tlie  orcok,  mostly  eiii,'aged  in  wiiiji-damininj;  the  stream.  The  La  KK  nr 
Company  drifted  into  tlie  hill-side  and  took  outt''">lH)  in  two  days.  Tlu:  ;;i;ivi  1 
for  some  distanee  above  the  hed-roek  jirosjieeti'd  between  two  ami  iuilvu 
dollars  to  tiio  pan.  Id.,  Oet.  10,  IS;;.").  One  third  of  tiic  miners  at  Ihg  IIimhI 
during  tlie  Bcason  had  eome  from  Colville  and  returned  there  in  Oetoln  r  lu 
winter.   Id.,  Dee.  4  and  \%  XSiut. 

'^'Kootenai  wa.>i  .said  to  he  eomparatively  abandoned  in  November  lM>"i 
«)ii  aeeount  of  the  more  attraetive  features  of  the  liig  IJend  diggin>;.<.  It  tlic 
season  kept  open  it  wa^-i  eertain  tiiat  boiits  tilled  with  miners  would  eontiiiiU! 
to  go  up  !;11  winter,  and  in  any  event  there  would  be  A  j;reat  rush  in  M.iiili. 
hrili-ih  (otumhisn,  (piote  1  in  Victorii  Dnily  VoUmixl,  Jan.  L"),  18.1.1.  la 
Deeeuiber  the  Vicloni  i.'ohiiiat.  Dee.  4,  ISGi"),  urged  that  they  should  t:il>r  \\ 
1  Mson  from  tlie  Americans  by  advirti.sing  the  mineral  wealih  of  the  e(iu:ili y, 
and  bc^;un  by  pronouneing  liig  Ikaid  the  greatest  gold-mining  region  y.  c 
«lijeovere.l  on  the  I'acilie  coast. 

''•'  Virloi-ii  i'nloiM,  Dee.  5,  1805,  April  10  and  24,  \S(H>;  Onyon  SloUii-an, 
NLircli  23,  18UG.  The  attention  of  the  mining  population  wintering  at  l'<  rt- 
land  Wius  divided  between  Big  liend  and  lUaekltMit,  prejKinderating  in  I  ivnr 
of  the  former.  A  Dalles  eorrespondent  nu'utioned  that  nuud)eis  wenwl  i;ly 
crossing  the  river  at  tliat  point,  travelling  wn  horseluok  for  Big  Bend  by  "ay 
of  Okanagan  and  Kunduop. 


LL,  who  aotcil 
(1  district  in 
oiiAid  to  tlio 
eld  of  French 
'illocli  Crei  k, 
ut  oil  account 
a -5  understood 
si'li  reported."' 
IS  and  niinini,' 
of  tlie  season 
t  was  evident 
1  supplies  to 
ernnient  was 
of  Sliusli\va]t 
c  Colville  to 

1  fact  to  Hock 
.'sswith  these 
L)o  inadecpiate 
'ernnient  iui- 
year,  and  the 
•,  the  Mari'ni, 

15,  that  on  Finuli 
1(1  that  theru  «;ii 
id  Wviklji  <  i./iiK,,,', 
U'l'i!  weru  '.l.'i  I  II 11 
Tlie  l,a  I'l.nr 
lays.  Tli(:j:r:iMl 
two  aiiil  tu.  Ivc 
iiuirs  at  liig  n<'iiil 
loro  ill  Oetiiln  !■  tu 

II  Novemhi'i'  iMl.") 
<li^'Hiiif.M.  ll  tiic 
H  would  coal  mill' 
.t  rush  ill  Mile  ll. 
111.  15,  18,;.;.  la 
ii'y  kIiouM  t  ll.'  :i 
ll  of  till!  coll :iti;\, 
[lining  region  ).  t 

<>ir)jon  i'to/<>/..(iH, 
vinturing  at  I'l'it- 
(loiatiiiH  ill  I  i\i>r 
iiiibuis  wcri'  ll  1  1>' 
Big  IJontI  liy  ".ly 


STEAM  NAVIGATION. 


oM 


wliicli  on  May  27tli  hoj^an  to  mnVo  scmi-weckly  trips 
on  Sliusliwuj)  Lake  to  Seymour,  cliar^inj^  ten  dollars 
for  fares  and  twenty  <lollars  a  ton  for  freirjlit.''^  ►^♦y- 
iiioiir  on  Shusliwap  liako  rose  rapidly  in  conseqmncc, 
aii<l  contained  in  April  about  twenty  l)uildin<;s.  Quito 
a  imniher  of  miners  liad  arrived  before  the  oponin<^  of 
iiiivit;ation,  drawing  hand-sleds  over  tin;  ice,  and  early 
in  Juno  there  were  five  hundred  men  waitin<;  here  for 
tlie  creeks  to  fall  and  for  definite  news  from  the  mines.*' 
The  disaster  to  the  steamer  Luhonchcre  caused  a 
rise  in  the  fares  and  frei<;hts  from  San  Francisco  to 
Victoria,  and  aided  to  throw  the  Victoria  route  into 
tlie  shade  for  the  year,  while  White's  steamer,  Forli)- 
vlii(\  and  other  boats  jtlyiiiL,^  reL,^ularly  between  Col- 
ville and  J)eath  Hapids,  rendered  the  approach  by 
way  of  Portland  so  easy  as  to  attract  even  Victoiia 
tiatie.""  At  ]  )alles  des  Alorts,  t\\v  head  of  steamer  na\  i- 
•(atiou,  quite  a  numiuT  of  American  busini'ss  houses 
oiieiied  trade  with  the  miners;  near  the  moutli  of 
(lold  liiver  the  town  of  Kirbyvilht  was  started,  and 
Ivomano's  lumber-mill  bejran  turninj^  out  lumber  in 
May  \H(](]  at  ^liT)  a  thousand  feet,  ofFerinj^  facilities 
Itotli  for  mining  and  building  operations.''*' 

-■  Tlic  lake  contained  many  lioats  which  were  hrou>;lit  into  use  in  opposi- 
fiiiii  to  the  stcaiiur,  carrying  passengers  for  two  and  a  half  and  freij^fit  for 
ti.trcM  iloUars.  There  were  two  lar;:e  caniH'.s  at  the  teriiiinns  of  the  road  to 
c"iiM  y  lla.^scn^'ers  over  Sliushwap  ].iake  to  Seymour.  Hire  and  at  Kaiiiloop 
a:i  aliMiiilaiict'  of  jiri.vi'ioiis  was  announced  to  he  in  readiness  for  the  iiiinci. 

\'irh:ii,i  (  (iloiiM,  April  17,  liStiO.  Vict^irians  advertised  and  j)liu;ari'.ed  tlio 
III  «  mines  Oil  every  wall,  and  especially  the  route  thereto  liy  way  of  Victoria 
aiiil  Kaiiiloo|i,  while  the  I'ortlatid  journal.*  diil  their  liest  to  counteract  tlieiii 
In  easting  di.icredit  on  the  British  Coluniiiians  and  their  route.  VictoriaCtil- 
oiiisl.  .\jiiil  o.i,  May  1,   IStiO. 

•■  .\  (liaracter  named  Tliou.saiid  Dog  .Joe,  alia.s  Tclliiia,  hiul  a  seven-dog 
team  ,i;id  a  toliogj;an  with  wliiih  he  carried  supldies  to  the  Dig  Bend  Mines. 

''Hie  Fiiiiij-iihii-  made  her  tirst  tiiii  from  t'olville  to  IVath  llapidswiJi  >S5 
]iii>^i  II;  ers  hut  little  freight,  and  arrived  at  the  latter  ]il:ico  April '.'(J,  IS.UJ, 
I"  I  .L'  tell  days  in  making  tlie  trip  up  tlirouj^h  tlie  ice,  taking  p:ussengi'rs  for 
'i;'>  lal  freight  at  5"00  a  ton.  She  pai  1  for  herself  the  lirst  season.  Viit'irin 
'  .■('i/i/.>^,  April  7,  18()();  A''«'  WitliiiiiiMir  JJjiiiiiiiii'i;  Sept.  "5,  lSii7.  From 
I'll'  .■!  des  iSlorts  freight  was  carried  in  Intats.  Tiiero  was  Imt  one  mail  to 
tlie  Kuoteiiai  mines  from  Victoria  for  six  months,  owing  to  the  fact  tliit  tlio 
ll'  i-litiiie  of  1,S()S  failed  to  make  the  usual  arrangements  with  .lohnson,  the 
<  M''e~,iiiaii  ami  niail-earrier.     In  the  season  of  ISGK  the  service  was  restored. 

I  ■  //ll  Citlititist,  Si'pt.  'J'J,  1809.  Farming  was  by  this  time  carried  on  here 
til  .1  .  iiiisideralile  extent. 

■''■iipplies  Were  dragged  in  boats  through  the  rapida  to  Wilson's  lauding,  U5 


1 


.'li 


w        '^ 

'P 

1.  ... 

Hi 

^^^^D 

I 

^^1 

I'ii 

1 

liM 

^^^^■'j 

i 
It 

^B'  \\ 

i' 

^^Kt- ' 

, 

HI!! 


t  \ 


i;( 


11 


634 


UPPER  COLUMBIA  MINES. 


The  particular  advantages  claimed  for  the  Big  Bend 
mines  were  that  they  were  easily  reached  and  at  first 
easily  worked,  while  the  gold  was  widely  scattered 
and  provisions  cheap,  so  that  miners  could  live  on 
eight  dollars  a  week.  Dupuy's  hill  claim  on  French 
Creek  was  reported  to  have  yielded  $2,500  in  a  wed;, 
the  Discovery  GO  ounces  in  one  day,  and  the  Slu  |; 
Bailey  $1,500  within  a  few  days.  But  although 
many  claims  yielded  richly,  and  the  field  was  exten- 
sive, yet  the  population  of  Big  Bend  district  at  this 
time,  estimated  by  some  into  the  thousands,  was  tod 
large  for  all  to  obtain  a  share  of  the  treasure  and  tlio 
disappointed  ones  were  apt  to  declaim  against  the 
country.^' 

By  the  middle  of  June  the  lead  had  been  tapped 
on  the  creek  for  a  distance  of  one  and  a  quarter  luik.s 
from  the  town,  and  it  became  apparent  that  the  better 
diggings  were  not  shallow,  as  had  been  at  first 
assumed,  but  required  expensive  work,  partly  on 
account  of  the  large  bowlders  in  the  bed  of  the  deep 
channel.  This  gave  a  further  impetus  to  the  hv^e 
exodus  which  had  already  begun,  and  in  October  fHOC 
the  failure  of  the  Big  Bend  diggings  was  bruited  far 
and  wide  by  those  who  had  returned  unsuccessful. 
Provisions  now  became  scarce,  and  entire  cam[)s  liwd 
for  weeks  on  a  little  flour  and  beans.  But  for  the 
services  of  the  steamer  Fot'tij-nine  they  would  have 
perished.     A   number   of  parties   were   doing  well, 


jniles  further  up  the  river;  thence  they  were  packed  on  the  sliouMers  of  canicrs 
to  (iold  Kivor,  a  distance  of  tliruc  miles,  aiicl  l)oatcd  up  the  river  to  the  iiKJiitliH 
of  the  several  mining  creeks.  At  French  Creek  there  was  another  port:ii;i'  ft 
two  miles  to  the  stores.  On  the  19th  of  May  one  of  these  l>oats  coiitainiiit; 
2.T  persons  came  down  over  the  rapids.  Being  overloaded  and  carelusslj  man- 
agetl  it  capsized  and  all  hut  five  were  drowned. 

^'  \Vi»tminKter  Columbian,  in  Victoria  Volonint,  May  22,  1800.  Seven  men 
who  had  remained  on  French  Creek  through  the  preceding  winter  sank  u  ^lial't, 
but  at  a  depth  of  twenty-eight  feet  they  were  Hooded  out.  l»y  tliu  i-xiA  of 
May  fourteen  companies  were  preparing  to  waah.  In  Oit's  claim  an  ri.lit- 
ounce  nugget  was  found  in  deep  ground,  li.  Cameron  in  Victoria  Cotni'att, 
June  7  Hn<r  14,  180C.  Monroe  and  Company  on  French  Creek  washed  wy  '" 
one  day  in  June  nineteen  ounces.  Victoria  Coloiiinl,  J uim  20,  1800.  On  tin  '-'li 
of  July  a  flo(Ml  on  French  Creek  desti-oycd  ail  the  wuig-danis,  wheels,  and 
sluices.  /(/.,  July  24,  1800. 


the  Big  Bend 
d  and  at  first 
ely  scatteiod 
jould  live  on 
m  on  French 
lOO  in  a  wctk, 

ind    the    Slie'l: 

But  althou^rli 
Id  'vas  exti;ii- 
istrict  at  tliis 
and8,  was  too 
asure  and  the 
I  against  the 

I  been  tapped 
quarter  niiks 
hat  the  buttur 
been  at  first 
•k,  partly  on 
d  of  the  deep 

to  the  hii'^e 
October  iMiiG 
xs  bruited  far 

unsuccessful. 
e  camps  lived 

But  for  the 
would  have 
doing  \vcll, 


louMcrs  of  canicra 
ivcr  to  tlieiii'iiitlis 
uiiothor  portam'  it 
o  l>outtj  cuiitaiiiiiig 
mil  carelessly  man- 

18CC.  Scvin  men 
viutcr  sank  a  >li:ilt, 
lit.  Uy  tho  iii.li'f 
t's  claim  an  c  i  lit- 
Victoriit  Vv/<  '"•<'. 
reck  waslu^il  uy  i" 
0,  I  sot).  Oiitl..  'J'l 
dams,  'vliecl^,  lUiJ 


CnARACTER  OF  DEPOSITS.  SIS 

however,  and  in  August  the  Thompson  Company 
t(>(dv  out  between  $2,000  and  $3,000  in  a  week,  the 
I^idgc  Company  seventy-nine  ounces,  and  the  Guild 
C'nnipany  fifty-nine  and  a  half  ounces  one  week  and 
8(venty-one  ounces  another  week.  The  Black  Hawk 
tunnel  on  French  Creek  excited  particular  attention, 
and  as  the  two  men  working  it  took  out  in  one  week 
twelve  ounces  of  gold,  the  experiment  was  considered 
surcessful.'*''  In  regard  to  the  results  for  the  season, 
^Ir  Oppenheimer  estimated  the  total  returns  of  the 
district  at  $250,000,  and  yet  the  season  had,  in  his 
opinion,  been  particularly  unfavorable  to  mining  opera- 
tions. Of  this  amount  French  and  McCulloch  creeks 
yielded  each  about  $100,000.  A.  G.  Smith  on  his 
return  from  the  Saskatchewan  early  in  the  spring  of 
18(')7  passed  through  the  Big  Bend  district  and  found 
that  a  hundred  miners  had  partially  or  wholly  win- 
tered on  French  Creek  alone.  But  the  prestige  of 
tht^  district  had  departed;  the  deep  ground,  still 
sought  by  a  few,  was  doomed  to  wait  for  more  favor- 
aldo  conditions  in  a  new  era,  and  surface  mining  was 
continued  as  the  only  resource  throughout  the  season 
of  1 8G7.  Some  of  the  claims  paid  from  six  to  eleven 
d(dlars  to  the  man,  but  as  a  rule  the  miners  who 
reached  New  Westminster  in  the  autumn  expressed 
themselves  dissatisfied  with  the  returns,*'  French 
Creek  declined  rapidly,  and  in  1869  only  thirty-seven 
men  were  reported  at  work  there,  partly  in  deep  dig- 

'•'The  same  men  obtained  §112  from  the  lienches  in  four  and  a  half  days, 
and  a  nugget  of  $38  was  also  found.  W.  L.  Waile  of  Walla  Walla  reported 
in  Novemlier  ISCG  that  1 ,000  men  were  in  the  mines  on  Frcncli,  M<('uIloch, 
and  ( 'arnes  crocks,  and  the  bars  of  the  Columbia  l)etween  (Jold  and  ("arnca 
Clicks — a  far  too  liigh  estimate  according  to  other  accounts  -and  that  very 
U\\  made  expenses,  the  only  two  creeks  that  paid  being  French  and  McCul- 
luili.  'On  aU  the  streams  upon  wliich  gold  has  been  discovere<l,'  siiid  Wade, 
'tlie  bed-rock — which  was  generally  expected  to  jn'ove  rich— i.s  so  deeji  tliat 
it  cannot  Ixj  reached  without  better  appliances  for  protection  against  water. ' 
Ml  lie  tiian  tliree  fourths  of  those  who  came  down  with  Wade  were  unable  to 
iKiy  tiieir  fare  on  the  Forty-nine.  Fifty  men  remained  on  Frencli  Cn.-ek  in 
Jiiiind)er  1800;  the  Discovery  and  the  Half-breed  claims  continued  to  pay, 
and  also  the  Wingdam  and  Black  Hawk.  V^ictoria  t'oloniat,  July  10,  Sept.  18, 
Nov.  -27,  and  Dec.  II,  1800. 

^^  New  H  r  ilminatcr  Examiner,  Nov.  13,  1807. 


ill 


%% 


:;w 


tl'l'KU  COLUMBIA  MIXl-X 


j;in<(s,  tliouj^li   it  was  still  iiiaintaiiKul  tliut  six  dollnis 
a  (Jay  and  upwards  could  Ik;  iiiadit  iti  tin-  district. '* 

McCullocli  Creek  was  hut  a  reproducticm  of  Fr(  mli 
Creek.  Jt  yielded  as  much  as  one  hundred  dollais  n 
day  to  sonu!  <laiins,  while  the  CliMnens  Company  tix.k 
out  in  18(15  fr(»m  twelve  to  thirty-five  ounces  dailv; 
and  in  connection  with  the  coarsen  ^ohl  nu»;<^ets  ran^iiitr 
fnnn  twenty-tive  dollars  downwards,  fra<;nients  of  licli 
(juart/ wer(!  found  in  the  ,creek-l»ed  hclow.*^'  A  few 
men  wintered  on  the  creek  in  lH(i5,  while  their  part- 
ners Went  to  Colville  for  supi)lies,  and  a  littU;  town 
arose  which  in  tfune  18(U)  counted  half  a  dozen  \>>it 
huts.  In  tlu!  spring  shafts  were  suidi,  hill-side  tunnels 
were  worked,  winj^-dams  constructed,  and  tail-raci  s 
cut.  As  on  French  Creek,  the  jiresence  of  lai<;c 
bowlders  proved  a  serious  hinderance  and  rendered 
many  claims  worthless.  The  lowt^r  mile  and  a  hult" 
of  the  creek  was  considered  of  no  value,  hut  above, 
particularly  in  the  jj^ravel  beds,  it  was  yieldinji^  steadily 
from  lour  to  six  and  even  twelve  ounces  a  day.  As 
the  creek  was  ascended  the  coarse  gold  increased  intd 
regular  nugi;ets,  one  of  which  resembled  a  plat(^,  and 
weiglu'd  two  hundred  and  fifty-three  dollars.  A  num- 
Ijer  of  miners  persevered  in  the  main  object,  which  w;is 
t<»  penetrate  to  th  bed-rock,  and  this  was  found  hy 
some  at  six  feet,  but  others  sank  even  sixty  feet  witli- 
out  reaching  it,  and  were  eventually  forced  out  hy 
vv^atcr.^ 

•■♦Tlie  Welsh  liyilr.'iulic  w;i8  at  work  while  the  w.atcr  liustcil,  Imt  ci-.iscil 
operatiiMis  in  .Fimo  on  aci'oiint  of  the  ilrynoss  of  the  seaHon.  The  wintur  ut 
18.JO-70  wan  niilil  and  oikmi,  so  that  the  liiiiley  Company  lost  but  tiireo  wink- 
ing (lays  during  tin;  season  ending  March  t>tii.  A  Bteady  yield  aver<;iiin 
much  over  lal):ii'er's  M'agcs  eontiniicd  to  attract  the  Hniall  mining  poiiulatimi. 
VirUirid  ('ulniiix/,  May  7,  ISliT;  Jan.,  July,  l.S(il);  April  1S70.  trencii  Cick 
hail  been  the  riehest,  and  in  many  other  respects  the  rcpresentjitive,  creek  of 
Ihe  district,  the  llalf-hrecd  claim,  its  most  famous  spot,  yielding  an  it  ili'l 
^\00  a  day  to  the  niun,  though  not  regularly. 

^*  VtiirclV^  Brit.  ('ill.  Miiim,  MS.,  11,  VI.  This  creek  went  also  under  thr 
name  of  Clemens  ( 'reek  after  tlie  Clemens  Company.  On  one  occasion  .^Mi'i 
was  ohtained  in  a  single  pan.  In  common  with  French  Creek,  this  win 
reported  and  Ixdieved  at  the  time  to  he  '  the  biggest  discovery  on  the  coa.-t.' 
Virt/ma  Colonist,  l>(;c."l!t,  1H(!.5. 

•"'There  were  a  dozen  companies  at  Wfirk  in  August  18fi0,  ext(!ndinga  iiiili' 
and  a  half  above  the  town,  but  most  miners  were  awaiting  tiie  result  of  the 


vv 


kIx  (loU.uH 
strict.'^ 
I  of  Fniiili 
'(I  (lollais  ii 
npiuiy  t<H,k 
nc«'S  ilailv  ; 
ctH  raiii^iiiL!: 
ents  ot"  licli 

L^''       A  f<'W 

tlu'ir  i»ait- 

littUi  town 

i  dozen   lot,' 

iido  tUlllirls 

J  tail-ract  s 
•e  of  lai«;(' 
d  rciidciid 
and  a  lialt' 
hut  above, 
iiiir  sU'adilv 
I  <lay.  As 
•ivasfd  into 
I  |)lat(s  and 
s.  Anuni- 
,  which  was 
IS  found  hy 
y  foct  witli- 
eed  out  l>v 


atfil,  but  coasiil 

Tho  winter  nt 

hut  tliroo  Wdik- 

'  yield    iivrrjiini; 

uiug  iio]ml;iticii. 
Fiencli  (it'k 

ntjitive,  cri'i'k  nf 

eldiug  as  it  ili'l 

it  alxo  iindor  tlu^ 

le  ofcaaion  i-M''' 

Crc'i'k,  tiiix  V  IS 

;ry  on  the  coast.' 

t'xtoiiiliin;  a  inili' 
tlie  result  of  till) 


A  MUNIiUKD  (UKEKS. 


.VI7 


In  midHuninnr  McCulloch  C'rcik  was  said  to  liavc 
a  I'.ipluation  of  IJO,  while  French  (Jreek  liad  IjO, 
ami  tho  entire  distiict  ahout  330.  Tlie  J)art  Com- 
pany's chdni  liad  a  sliaft  40  feet  dei-p,  in  the  hottoiii 
nf  which  $'2i\0  in  coarse  {,'old  was  ohtain(<l,  while  tho 
Discovery  ( 'onipany  i'ound  a  piospect  of  .^"-"J  to  the 
pan.''  Half-way  iVoni  here  to  the  T'i)|ter  Arrow 
Lake,  on  a  little  stream  ruuMinji;  parellcl  to  (jjolcl 
liivir,  J  lank  Carnes  in  the  sprin;^  of  1S(;5  piospccted 
a  small  creek  named  after  him,  and  ohtained  I'rom  I'our 
pans  of  dirt  three  <|ollars  and  thirty-seven  cents  of 
(•(larsu  odld.  A  rush  followed  this  discovery,  an<l 
C.uiKs  ('re(k  was  (x-cupied  nearly  sinmltaneously 
with  French  Creek,  (JO  miners  hcini^' rejHirted  on  tho 
ground  in  the  autumn,  suH'eriii}^  some\vh;;t  iVoui  a  lack 
uf  jirovisions.  The  deposits  were  di'clai'ed  ileiitical 
willi  those  of  Fi'ench  and  ^IcCulloch  ci-ei  ks,  hut 
Kohert  Xohles,  one  of  the  inemhers  of  the  Caiihoo 
Ciinipany,  who  prosjx-cted  the  bid  of  tlu;  ci'ei  k  in  the 
autumn  of  1,S(.;."),  satisjied  himsiilf  that  ihe  d:L^!,''in_Ljs 
wcri!  even  deeper  and  the;  hed-rock  still  more  unattain- 
ahlc.'"  Tho  shallower  <^r(»und,  liowever,  olleicd  a  fair 
tli()Ut;h  limited  field,  wliicli  was  worked  for  some  timo 
hy  a  small  number, 

H]HT:itioiis  of  the  Yilt!  ('oni|iany,  who  had  set  out  with  tlio  ilctermination  of 
'  \,i|'>iiu;4  till!  ^tiltiT  of  tlie  ik'i'j)  ground.  All  thu  hojie.s  of  tlio  ercek  ri'.itrd 
i:i"iii  tii>ir  Kueoe.-is.  They  \\\  re  down  50  feet  lu  Augu.;t  KS>i.J,  i)U.iii)i;ig  wi  Ji 
til  ■  .li  I  of  a  M liorl,  and  ti^ally  they  struek  a  i>iti;hiiiL;  heil-roil;.  V irlmi  i  <  \,l- 
itii'nt,  Aug.  28,  Oct.  Iti,  I'vXi.  Hence  they  drilled  toward  llie  di'ip  ground 
ami  .siiuk  thri'o  hliiid  slialt.s.  From  tlio  last  of  tlio.ie  they  ilri.teil  a/aiu,  and 
NVTi!  iu  tiireo  Hi't.4  of  tiiuhir  \vhe:i  l!ie  llow  of  water  ohliueil  tlu'iu  to  re^i.e.  Xcw 
W'Ml.iiiiistiT  K.niiiihiii;  Scjit.  12."),  Jii-'T;  WnUn  W'i'lld  .S'liJi-iiiinii,  .\ug.  1  ),  li-vXJ. 

■•'  A  hileh  of  S  :;),(K>0  ol  gold-.lii.st  wa-i  t;ik(  n  from  here  to  W,dl  i  Walla  hy 
•f.  K  iiitrmaun.  V!ii:)rlii  ('iiloiii"t,  .Ti:l ,'  S,  1 1,  Aug.  14,  I ;!(!;;;  May  7,  l'v)7.  Ahovc 
til  ■  raiiiin  t!;0  country  is  open,  liaving  geii'.h)  slojics  not  unl.!.e  tlio.ie  of  Muik 
'iillitia  William  Creek,  wliiih  tlie-.e  mines  Mere  thciu;,I:t  to  re  lemhle.  On 
ji'.rt  of  Fir.;t  Flit  in  thif  open  country  the  creek  wa.s  fou^id  to  traverse"  a 
!>  eiv  of  ]ii;.;li  lieil-roek  with  ]Mtehin  of  gravel,  li.ivin:,'  Jirnli.ihly  he>  ii  furerd 
i-nli^  from  the  deeji  eliauurlj  liy  a  fili  le.  Tho  gul  1  wa.s  ol  a  hLnl.i.sli  hroun 
1:111',  eolored  hy  the  o\i  !o  of  iron  wiih  which  tho  gravel  was  impregnateil. 
'II.  I).,' in  Virfitrid  Coldiii-tf,  Sept.  IS,  l8fiG. 

^*  hiiir.tnii  on  Mhn-t,  ■'til;  VlrU^ria  i'^ilmM,  A])ril  24,  June  7,  ISiilt.  Me- 
I'l'iiildaud  Company  attempted  it  in  May  l>'t>(>,  and  reaehed  a  depth  of  4."! 
I  t  without  striking  hed-roek.  A  miner  who  arrive  I  at  V.ile  i:i  tlie  spring  of 
I  ••',;•.  wi'h  some  gold  direetly  from  ("arnes  Creek,  ri'liort. d  t!ie  e.\i  >,  iice  of 
iw\i  ijuujh  or  bauk  uiggings  wiLh  many  small  nuggets  weighing  up  to  i  14. 


L        1     I 


iit 


?f 


f. 

k 


ens 


Un'KR  COLUMBIA  MIXIIS, 


On  tlic  bars  of  tlio  C'oluinbia  twelve  miles  ulxivc 
this  crc'ik,  Hank  C'uruus  in  the  sann)  s|tiinjLj  found  tour 
men  at  work  with  rockcirs  tukinj^  out  tine  ^old  rosi m- 
\i\\u<f  tliat  of  tho  Frasor,  at  tho  rate  of  ono  liiiu- 
(Irid  dollars  a  day,  and  in  iHdO  tho  bars  ahovo  tlic 
Arrow  Jjakcs  wore  o(M'U[»iod  by  miners  who  manai,f((| 
to  obtain  a  livinj^,  and  even  to  mako  ten  dollars  a  diiy. 
J^ut  tlu'se  dej)08its  could  be  worked  only  a  short  season, 
as  tlic  river  was  liable  to  rise  over  them  at  any  time. 
The  district  held  out  throuoh  the  usual  vicissitudi  s  ot 
partially  abandoned  camps  until  l)-i7l,and  even  in  l^7h 
there  were  a  few  miners  and  prospectors  who  appeared 
to  hav(!  st'ttled,  taui^ht  by  tlie  lo^ic  of  the  facts  brou;;l.t 
out  in  tho  ]V\<i;  l>end  rush  that  there  was  wealth  in 
tlu;  district  if  it  could  only  be  reached.''''  ('alius 
asserted  that  lie  had  j)rospected  the  Columbia  I'lom 
the  head-waters  of  tho  Kootenai  to  Carnes  ("reek,  jiihI 
had  always  found  color.  I'rospectini,^  and  miniiii^''  liad 
indeed,  with  more  or  less  success,  been  folloW((l  on 
the  east  side  of  Selkirk  Arountain  and  also  at  Mobcilv. 
Cherry,  and  other  creeks,  on  the  west  or  (iold  IJaiiirc 
sidi!  of  the  river.  The  jjfold-bearinir  tract  of  the  Si  1- 
kirk  rani^e  which  formed  the  Jiio'  iJend  district 
extendi'd  evidently  for  at  least  seventy -fivc^  miles  aloii;^ 
the  western  slope,  and  whatever  its  value,  the  failure 
of  tho  district  umst  bo  at<^»'ibute<l  chielly  to  the  ihiw  of 
water,  ])revt'nting  min  -s  from  reaching  the  di  ( ji 
ground  under  the  clay  which  was  everywhere  re[)t»i'ti(l 
to  exist  in  tho  Big  Bend  as  well  as  in  the  Kootenai 
district.  !Much  of  the  shallower  ground  had  hetii 
condeumed  as  spotted  before  it  was  fairly  tested,  .'iiul 
the  early  pros[)ects  on  the  surface  at  French  and  Mc- 
Culloch  creeks  were  regarded  as  tho  only  decidedly 
rich  yiekls. 

The  mining  d(.;volopmonts  in  the  Columliia  ba:^iii, 
as  Well  as  those  made  in  the  Fraser  Ilivir  basin  at'ier 
the  excitement  in  1801,  were  not  unnoticed  by  scien- 
tific   men.      A    corn^spondent   of  the    iMnchn    Tlincs 

**  Voweirn  B.  C.  Minea,  MS.,  10  12;    Vicloriti  Coloniat,  July  3,  18C(). 


IV  ■ 


■("■^T 


w 


OOLI»  KVKRYWUKUE. 


Xi9 


miles  ahiivc 
i,i,'  found  tuiir 

J4"<»l<i  rcsctii- 
of  Olio  Juiii- 
•s  al)()vo  tlic 
lio  iiiiuiai,'-((| 
lollars  {1(1,1  V. 
Iiort.st'aso'ri, 
at  any  tiino, 
<'issi tildes  (if 
L'vcii  ill  |,s7j, 

iKtapiuan-d 

U'ts  ln'oui^lt 

its  \v.>altli  ill 

V.  ;u'ii(s 

luiiihia  frniii 

*  Creclv,  and 

iiiIiiiiiL,'-  liiid 

1()11()\V((1    nil 

at  !M()l)('iI\, 
^old  liaiiLTc 

of  the  Scl- 
'iid    district 

luilcs  aloiij^' 

til  (J  failure 
'  tlic  il(i\v  lit' 
;  the  (l((j) 
re  re[)()rt((| 
o  Xooteiiai 

had  Imcii 
tested,  and 
li  and  .Mc- 
)'  lieeidedly 

iiliia  l)ar?iii, 
basin  alter 
il  l>v  s(i(  n- 
thn    7)' I  lies 

3,  18C(i. 


jut'scntcd  evl<lonc(5  <ni  whleli  lio  ventured  tlie  opinion 
that  the  whole  inountiiin  Kysteiii  of  JJritish  Coluinhia 
wasuuriie'rous  as  far  as  tiie  Stikt^en  River,  "the  lonj^- 
t'st  stretch  of  continuous  inland  j^old-produeinj^  eountiy 
yet  discovered  in  the  world, "  Troni  wliieh  inealeulahle 
udvanta!j;o  must  result  to  the  colony  as  wt  11  as  to 
the  mother  country.  Sir  lloderick  ^Furehison  al.so 
txjiressed  the  opinion,  hased  U|)on  ()ro;^ra|)hi<'  data,  that 
the  auriferous  nmtiix  wouhl  he  found  to  exti'iid  aloiii^ 
tlie  sln[)es  of  the  mountains  of  the  whole  eordilh  ;,i, 
^\  stein,  includin;^  tlu;  plateau  l)etween  tin-  (  "aseade  and 
iJockv  ran«;es.  The  plae«'r  di<'<rin<;s  ho  showed  WeJe 
uiKhmiahlv  hut  ihe  alluvial  diM)osits  hrou'ditdowc  i  oni 
these  mountains  hy  the  streams.'*"  This  was  eonnrmed 
hy  numerou.^  a>  .'elopments,  ainon<^  tlu-m  the  ditjfi^in^r-i 
at  lio  V  Cree-k  in  the  ceafcieof  the  plateau  on  the  htiuu- 
(lary  line.  Tho  up})er  Coluinhia  and  its  tributaries 
ill  euttiii}^  throu«,'h  the  ^old-hearin;4  helts  of  tho  pla- 
teau had  revealed  the  fact  that  tho  whole  country  in  it 
cdvert'd  hy  comparatively  recent  formations  was  au- 
ril'crous,  hut  outside  of  the  deep  and  ancii'iit  ciianiiels 
ziiiiis  wore  disclosed  only  in  a  few  localities  rich  eiiou^^h 
tu  pay.  Hock  Creek  acquired  a  reputation  in  tho 
suiiiiiier  of  IHOO,  and  a  considerahlo  population  lloeked 
ill,  fitrming  a  town  and  miniii!^  b(»th  in  bench  and  crei  k 
diu'^^iiij^s.  One  or  more  ounces  a  day  were  ofttui  ob- 
t.iiiied,  and  durin*^  the  season  of  lS(il  a  party  of  white 
men  secured  twelve  thousand  dollars,  besides  expenses, 
the  averatje  earnliiijfs  a  day  being  seven  dollars  to 
the  man.*'  The  Cariboo  excitement  caused  Hock 
Creek  to  be  almost  abandoned  in  18r»2,  and  for  sev- 
<  lal  Years  little  Was  done  in  or  heard  from  it.  Conteiii- 
p'lianeously  with  the  ]jig  Bend  excitement,  hoW(>ver, 

"  /!'iirliiii/s'  Coiijfili'rnlinii,  llS;  Mmjui's  ISrili.-i/i  Cobiiiihit,  441-'J. 

'■  Aijoiit  a  mile  from  its  iiiimth  tho  iTcck  (lij;^'iii;;s  piiil  froiii  tnw  to  two 
ciiiiii  IS,  anil  soinetiiiies  oiiu  liuiuireil  ilollars  a  ilay  to  tli^.  Iiaii'l,  tlio  IicuijIium  in 
111'-  iii.stanco  yiulding  an  oiinco  a  day  fur  tlio  swisoii.  ;.■.  was  i>l)sorvtil  that 
til  •  lii'st  (liggiuga  occurroil  wlieru  tlie  creek  hail  cut  througli  a  lielt  of  Miftrock. 
Iiursiiii  an  Minrn,  41.  To  tlio  history  of  llie  creek  IkIoH'-s  the  KliootiMir  dur 
II  a  ilisjmte,  in  .Inly  ISUl,  of  Davi  I  IJiirrliy  Fraiili  Porter,  who  oaeaped  across 
ill  •  froiitiur.  McDuimUTs  Britisk  Culumliiii,  S'J. 


I   I  • 
I 


640 


UI'PER  COLUMBIA  MINKS. 


tlio  report  spread  tli.at  ricli  (li;jf.<jfin^8  had  again  Ixtn 
found,  and  the  place  received  greatcsr  attention.'*' 

In  18G8  tlie  bed-rock  flume  was  coinph'tcd,  Nvliicli 
enabled  the  holders  of  claims  along  the  creek  to  ta!vc 
out  from  eight  to  twelve  dollars  a  day  by  ground- 
sluicing.  During  the  season  of  IM70,  the  company 
operating  the  flume  in  the  bed  of  the  creek  took  out 
si.x  thousand  dollars  at  their  first  clean-up ;  and  havinir 
as  yet  barely  touched  the  edge  of  the  j)ay-dirt,  wliiili 
consisted  of  a  layer  of  gravel  and  sand  twelve  feet  in 
thickness,  they  expected  in  August  to  take  out  tliiic 
times  as  nmch.*^ 

Descending  still  farther  toward  the  inner  flank  (»(' 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  I  find  fi  recurrence  of  the 
Kock  Creek  devclopiJients.  Ahmg  the  Okana^an 
brarx'h  of  the  Columbia,  not  only  on  the  east  side  as 
far  as  Mission  Creek,  but  also  on  the  west  side  at 
Similkameen,  jdacers  existed  which  were  the  scenes 
of  excitements  during  the  earliest  days  of  mining  in 
Uritish  Columbia;  and  (m  the  Washington  side  of  the 
boundary  around  J^ake  Chelan,  a  large  area  of  country 
was  found  to  contain  quart/i  veins  and  local  placets. 
Along  Okanagan  Kiver,  the  deposits  were  scattered, 
and  in  most  cases  worked  for  but  a  short  time,  cliietly 
perhaps,  from  want  t)f  water.  ( )ut  of  ninet(H,'n  streams 
falling  into  Okanagan  Lake,  seven  were,  in  IHGl,  f  )un(l 
to  be  gold-bearing,  and  Mission  Creek,  flowing  into  it 
from  the  east,  had  })lacers  which  yielded  in  1859-(;0  both 
fine  and  coarse  gold,  at  the  rate  of  from  two  to  foity 
dollars  a  day  to  the  man."     Near  F(»rt  Okanagan,  sixty 

*'- In  Mari'h  ISOCi,  14  whitus  ami  40  Chinese  were  at  work  on  the  pntk. 
Raii(l:ill  aiLil  Coiiipimy  washed  ^'1 1  (iiit  of  I (K)  buckets  of  dirt,  ami  in  1  > -N  !I 
the  Bedrock  Flume  <  oiiipauy  of  7  men  was  mining  successiuUy.  The  liy- 
draulic  ( 'oirijiany  of  'A  men  was  making  in  lS()il  from  t8  to  !?I(>  a  day.  Be  ilis 
these,  12^)  ('111 ne.se  were  eii;.;aL;ed  in  sluicing.  I'ic/orin  Coloiii.'i/,  April  7,  1 'lid; 
.Tuner),  ISO!). 

"They  were  much  troubled  M'ith  quicksand,  hut  mastered  it.  Re(|uiiiui.' 
8(),000  feet  of  lumber  for  their  operations  in  1871,  it  was  the  intention  ol  tiie 
company  to  erect  a  saw-mill  in  tiie  nu^an  time.  Three  companies  of  Chiiii  .sc 
were  at  work  on  the  creek  making  $3  a  day  to  tliu  liand.  Viflorid  I'lilnnisl., 
July  27,  1S70. 

*'In  1877  McDougall  and  Company  were  making,  on  Missirm  Cn^ek,  fiiiin 
ten    to    lifteeu    (hdlars  a  day  to    the  hand.  Dawson   on   ^^i»(^tt,   41;    Lnh'hut 


[  again  lictii 
ntioii.'*' 
Ictfd,  wliicli 
re(!k  to  t;i!.c 
by  ground- 
he  compuiiy 
H'k  t<»ok  out 
and  lia\  iiiir 
-dirt,  wliicli 
t'olve  fcH't  ill 
ke  out  tlii'ie 

ner  flank  of 
cnce  of  the 
i    Okananiin 

oast  side  as 
vest  sich;  at 
'  the  scenes 
f  iidning  in 
1  side  <»f  tht' 
a,  of  country 
)cal  pkiceis. 
'e  scatti'r('(|, 
;inie,  cliicfly 
;(!en  streams 

l(S(;i,  i'luiid 
wing  into  it 
H59-(;0holh 
:w()  to  folly 

lagan,  sixty 

"k  on  till!  cni'k. 
t,  anil  in  l.^.N  !l 
iully.  Tliu  liy- 
)a(l:iy.  Ik'  iKs 
',  Aiiril  7.  I'^tili; 

(I  it.  KcM|niiiiii.' 
I  intoiititin  ni  tlie 
anios  of  Cliinr.sc 
Vii'loriix  ('(iliitiixl., 

sinn  f'r(H!k,  fnim 
IKK,   41;    Loii'li'H 


THE  OKANAGAN  MINIMS. 


541 


iii.li  ;  soutli  of  tlio  boundary  lino,  a  population  of 
twenty-six  minors  woro  in  18(31  dividing  their  time 
jxtween  mining  and  husbandry,  averaging  four  d(dlars 
a  (lay  in  the  diggings.  The  small  population  tlu-n  in 
the  vulk  y  consisted  mainly  of  French  C  anadians  and 
Catliolle  missionaries.  On  Similkameen  Kiver,  on- 
ti'iin""  the  Okanaufan  at  the  boundary  line,  gold  was 
found'*'  in  sharp,  unwasluKl  particles,  which  in  18G1 
vicldcd  some  miners  one  ounce  a  day,  but  on  an  aver- 
airi'  the  rocker  produced  four,  five,  and  eight  dollars  a 
(lav  each  to  the  two  hundred  minc-rs  tluni  said  to  bo  at 
woik  in  the  diggings:  one  hundred  and  fiftv  of  th(!se 
\\(  ir  Chinese,  who  soon  oi)tained  almost  solo  posses- 
siiiii;  but  th(>y  also  abandoned  the  place  gradually. 
Ill  the  spring  of  18(;(),  however,  a  little  excitement 
aiiain  attracted  a  number  of  them  from  Hope,  and  in 
Siptenibor,  between  forty  and  fifty  were  at  work, 
niakinLif  ijfood  wajfos.*** 

The  year  1800  witiujssod  the  crossing  of  the  west- 
ern rim  of  tlie  jdateau  by  bodies  of  miners,  moving 
eastward  in  British  C'olumi)ia  as  well  as  in  (California. 
An  observer  from  the  remote  standpoint  of  history 
cDuld  have  then  seen  at  the  same  instant  excited 
tnliK  IS  sluicing  in  the  canons  at  Gold  Hill,  Similka- 
meen, Cariboo,  and  .Pike's  Peak — the  Ilocky  ^[oun- 
taiiis  having  bci:n  first  reached  from  th(!  west  by  the 
eastward-flowing  current  througli  the  inviting  valley 

7''.i'v,  cor.  Jan.  20,  181)2,  in  /I'liwliii'/.f'  ('onfnlimtion,  114;  (/.  ,S'.  ^fin.  S(a- 
li^i',-,  l:;»8,  5(i8. 

'  .\  I  li'.ractor  known  ii.s  Jacku.iM  John  jirospoctod  SiuiilkanincM  llivur  in 
hSiiO  a  .1  wing-daninied  a  jmrliitn  of  it.  Altor  \vorki;ig  two  days,  and  talcing 
nut ;  ID.  the  water  rose  ami  clrove  liiin  ont.  .lolm  tlie;i  wtiit  (o  S.ihnoii  Uivtr, 
Bni<(',  111  u'!;fo(it,  and  Kootenai  i  i  turn.  In  Ottolx-r  ISdd,  lie  ii-tiiine  1  ti  the 
Hiti'  of  \.\.i  jirevitms  iniit'olnnon  liy  thiod,  and  in  fourtetMi  days,  nnaidci'  and 
alcijir,  \u:  MMshed  ont  ?!tO('/.  A  li:ii'l.V  of  three  nii'n  engaged  in  slnieing  took 
out  ;  J  !  )  in  three  days.    Virtorii  ( 'al  mit/,  Krli.  5,   18(>7. 

'■'I'Ik  re  was  reported  to  Ik;  a  'false  lie  l-nx  k  '  also  in  this  ground,  under- 
laiil  hy  a  hed  of  gravel,  lic'iiria  Cnlmi-it,  M:iy  'J'_',  Oet.  2,  ISliCi,  iu  letters  from 
Ilcipr,  dated  May  18th  ami  S,'])t.  2.")th  r(si)eetiv(ly.  Similkameen  and  Oliana- 
gan  cimiitries  were  admitted  iiy  lioth  I'aliier  a:id  Mayne  to  jimsess  .sujierior 
iiiiv,uit,i!'e.s  in  agriculture  a.i  well  as  mining.  The  mines  lieing  o|i|Misiti'  Hojie, 
til  y  roul  1  he  r(!aelied  from  there  by  a  2.")-niile  wagon-road  to  the  head  of 
S'is"it  J{iver,  and  tlienee  hy  trail.  Th  \  artieleH  re<iuiring  tr.in-portation  hy 
W!i;;i  •!  wcri!  largely  Bupjiliud  to  the  country  at  that  time  from  the  Auiericun 
Bide  of  the  lim.  Jtawlimjs'  Coiiffdcratioti,  114;  Maync'a  li.  C,  389. 


$: 


ri- 


•I  -I 


II!  I 

'  '  ''si 


ri42 


UPrER  COLUMBIA  MINES. 


of  tlic  Fraser.  But  no  such  population  could  bo  in- 
vluced  to  cross  the  Cascades  in  the  north  as  rcciil'orccd 
the  camp  upon  the  croppings  at  Virgmia  and  (jluld 
Hill,  otherwise  it  niij^ht  have  puzzled  the  historical 
prophet  witnessing  tlie  operations  of  18G1  to  deter- 
mine whether  mlnin<j  in  the  northern  interior  should 
not  have  had  an  equal  prominence  in  the  foll()^vill^f 
decades.  In  subsequent  years  a  like  metallifeious 
country  was  developed  with  the  same  series  of  gecdo;^!- 
cal  formations.  But  quartz  bonanzas,  unless  exceid- 
ingly  rich,  were  not  wanted  by  the  men,  who  with 
pans,  shovels,  and  rockers  climbed  over  the  Cascades 
in  the  north.  What  they  wanted  was  simply  })la(ir 
gtdd.  Had  they  found  anything  more,  there  existed 
no  lines  of  travel  nor  hives  of  population  within  readi 
of  tliese  outlying  districts  that  could  pour  in  tlic 
necessary  additional  forces,  machinery,  appliances,  and 
ca[)ital  for  exploration  underground.  To  ftdlow  the 
deposits  in  that  direction,  however  strongly  they  miul.t 
have  been  indicated,  was  clearly  out  of  the  qui'stion. 
Till'  day  of  roads,  of  machinery,  and  of  cheap  su]ipli(s 
had  n(»t  vet  come.  Between  1800  and  IBOG  Wasluu' 
and  Beese  River  were  taking  their  first  lessons  in 
silver  mining.  When  the  most  su[)erficial  bars  and 
placers  Jiad  been  worked,  the  lid  of  clay  in  the  ancient 
channels  was  reaclu'd;  when  machinery,  capital,  and 
skill  were  recjuisite  to  ])roceed  further,  the  wanderinj: 
fortune-hunters  betook  themselves  to  other  fields.  All 
the  evidences  of  decay,  failure,  recklessness,  and  ruin 
which  presented  themselves  to  the  vision  of  the  ai'ter- 
comers,  <^)nly  assisted  to  render  the  stereotyped  but 
suju-rficial  and  not  final  verdict — exhausted. 


ould  bo  in- 
,s  rccuforccd 
a  and  (juld 
le  historical 
31  to  detcr- 

rior  should 
le  follow iiiif 
letallifc'i'ous 

of  geoloMi- 
less  exot'td- 
who  Avith 
lie  Cascades 
mply  placHT 
licre  existed 
vithin  rcadi 
)our  in  tlic 
diances,  and 

f<dlow  the 
'they  iiiii^l.t 
he  qui'stioii. 
eap  sujijilits 
MU)  Waslidc 
:  lessons  in 
al  bars  nnd 

the  ancient 
capital,  and 
)  wandt^inj: 
fields.  All 
5S,  and  iiiiii 
)f  the  al'tiT- 
u)type(l  but 
I. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

GOLD   DISCOVERIES  IN   THE  FAR  NORTH. 

18(51-1882. 

Omineca  Country — Peace  River  Prospected — Government  Expedition — 
PuoarECTiNd  Chase— ViTALK  Cuek.k — Omineca  Ovehrated — (Jerman- 
sEN  Creek — Slcicinc, — Manson  ani>  Lust  C'reeks-Fini.ay  Riveu-  - 
The  Skeena  ani>  Coast  Placers — Pkosi'Eits  ok  Skttlk.ments— Causk 
OF  Decline — The  Stikeen  Explored— Thibert's  Discovery — Cas- 
siAR  Placers — Deame  Lake  Tributaries. 

Bkyond  Fraser  River  basin  the  plateau  of  the  Cor- 
dillcia  continues  northward  in  two  principal  Hanmcs 
hordered  by  slaty  gold  and  silver-bearing  mountains 
similar  in  character  to  the  Raid  Mountains  of  Caribof».' 
It  descends  gradually  toward  the  sea  at  Rering  Straits, 
forming  for  sixteen  hundred  miles  the  trough  of  Yukon 
Kivcr.  Retween  the  Fraser  and  Yukon  river  basins 
the  Omineca  and  Cassiar  mining  districts,  represent- 
ing- the  northward  movement  of  the  mining  popula- 
tion of  the  coast,  came  into  existence  soon  after  the 
settlement  of  Cariboo,  each  rising  along  a  gr(>at  river, 
wliicli  interlacing  its  liead-waters  on  the  plateau  with 
those  of  another  great  river  of  the  op[»osite  eastern 
slope,  afforded  a  broad  avenue  for  the  prospectors  and 
traders  who  began  to  occupy  this  region. 

( )niineca,^  the  name  given  tt)  the  mining  district  of 
the  Skeena  and  I'eace  River  section  of  the  plateau, 

'Till'  identity  in  axis  or  strike  was  not  traced  to  a  nicety.  Sonic  tlioiiglit 
till'  nidiintains  drained  by  the  Finlay  and  Omineca  liranclica  of  I'l  ice  Uivi:r 
wcic  tliu  continuation  of  tlio  inountainous  country  explored  liy  Klack  and 
Kciitiiii  cast  of  Carilioo,  if  not  of  the  Cariboo  Bald  Mountain  Riinge.  C'lriiio 
Sn.liiir!,  Oct.  2:«,  18(j!». 

"After  a  species  of  whortleberry  growing  there  and  {ormini.'  a  staple  arti- 
cle of  fiiocl  of  the  Indians.  Mackeniieq/' the  Hudson  liny  CoiiqMiii/,  in  Viclorin 
Vobiuid,  Jan.  8,  1870. 


"?i:fi 


Jit 


544 


(JOLD  DISCOVERIES  IN  'HIE  FAR  NORTH. 


' 


may  be  descrilKd  as  1.500  to  2,000  feet  lower  than 
the  Cariboo  Section,  and  more  gentle  iu  its  undulations 
than  usual  with  mining  districts  on  the  coast,  yc  t  a 
cold,  cheerless,  and  barren  region.^  It  neverthclcs.s 
presented  noteworthy  and  attractive  features,  and 
was  the  earliest  ])ortion  of  the  Pacific  slope  visited 
by  Engll;.h  settlers  from  the  north  Atlantic  coast. 

Peace  River*  cleaving  the  Kockv  Mountains  to  tluir 
base  led  Sir  Alexander  Mackenzie  and  his  Canadian 
voyageurs  into  New  Caledonia,  or  Omlneca,  in  the  li^t 
century,  and  after  1 800  the  country  was  permanmtly 
occupietl  by  the  fur-traders.     J-}y  tlie  Peace  and  Skecna 

'  At  Oinineca  diggings  proper,  situated  near  the  head-waturs  of  the  l\:ue 

and  Sko(j;ia  river.!,  the  country  resembled  Qui'sulI  mouth  in  Fra.ser  ICvc  r 
basin,  a  thickly  woodjd  j;luteau  region,  free  fiom  high  mountain;!  and  of  ci  y 
transit.  In  n'g;ird  to  the  climate  and  agricultural  value  of  the  couiit-y, 
accounts  i.ifliMvd.  Tlie  (olniiist  described  it  as  '  free  from  the  extremes  of  ii,l,l 
and  hc.-'.t,'  ■winter  setting  in  at  the  end  of  October,  and  ending  about  the;  I'th 
of  Ai)ril,  the  snow  in  exceptional  winters  attiiiidiig  a  depth  of  only  thnii  IVot. 
Hy  April  loLli  the  whole  country  was  open  and  the  Hudson's  I5:iy  C'oiii]muy 
usually  despatched  their  winter  collection  of  furs  down  the  Fni-ser  li  vrr. 
Potatoes  and  turnips  flourished;  but  cereals  had  not  been  brouglit  to  ptrf,  r- 
tion  on  account  of  the  early  frosts.  Lieut.  II.  S.  Palmer,  on  the  other  liaii  1, 
writing  in  18;)4,  said:  'All  that  portion  [of  British  Ctdumbia]  lying  to  t];o 
north  of  tlie  C4th  parallel  remains,  and  i.i  lihrly  to  remain,  an  unialiiihiie.l 
wilderiiess. '  From  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  i,cr\  ant3  we  learn  that  al.liouj;'! 
not  entirely  devoid  of  attractive  features  ami  occasional  patclies  of  good  .so.l, 
this  portion  of  the  colony  is  on  the  wlude  cheerless  and  uninvit.ng,  ami 
especi.dly  ill  adapted  for  the  occupation  of  man.  Moreover,  its  high  L.tltmlo 
and  extreme  elevation  and  the  rigorous  climatic  inlhiences  to  which  it  i^  suli- 
jccte<l  are  elements  little  likely  to  encourar^e  its  :  peed y  development,  i.'in'l. 
(fen;/.  Sof,,  Jim:,  V(.l.  S4,  17--3.  The  country  along  Peace  liver,  abovo  iiio 
junction  of  Finlay  River,  resendded  tliat  of  the  1  raser  at  Alexamlrii,  and 
though  farther  nor'Ji  it  was  all  much  lower  and  not  so  cold  a  country  aj  Cari- 
boo. B.  Col.  THicrtnri/,  ISO."?,  2J4-5.  Harman,  a  i)artner  of  the  iNor'.Iiwct 
Company,  statioaed  at  Stewart  Lake  in  181 1,  made  mention  repealu  .ly  ia 
his  jour:ir.l  of  the  ."loil  being  good  in  places.  Turnijij  and  potatoes  j  la:iti'  1  iu 
1811  produced  Well.      'The  soil  in  many  places  in  Xew  C.-Iodonia  ii  tolera'.Jy 

§ood.  ''i'here  i.5  not  a  month  in  the  whole  year,'  he  aids,  'in  wliieh  walur 
oes  not  congeal,  though  the  air  in  the  dayli  ;ie,  ia  summer,  is  warm,  aail  wo 
even  h  ivo  a  f^w  days  of  sult."y  weather.  Il<ir:hi:iis  Jour.  (Amlover,  1  liJ), 
117,  '21S,  i:r>7,  2(i'_>;    VoiveWxB.  V.  Mines,  MS.,  i;!-14;    Vktoria  Daily  Colonial, 

Feb. ':;?,  ir,7(). 

■•The  name  of  Peace  River  was  derive!  froai  'Peace  Point,' a  lamhuaik 
on  lower  Peace  lliver  a  sliort  ilistance  above  itj  outl.t  in  Athaba-sca  Lil.e, 
wliere  a  peace  liad  been  coucluricd  belwecn  tlie  Knisteneaux  and  liiavrr 
In  iians  some  time  before  Sir  Alexander  Mackenzie's  exploration.  Its  pruptT 
I.idian  naaie  was  al  .o  the  name  of  the  coualiy  tlirough  which  it  ran — Uaji;;:iU 
country  an  1  rivei- — the  ownership  of  whicli  was  in  dispute  and  was  set'd. d  at 
the  timi!  and  placi!  nientione.l.  These  fact  j  were  stated  by  Mackenzie's  inter- 
preter, from  w  liich  it  ii  to  be  inferred  that  tlie  name  of  Peace  River  wai  alrea'y 
IU  u.se  umo"g  the  fur-traders  at  the  time  of  Mackenzie's  famous  journey  to  iu 


source  iu  1702.  Mackeiaic's  Voj.,  1C3. 


m  I 

||SS.1   ( 


PEACE  RIVER. 


54S 


rivor  route,  the  continent  is  traversed  at  the  lowest 
altitiule  existing  north  of  the  isthmus  of  Tcliuantcpco 
ill  a  line  the  most  direct  from  the  north  Atlantic  to 
Cliina,  and  tlie  discovery  of  gold  phii-^crs  upon  Peace 
]\iv(r  and  in  Omineca foreshadowed  the  establishment 
cf  a  new  city  on  the  north  Pacific  coast,  wiiich  might 
oiiic  day  lay  claim  to  the  terminus  of  the  Can.adian 
J'acific  railway.^  On  this  line  the  metalliferous  axis 
(if  the  Cordilleras  was  intersected,  and  found  to  be 
(•oiitinuous  in  all  its  force  to  a  hijjh  northern  latitude. 
The  evidence  of  prospectors  established  the  existence 
of  from  eiglit  to  twenty  dollar  diggings.'  Even  if 
the  diggings  were  remote,  the  climate  severe,  and  the 
suinincrs  sliort,  here  lay  a  vast  extant  of  still  super- 
ficially prospected  country  which  possessed,  and  would 
be  likely  hereafter  tt)  maintain,  the  character  of  attract- 
ive "poor  man's  diggings.""  The  development  of 
mining  in  the  Omineca  region  must  also  become  a 
means  of  j)opulating  the  boundless  agricultural  regions 
of  the  north-west  territory  of  Canada  adjoining. 

The  first  discoveries  north  of  Fraser  River  basin 
weie  made  during  the  sunmier  of  18G1  on  Peace  Iliver, 
lictween  the  source  and  the  passage  through  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  Two  miners  named  Edward  Carey  and  W. 
Crest  left  Quesnclmouth  in  the  spring,  sinmltaneously 
M'ith  the  movement  upon  Cariboo,  and  proceeded  by 
way  of  Fort  (leorgc  to  Fort  St  James,  tlience  follow- 
ing tlif  llvidson's  Ray  Coin^-any's  trail  over  the  ])ortiigo 
tt)  Me..      I    Fort.     Durino-  the  ]ii''h  water  of  June 

^T.  KiHtnn,  in  Owrlmid  Moiitlil;/,  Marcli  1870,  2(i4.  Mr  Evaii.j  recognizeil 
tilt'  Yillowhoad  or  Luatlier  Pass  as  a  rulini;  point  from  tlio  , ailway  to  tlio 
Kiici  Scii,  Imt  saw  in  the  river  system  of  Qmineca  the  forcsh?.. lowing  of  a  rival 
ti!iiiiiiui.i  at  the  mouth  of  tlie  Skuena  Kivur. 

''Alter  tlie  disciivery  of  gold  in  California  anil  on  Fraser  Piiver  the  Indiana 
fiei|iiiMitly  hrougiit  nuggets  and  gold-dust  (to  tlio  value  of  wliieli  tlieir  atten- 
t;iiu  \i;is  then  for  the  first  time  direeted)  from  tlieir  huutinj^-gnninds  to  the 
tlulsun's  Bay  Company's  posts  in  the  Peace  River,  Omineca,  and  Cassiar 
ii'U'iiiri.  'Viewed  in  the  light  of  recent  discoveries,'  saiil  the  Coloiiixf,  during 
the  eseitement  these  Indian  iiuda  became  of  interest.  Virloria  Wviklij  t'ola- 
ni-^l,  .Iiiii.  1!),  1870. 

'  /'.  I'iuir,  in  Victoria  Daily  Colonist,  Aug.  8,  1871;  /'/.,  Weekly,  April  6,. 
1870;  Spmit'f  D.  C,  70. 

Hist.  Brit.  Col,    85 


11 

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646 


GOLD  DISCOVKKIES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


they  descended  Peace  River  for  two  hundred  miles, 
passinj^  throuj^li  the  canon.  Returning  at  low  water, 
they  prospected  all  the  hars  and  brought  with  tliem 
to  AIcLeod  one  thousand  dollars  in  dust,  the  result  of 
a  few  days'  washing  at  one  point.  The  largest  day's 
work  performed  yielded  $75  to  each.''  After  winterin<f 
at  Quesnehnouth  they  repeated  their  journey  in 
1802,  accompanied  by  Peter  Toy,  Joseph  Oates,  and 
Ezra  Evans,  and  obtained  from  fifty  days'  waHliiiii; 
each  $1,200.  Nearly  all  the  bars  yiehled  from  tti\ 
to  fifteen  dolLirs  a  day  to  the  man,  those  on  Fiiilay 
River  for  twenty  miles  from  its  mouth  being  the  best. 
Five  others  followed  them  to  Peace  River  the  same 
season,  four  of  whom  wcjrkinjj  together  took  out  in 
twelve  days  nearly  $1,000.  The  gold  was  described 
as  scaly  surface  gold,  somewhat  heavier  than  tluit  of 
the  Eraser  River  bars."  In  January  18()3,  Bell,  (lold- 
smith,  and  three  others  left  Victoria  for  Peace  River 
and  obtaijied  half  an  ounce  a  day  to  the  man  on  ahiinst 
every  bar  down  to  the  junction  of  Einlay  River.  No 
excitement  appeal's  to  have  resulted  from  these  dis- 
coveries, owing  chiefly,  no  doubt,  to  the  developnuMits 
in  tlie  Cariboo  country,  which  overshadowed  every- 
thing else  for  tlie  time.  Infiuenced  by  discoveries  on 
the  main  or  southern  branch  of  Peace  River,  a  paity 
of  Cariboo  miners  reached  Fort  St  James  in  1804,  ami 
taking  a  different  route,  followed  the  cano(;s  of  tlie 
Hudson's  Ray  Company  north,  through  Stewart  ;ind 
Tatla  lakes,  to  a  point  opposite  the  head-waters  of  the 
Omini>ca  tributary;  thence  striking  over  the  Peak  or 
Blue  ^fountains,  they  entered  tlie  Peace  River  ba>in 
and  mined  till  the  f  dlowinof  year,  returnino;  home  with 
four  or  five  thousand  dollars.  One  of  the  men, 
Michael  Foy,  remained  behind  and  mined  successfully 


"On  a  8anil-1)nnk  of  Finlay  River  about  three  miles  above  its  mouth,  tlu'y 
found  a  layer  of  black  sanil  overlying  gravel  wliich  yielded  tiirce  to  four  (Hiiuis 
a  day  to  the  hand,  tlie  whole  being  covered  by  live  or  six  feet  of  hmsc  s:iiiil; 
want  of  j)rovisioii»  obliged  them  to  leave  their  ground  anil  continue  up  the 
liver  to  Fort  St  .John.     I'icfnrin  Wiekly  ColonM,  Feb.  23,  1870. 

"B.  Col.  Dinetoiz,  1803,  204-5. 


^m. 


TH. 

ndred  miles, 
fc  low  water, 
b  with  tluiii 
the  result  of 
largest  clay's 
er  winterinir 
journey   in 
Gates,  and 
vs'  was] line 
'd  from  ten 
e  on  Fiiilay 
ng  the  hist. 
;r  the  same 
took  out  in 
IS  descrilied 
han  that  of' 
,  Bell,(i..l,l. 
:*eace  liixcr 
n  on  ahiid.st 
Kiver.     Xo 
1  thes(!  (lis- 
;velopmeiits 
wed  eveiy- 
scoveries  (ui 
ver,  a  paity 
n  1804,  and 
iuu!S  of  the 
5tewart  iuid 
aters  ol"  tlie 
,he  Peak  (if 
River  hasiii 
'  home  with 
the    iiK'ii, 
mccessfulh' 


its  mouth,  tliey 

3e  to  folllMllllKtS 

t  of  looso  saiiil: 
:ontiuuo  uii  tlic 


OMKNICA  RIVER. 


M7 


for  five  years,  remitting  several  thousand  dollars  to  his 

daughter.'" 

In  1808  Humphreys,  Gaylord,  Evans,  and  Twelve- 
foot  Di  vis  struck  Arctic  Creek.  Humphreys  re- 
turned to  Qucsnelmouth  the  same  year  and  endeavored 
to  form  a  prospecting  party  to  remain  in  the  fields 
through  1809  and  1870.  In  this  efrf)rt  he  was  aided 
hy  ]\lichael  Byrnes  and  Vitalle  La  Force,  two  ex- 
plorers in  the  employ  of  the  Western  Union  Telegraph 
(ompany,  who  had  wintered  on  the  head-waters  of 
Oniineca  River  in  1808-9.  Traders  and  others,  in 
view  of  the  depn^ssed  c(mdition  of  affairs  at  Cariboo 
and  Kootenai,  also  favored  the  search  for  a  new  gold 
iield,  and  between  government  and  private  aid  twenty- 
two  hundred  dollars  was  made  up  to  defray  the  ex- 
jienses  of  the  expedition.  The  choice  for  leadership 
fell  uj)on  Byrnes,  with  Humphreys  and  La  Force  as 
lieutenants,  and  Hawkins,  Grant,  Kelley,  and  several 
(tthers  as  members  of  the  company;  the  expedition 
being  known  as  the  'government  party,'  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  'Chapman  party,'  which  followed  in  the 
same  direction.  Both  left  Qucsnelmouth  in  the  be- 
ginning of  May  1809,  and  were  not  heard  from  until 
October,  when  news  arrived  from  tbe  govermnent 
expedition  reporting  an  important  discovery.  Soon 
alter,  however,  all  of  this  party  except  La  Force  and 
Kelh'y  returned  with  unfavorable  reports.  J:Jyrne8 
stntintx  that  after  leaving  Bidkley  house  at  the  north 
end  of  Tatla  Lake,  Juno  9th,  tiiey  turned  toward  the 
head  of  Finlay  River,  distant  fifty  miles,  in  a  north- 
easterly direction,  over  a  difficult  route,  on  the  '21st 
they  found  gold  on  a  small  creek,  and  took  out  tliirty- 
iive  ounces  from  800  f(H>t  of  ground.  "There  is  a 
narrow  range,"  said  tbe  report,  "of  blue  and  yellow 
talcose  slate,  with  innumerable  small  veins  of  quartz 

'"  Mcanwliile  fur-triiilers  coiitinucil  to  report  rich  diggings  iii  this  region, 
ami  Diivia  and  Johns,  wlio  in  18()()  and  IStif  traded  tlirough  tlie  country  for 
inr-s  (111  tlicir  own  account,  brought  with  them  to  Victoria  a  cousidiraljle 
quantity  of  gold-dust  which  they  had  obtained.  Viclorki  Weekly  Colonial, 
IVb.  23,  1870. 


'11, 


M 


hn 


'■'  f' 


m 


ft     It 


f   ■!   ) 


It      " 


I'M 


m 


GOLD  DISCOVERIES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


intersecting  it — general  course  from  north-west  and 
south-east.  .  .This  range  is  cut  off  at  the  south  fork 
of  the  Finlay  branch  (Omineca  River)  by  a  moun- 
tainous range  of  granite,"  and  ought  to  be  prospoctcd 
the  next  season,  for  a  rush  of  miners  at  this  time,  it 
was  urged  would  be  unadvisable.  The  party  found 
also  a  few  pieces  of  native  silver  and  some  indications 
of  copper.  To  their  particular  friends  the  leaders 
made  a  more  favorable  report,  and  Humphreys,  aiter 
depositing  on  his  own  account  in  the  assay  oflice  at 
Barkerville  seventy  ounces  of  gold-dust,  immediately 
returned  lo  Peace  River  with  several  companions  and 
a  stock  of  supplies.  These  circumstances  cast  a  sus- 
picion on  the  mtegrity  of  the  leaders  of  the  govern- 
ment party,  whose  discoveries  were  claimed  to  ho 
public  property;  while  this  was  under  discussion  at 
Qucsnel  and  Barkerville,  a  letter  arrived,  whortnii 
Ogden,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  agent  at  Stew- 
art Lake,  stated  that  the  members  of  the  govern- 
ment party  on  their  way  back  for  supplies  had  do 
posited  $2,500  with  him,  and  that  if  tools  had  bec:u 
obtainable  at  Stewart  Lake,  they  would  not  have  le- 
turned  to  Quesnel  until  the  end  of  the  year;  one  of 
the  party  having  admitted,  while  under  the  influence 
of  liquor,  that  they  had  taken  out  $8,000  in  thirty- 
five  days. 

Some  of  the  Barkerville  miners  promptly  de- 
patched  two  men,  Kane  and  Sylvester,  to  follow  the 
returning  leaders  to  the  new  diggings  and  ascertain 
the  truth.  Leaving  Quesnel  October  30,  18G0,  they 
took  the  telegraph  trail  to  Fort  Fraser,  reaching  Fort 
St  James  in  advance  of  the  ex-government  party, 
wlilch  had  gone  by  boat  up  the  Fraser  and  Stewart 
rivers.  Another  party  of  pursuers  from  Quesnel 
led  by  Black  had  overtaken  Byrnes'  boats  near  Fort 
George,  from  which  point  onward  there  was  a  race 
between  them,  in  which  Black  with  his  light  boat  had 
every  advantage.  They  arrived  at  Fort  St  Janus 
No\ember  27th,  and  the  Byrnes  party  now  became 


ARdK^  CRKEK. 


M» 


Still  more  enray^ed  at  findinj;  themselves  not  only  inter- 
((  pted,  but  unmasked.  Still  another  party  from  Ques- 
11(1,  known  as  Buckley's,  was  following?  by  water. 
l)('ibro  reaching  the  mines  Byrnes'  party  overtook 
Sylvester  and  Kane  lyinjif  in  wait  for  them,  and  tlu'ir 
'intrigues  and  dodges'  to  elude  the  pursuers  were 
unavailing.  At  length  the  matter  was  com[>romised  by 
an  ngreement  under  which  the  discoverers  were  permit- 
ted to  stake  off  their  own  claims  first.  The  pursuers 
wnc  now  led  to  the  south  of  the  Omineca  Mountains 
— leferred  to  in  the  govermnent  ])arty's  ie[)ort  as  con- 
sisting of  granite — instead  of  to  the  north ;  to  the 
Omineca  tributary  or  south  branch,  instead  of  the 
ncirth  or  main  fork  of  Finlay  River;  and  to  Vitulle 
(reek,  where  the  mining  had  been  done."  Kane 
learned  further  in  regard  to  the  doings  of  the  govern- 
mental party  during  the  preceding  summer,  that  they 
had  joined  forces  with  Chapman's  party,  and  while 
some  of  them  went  over  to  Arctic  Creek,  discovered  by 
llum[)hreys  in  18()8,  the  majority  remained  on  Vitalle 
Creek,  which  was  much  richer — the  total  sum  ttiken 
out  being  $8,000 — -and  a  third  division  was  kept  con- 
stantly engaged  in  carrying  provisions  from  Tatla 
Lake.  It  was  finally  explained  that  the  motive  for 
tlie  secrecy  Avaa  the  supposed  existence  on  Vitalle 
Cicek  of  a  wonderful  silver  ledge  wh'ch  they  desired 
to  discover  and  secure  before  a  rush  set  in. 

The  confirmation  of  the  rumors  thus  presented, 
together  with  the  remittance  of  some  gold,  set  in  full 
action  the  excitement  which  had  been  roused  by  the 
mystery  surrounding  Byrnes'  movements,'"''  and  it  was 

"  Reports  of  Kane  and  Sylvester  in  Cnrihno  Sentinel,  Doc.  11  and  IG,  18()9. 
Sylvester  remained  in  cluirge  of  tiie  Adair  claim  on  Vitalle  Creek,  while  Kane 
r  turned  to  Cariboo  and  reported  these  res\dts  of  their  expedition.  From 
I'l'M,  St  Jame»  they  had  travelled  by  boat  by  way  of  Stewart,  Tremble,  ami 
Tilli  Lakes  to  the  landing  on  the  north-east  side,  IG,)  miles  from  Fort  St 
J  :iiies,  and  thence  in  tivo  days'  journey  over  the  niuuntaiiis  to  Vitalle  Creek. 

i'ri.H-ii    Wcdli/  Colon Ut,   Feb.   23,   1870;   Daili/  Id.,   Dee.   31,    18G'J;    Curihoo 
li<i,/!:,('l,  Oct.  'zl,  18G'.». 

'■'  III  addition  to  the  gold  produced  in  18li9  giving  rise  to  the  excitement, 
Mr  Linhart  brouglit  down  to  Victoria  GO  ounces  in  January  1870.    Victoria 

IIm/Y//  Colonkt,  Feb.  2,  1870. 


!■ 


Wm 


I  ill 


1. 1 


ill 

m 

Hi 

III 

M'^! 

w 

™  J 1 

iiM 


OOLD  DISCOVERIES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


prophesied  at  one  time  that  throe  fourths  of  the  popu- 
lation at  WiUiani  ('rck  wouhl  have  for  Oniineca  in 
the  following  sprini^;  as  it  was,  a  (lonsiderahle  How 
of  miners  from  Cariboo  and  other  portions  of  Britlsli 
Columbia,  and  even  from  California,  set  in  for  tlio 
dij;«j;ings,  with  Vitalle  Crec>k  as  the  ecntre  of  attrac- 
tion. Tliis  creek,  nanud  after  Vitalle  La  Force,  who 
had  been  directed  \>y  tra])pers  to  seek  for  gold  ii[)()ii 
it,  was  already  fully  occupied  by  A^italle  and  his  Qius- 
nelmouth  associates,  besides  a  number  of  others,  ainl 
the  yield  was  alr^^ady  falling  oll".'^  The  first  work 
liad  been  done  one  and  a  quarter  miles  from  its  mouth 
in  from  two  to  four  feet  of  ground,  a  depth  whicli  in- 
creased further  up.  One  tenth  of  the  metal  found 
was  native  washed  silver,  partly  in  nuggets  weighing;- 
as  nmch  as  three  ounces,  John  Adair  obtaining  thirty- 
five  ounces  thereof  in  as  many  days." 

A  number  of  diggei'S  had  remained  on  the  ci'cik 
during  the  winter  of  18()'J-70,  but  the  mining  opcra- 
tions  were  not  generally  successful.  Black  and  ^Ic- 
Martin  and  others  bottomed  a  shaft  to  find  only 
'color,'  while  Sylvester  and  Company  struck  slum 
.iikI  water  on  a  sliding  bed-rock  at  a  depth  of  twenty- 
five  feet,  which  obliged  them  to  abandon  their  shal't.'' 
This  was  certainly  not  encouraging  to  the  new  ai'- 
rivals,  and  many  turned  back  at  once,  while  others 
passed  on  to  the  lower  tributaries.^"  Black  with 
thirty  or  forty  others  prospected  the  adjoining  vail  y 

^K'illan's  Cariboo,  MS.,  12,  13. 

'*  Whuii  they  coased  to  tiiul  silver  they  ceased  also  to  find  gold.  J/intm-i/ 
of  the  Peace  Jiiirr  Mhiin,  in  Victoria  Weekly  Colonitt,  Feb.  23,  ISTO.  Mr 
Ogdeu  at  Stewart  Lake  imrLhascd  158  ounces  of  Vitalle  Creek  gold  froiii  t'-.o 
gDVerninent  i)rosi)eutiMg  party  wiiicii  was  worth  §17. .W  the  ounce.  It  \»:n 
mixed  with  lunipa  of  silver  worth  a  'hit.'  I<1.,  April  G,  1870. 

^■' Carilmo  Sentinel,  in  Victoria  Weekly  Colonint,  July  20,  1870;  LI.,  Aug.  17, 
1870. 

'"No  sooner  had  the  crowd  overrun  the  diggings  than  numbers  .stiirtr,! 
hack,  abandoning  their  claims,  and  in  July  ami  August  between  100  and  1-  ■» 
miners  remained  in  tlie  country  with  the  determination  to  give  tiie  giouinl  a 
fair  trial.  Peter  Davis  and  a  party  left  Oniineca  June  28th,  and  returniil  I'V 
way  of  Skccn.t  River  and  Nanaimo  by  canoe.  Ti\ey  reported  tliat  only  \"W 
claims  were  paying  small  wages.  A  small  piece  of  ground  l)elow  the  iJisrix  - 
cry  claim  paid  nine  ounces  in  o:io  day,  after  wluch  the  yield  was  light.  I'''- 
toria  Weekly  Voionust,  July  27  aud  Aug.  17,  1870. 


fJKRMAXSEN. 


«"1 


of  Silver  Crook  in  1870,  fiiiditij^  only  two-and-a-li.ilf- 
(|(ill;ir  <]i<^gin<4s;  but  otlior  prospectors  were  more  sue- 
cvssiul  on  (lillbrent  streams,  and  later  in  the  seas(;n 
a  considoraMo  (juantity  of  ;^<»l(l  was  taken  out  in  tl.e 
ji  rrregatc,  a  party  of  fifteen  Chinese  making  .^7,000 
iii  tlireo  weeks,  and  about  one  hundred  miners  pn- 
jiared  to  earry  on  their  operations  durinu^  tlit;  winter.*' 
This  added  zest  to  the  impulse,  and  in  1 1:  71  tlu; 
Oniinooaexritomeiit  attained  its  hei;^dit.  By  the  mid- 
dle of  June,  it  was  ri'ported  that  ei*j;ht  hundrt'd  ani- 
iiiids  had  crossed  Fraser  River  at  Qm^snol,  mostly 
with  provisions,  and  that  nine  hundred  nu-n  liad 
arrived  at  the  diLjj^ings,  by  the  Fraser  and  Skeona 
routes."*  Operations  were  actively  prosecuted,  and 
creek  after  creek  alon<^  the  Omineca  achieved  more; 
or  k'ss  notoriety  I'or  a  time,  as  Arctic,  Quartz,  Afan- 
si in,  Slate,  Skeleton,  Lost,  and  various  others,  partic- 
ulaily  (jrormansen,  which  now  becaint;  the  leadiny; 
creek  in  the  district.  It  was  named  after  James  Oor- 
inaiisen,"'  who  discoverou  the  first  gold  on  the  ei'eek 
in  July  iiS,  1870.  Good  shallow  diijjyin^s  were  foinul 
I'tir  three  miles,  usually  within  four  feet  of  the  bed- 
lock,  yieldini^  twenty-five  cents  prospect  to  the  pan, 
i:i  clean  coarse  gold  lying  on  a  layer  of  sand  two  fet-t 
hiiieath  the  gravel  in  the  bed  t)f  the  cret'k.  Cust 
rc[H)rted  that  everybody  on  the  creek  was  niaking 
finMi  .^10  to  three  ounces  a  day,  and  by  October  !?70,- 
OdO  liad  been  taken  out.  Lumps  of  silver  were  also 
found,  the  largest  weighing  $:)00,  and  the  country 
around  was  seamed  with  quartz.     Germansen  Creek, 

'"III  the  winter  of  1S70-1  several  companies  were  riiiining  tunnels  on 
Manson  Creek,  and  80  to  li)0  miners  wintered  in  the  several  inoks.  A  dozen 
M'li  .'lit  tlie  forks  of  tile  Skeeiia  for  winter  (juarters  tlie  same  season;  and 
aljdiit  three  dozen  deseended  tliat  river  still  further  to  Woodeoek's  Landing. 
Vi'lfiria  Wdklil  Cotoiilut,  Dee.  U.),  1871. 

'"  Sylvester,  cxiiressiiian,  in  <  'uri'/nn  Sentinel:  Victoria  D'llhl  Cnliini.-it,  June 
-•">.  1^71.  In  May  1871  tlicre  were  SOOniiner.i  on  <  iennansi'ii  t'reek  an  1  mor.i 
aiiiviii!»  daily.  liL,  July  0,  1871.  O'Reilly  was  tiie  lirst  gold  eoiiiniissioner; 
till  11  followed  Vowell. 

'"<  ieniiaiisen  was  a  native  of  St  Paul,  Minnesota,  who  came  in  1803  to 
British  Coluinliia  by  way  of  Haskatchewan  Kiver  with  eattlL'.  He  mined 
V  ill  a  party  on  Peace  River  in  1808  and  made  $500.  Victoria  H'evUi/  Colo- 
iii-<f,  Dec.  14,  1870. 


bo-i 


HOLD  DLSCOVKKIES  IX  THK  FAR  NORTH. 


ill  fact,  surprised  iiiuny  by  its  HujMsrlorlty  over  tliu 
other  streams.^" 

At  tlic  junction  of  the  crock  with  Omlnoca  Tiiv(  r 
rose  ii  Hctllunu^nt  s[)okcn  of  as  (jcrmansi-n  Crock  1<»\\  n, 
or  as  Oraincca,  which  durin;^'  tlio  winter  contalmd 
eiy;htccn  inliahitants,  but  by  the  sunnner  of  lJ-71 
counted  twenty  substantial  wooden  liouses  coniparlnj,' 
favorably  with  those  at  Barkerville.  It  was  like  this 
town  the  centre  of  trade  for  the  district,  supplinl 
partly  by  the  Skcena  River  route,  by  way  of  J^ahiiic 
and  Tatla  lakes,  but  chietly  from  Quesnehnoulh 
throuj^h  Port  St  James,  whence  a  trail  led  direct  to 
(Jlennansen  Creek,  skirting'  Nation  I,(ake.  Competi- 
tion bi'inijf  ureat,  freight  from  Yale  was  (»nly  eighteen 
cents  in  IS75,  and  ilour  had  been  sold  as  low  as  twenty 
cents  a  pound."'' 

Life  alone  differed  from  Cariboo  in  being  more  iso- 
lated and  remote  Those  who  remained  over  winter 
were  entirely  cut  off  from  the  rest  of  the  world,  siiuo 
the  season  in  tem[)erature  if  not  in  duration  approaclud 
the  arctic  in  character.  The  rampant  life  of  the  flush 
period  in  Cariboo  and  California  found  less  congenial 
soil  for  germination  in  Omineca,  and  although  saloeiis 
and  cards  flourished,  the  hurdy-gurdies  never  pene- 
trated thither."  In  1871  most  of  the  miners  in  the 
district  concentrated  on  the  creek,  and  some  good 
yields  were  reported.     Three  men  near  the  mouth  took 

»®  H^  //.  FilZ!iL'-nl(l,  Oowrnmevt  Ai/ait  (U  Port  St  James,  Oct.  24,  1870,  I.H- 
tei;  in  VIrforia  II  'kli/  CoLviint,  Deo.  7,  14,  1870.  Some  of  the  claiin.s  \r,w\ 
i50  a  (lay  to  the  li,  'l.  In  tlio  Fruiicii  C'oinpaiiy's  claim  aliovo  the  t'afKiri  a 
iJO-oiinco  nugget  W.I  'omul.  Pat  Kelly's  Company  iiiailo  from  ,*  10  to  .^liO  a 
ilay  to  the  man.  (  simiidt'iicr,  in  lil.,  Nov.  30,  Dec.  7,  1870.  AiiothiT 
lai-go  water-\\  oni  nu;.  '.,  weighing  24.i  ounces,  was  brouglit  to  Victoria  by 
Mr  Ouichim.  /'/.,  Dee.  '!,  1870;  Curihoo  Seiilincl,  in  Id.,  Nov.  10,  1870; 
Port  1'oirii.-ini(l  An/iis,  A        1,  1871. 

^'  Freight  from  Qnesnt  to  Manson  Creek  was  from  10  to  15  cents,  and  tlmir 
was  sol.l  here  for  from  2(  ';o  40  cents  a  pound.  Poijc,  in  Mlii.  Mines  Ilept., 
1875,  10. 

■^■^ Saloons,  cards,  fur-hunters,  miners,  and  Hydah  squaws  for ijenre:  (liteliis, 
drains,  log-cahins,  anil  stick  forests  for  scenery,  these  made  up  what  was 
regarded  as  the  somewhat  nii.seral)lo  picture  of  the  town  of  Manson  Creek,  as 
8-'en  hy  Captain  Butler  in  1871.  Tlie  important  persor.ages  of  the  town  M'  re 
<  '■  rahanus  postmaster,  and  Rufus  Sylvester,  expressman.  Butter's  Wild  Xnrth 
Ljtul,  SO:\-S;  Lamjerin's  Rept.,  1872,  9-10. 


Tfl 


iLjli  saloons 


[UOUtll  took 


CLAIMS   AND   YIKLI>. 


:>.-.;« 


out  ten  ounces  a  day  t«>  the  uuiu,  and  Kelly's  party, 
\voikiiiL(  six  iiiik'S  aliovo  the  JJisccjvt-ry  claim  in  tin; 
\tvd  of  t!ie  crt'ok,  ohtaiiied  one  liundrod  dollars  a  day. 
lint,  the  nmjority  made  little  or  n»)thin<jr,  cither  because 
the  rich  dej)osits  were  in  patches  whicli  had  fallen  U» 
till  few,  and  Were  now  nearly  worked  ont,  or  l)ecaus(! 
the  lead  could  not  bo  followed.  AVlie  in  the  conrsi! 
of  tlie  sunnnir  rich  discoveries  were  re|)oi'te(l  on  Man- 
>nii  Ulver,  lifteen  niihs  farther  down  Dmiiieca  liiver, 
;i  i^i  Meral  staiujiede  eiisu(.'d.""^  (jJennansen  Creek  re- 
siiiiK'd,  ni^vertheless,  its  position  as  the  centre  of  tlu; 
district  upon  th(!  collapse  of  the  rival  exciti'ments, 
llydi'aulic  mininj^-  was  a}»])lied  to  the  thirteen  claims 
ill  operation  in  187;"),  half  of  the  whole  constituted 
iiuiiilter  worked  in  Omineca.  Seveial  of  these  j)aid 
fail  ly  with  the  aid  of  win>;-dams  and  bench-sluices,  the 
Inst  yieldint^'  $(!,'J()0  for  the  season,  but  otiu'rs  sutt'el'ed 
lint  only  from  exhaustion,  but  from  Hoods,  and  then 
from  a  want  of  sluice  water,  and  were  abandoni'd."' 

Manson  Creek  di54-it;iiiiL,''s,  fifteen  miles  east,  and  I'un- 
uiiiH' j)arallel  to  (iermansen,  were  discovered  in  July 
l;w  I  by  K.  Howell,  formerly  of  the  royal  en«^ineers, 
and  yielded  about  twenty  dollars  a  day,  including  "iij^- 
ucts,  some  of  them  eighty  and  one  hundred  (h)llaiH. 
Two  hundreil  miners  were  enijaijed  on  the  crei  k  dur- 
iii,H'  the  season,  workint*-  the  surface  of  the  creek-bed, 
or  sl'.iicing  on  the  hill  and  bench  ground;  but  there 
was  also  a  deep  channel  like  that  on  William  Creek, 

■'■' l)iiriiiir  the  last  week  in  August  the  on-ek  yieliled  .SlO.OftO.  Pin/r  (imt 
Untl.  ill  I'ir/orid  JJii/li/  t'idoiiiil,  Aug.  H,  Oct.  H,  1871;  Liiiii/<viun  /{cut.,  1S7'2, 

>s;  \;,.rrirsji.  ('.  Mi,i'e.i,  MS.,  i:{,  u. 

-''I'lii!  L'i'L'ck  oliiiniB  paid  well  "uough  until  June,  when  <i  flood  hurst  upon 
till-  c.i;ii[)  aucl  wjwhed  out  all  tlie  Miug-dain.s.  After  these  were  repaired  oidy 
.'-  'iidiith  ri'uiaiuccl  ii;r  worlciiii;  ln'lo.v  the  long  winter  set  in.  Tiie  Keyntoii 
('(iiii|i:uiy  tlit'U  lost  the  hod-rock  and  with  it  tiieir  pay.  The  <lood-as-Any 
'  iinimiy  obtained  goixl  pay,  although  the  lead  wa,s  sfiotted.  The  hill  claims 
iiwiicl  liy  the  same  company  pro.sj)ected  exceedingly  well,  hut  the  water  .soon 
rai  short  and  a  sliie  Idled  their  sluices.  The  Morrison  Company  paid  h'ss 
tlun  .S'{  a  day  during  the  sca.son.  Tlie  Rim  Rock  Conniany,  a  hyilraulic 
claiiri  having  a  hank  from  20  to  50  feet  in  height,  paid  better  than  any  other 
i'l:iiiii,  yielding  %!1>,'J00  for  tlie  season.  The  scarcity  of  water  succeeding  a 
IIikmI  bred  discouragement,  an<l  the  Reliance,  Marshal,  and  Discovery  claims 
w  re  abandoned,  M'liile  several  others  were  sohl  to  the  Chinese.  /'.  Pay,  in 
Hill.  Milieu  Itt'iit.,  1S75,  15;  Dawaon  oh  Minen,  ;i8. 


r.o4 


GOLD  DISCOVERIES  IN   TME   FAR  XOUTH. 


1  '.1 


I 


whcu-cin  two  companies  sank  shafts  to  the  hod-rod 
witli  profitable  results.  On  the  north  hank  of  tlie 
creek,  near  the  mouth  of  Slate  Creek,  thirty  lots  wxre 
laid  out  by  Commissioner  O'Reilly  as  the  nucleus  ofu 
town,  and  several  substantial  houses  were  erected  hv 
traders  and  others.-'^  The  creek  proved  patchy,  vtt 
managed  for  some  time  to  retain  the  second  rank  in 
the  district  as  a  gold-producer.  In  1875  nine  com- 
panies were  working'  it,  four  of  M'hich  were  located  on 
the  slate  tributary,  but  the  following  season  only  two 
remain(  d.'^" 

Lost  Creek  was  for  some  time  thought  to  be  one  of 
tlie  most  ilourishing  of  mining  localities,  the  Irwin 
company  of  fi\o  men  having  washed  out,  in  one  woek 
in  1871,  11)2  ounces,  and  another  company  $jOO  to  the 
man.  TIic  creek  was  discovcnxl  by  a  company  (;f 
Cariboo  miners  who  sank  50  to  70  feet  and  obtained 
large  pay  They  remained  here  until  1875,  wlion 
their  dividend  for  tlie  season  amounted  to  only  ><i21i>.-' 

Among  other  locations  made  known  by  tbe  pi'ospcc- 
tors  who  overran  Omineca  was  Skeleton  CrL>ek,  wlmli 
received  its  name  from  the  discovery  in  1871  of  tlio 
skeletons  of  tliree  white  men  supposed  to  have  difd 
from  cold  or  starvation.^^  A  'new  creek'  staked  oil' 
five  miles  south  of  Vitalle  Creek  was  never  deeiiird 
wortliy  of  a  name.  At  Black  Jack  (julch,  five  miinis 
in  1871  made  about  $200  a  day  continuously.  At 
I]lmoreCulch  the  ^laidiattan  Company  mined  jirof.ti- 
bly  in  1874,  but  the  fidlowing  season  proved  a  failure 
for  want  of  sluice  Avater.'"^ 


'•'•''  Slate  Creek,  a  trilmtary  of  Manson  Creek,  had  in  1871  a  mining  , 
tiou  of  i)0  laon,  wlio  vere  making  from  $5  to  iiO  a  day.  Ldm/irin's 
1S7-2,  8^10,  88. 

■''Mill.  MiiKK  jicpL,  1875,  15;  Dairsnn  on  Minci,  .'!8;  F.  Paijc,  in  I 
Jhiih/  ColoiiiM,  Aug.  8,  1871;  Vowi'Wii  B.  C.  Mines,  MS.,  ].•{,  14;  Allitii' 
lioo,  M  \,  12,  i;i;  Jlcrrc,  in  Curihoo  Snifiiirl,  Aug.  17,  1871.'. 

-'  Three  hun(h-ed  feet  above  tlieni,  where  tin:  old  eliaiinel  ran  deepc 
eral  vain  attemj)ts  were  made  in  Ki71  to  lind  liottom.  /*<';/'',  in  Min. 
Itiyt.,  VSli),  15;  Ilcrrr,  in  Cwi'mo  Snitind,  Aug.  17,  187lJ. 

-'*  Virtoria  J>rl!;/  ('nloiiiMt,  Got.  8,   1.S71. 

-"■'  The  New  Ze-dand  Company".'!  rl'ii-  ,  p:dd  i::]):'n:esi  i  i  1'  7"),  a;i  1  vi 
]):ircd  f:r  winter  work.  Pwjc,  in  2Hn.  Klines  J.'cpf.,  1^75,  1,";  L-.tiiji'i'in 
l^T2,  8-9. 


'ir/iiriil 

.<  ('(iri- 
■V,  si'V- 


/'  :■/., 


OIITH. 

the  bed-rock 
I  bank  of  tlic 
lirty  lots  wire 
le  nucleus  of  a 
)re  erected  hy 
k1  patchy,  yJt 
ecoiid  rank  in 
175  nine  ciuii- 
ere  located  on 
ason  only  two 

it  to  be  one  of 
:-'s,  the  Irwin 
:,  in  one  woek 
iy$jOO  totlir 
.  company  cf 
and  ohtaiucu 
1875,  whou 
o  onlv$2]0.-' 

r  thc!  pi'OSjH'C- 

Creek,  wliidi 
1871  of  tlif 
to  have  died 
k'  stalvod  oil' 
ever  dccninl 
1,  five  luincis 
luouslv.  At 
lined  profiti- 
ved  a  fiiiluru 


ii  liiiiiiiig  I  ipula- 
J.iiKijt  r/ii'.-i  liii'L, 

■  l''!iji',  ill   I'iifnriii 

1  ran  dci'iiLT,  siv- 
';/'',  ill  Mill.  Mini-* 


/.),  ;t:rl  w.-is  pre- 


SKEENA  RIVER. 


555 


!     ! 


Fair  prospects  were  found  on  the  bars  of  Ominoca 
and  Finlay^^  rivers  near  their  confluence,  and  the  latter 
stream  was  in  1870  prospected  by  a  party  a  hundred 
miles  from  its  mouth,  revealincr  promising  bar  diggings 
as  far  as  they  went,  some  yielding  seventy-five  cents  to 
the  pan.^'  At  the  head-waters  of  Nation  River  from 
thirty  to  fifty  miles  south-east  of  the  central  Omincca 
diggings  lay  a  cluster  of  auriferous  creeks,  which  had 
been  visited  at  one  time  by  Peace  River  miners,  and 
were  supposed  +j  be  rich  ;^*  but  no  developments 
worthy  of  note  appear  to  have  been  made.^^  Parsnip 
Kiver,  further  down,  and  Peace  River  itself  west  and 
oast  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  were  found  to  contain 
gold  placers,  though  unrenmnerative  so  far  as  their 
accessible  deposits  were  explored.®* 

Tlic  mining  on  the  bars  resembled  that  of  Eraser 
River,  the  gold  being  fine  and  found  in  thin  sheets, 
deposited  and  buried  again,  by  massive  sediments  ot 
the  river,  out  of  sight  of  the  bed-rock.  The  valley 
furtlicr  resembled  the  Fraser  in  having  a  lake  or  fresh- 
water tertiary  formation  basined  within  it  containing 
lignite  coal.*^ 

The  first  arrivals  quickly  exhausted  the  shallow  river 
bar  deposits,  aad  operfitions  soon  dwindled  to  noth- 
ing. On  the  Pacific  slope  of  the  auriferous  range, 
represented  by  Skeena  River  and  its  tributaries,  min- 
ing was  never  carried  on  to  any  noteworthy  extent, 

'"This  stream  was  named  after  JamM  Finlay,  one  of  the  Northwest  Com- 
pany's fur-trdders,  who  in  ITOSstirtiil  from  Miuhillimackinac  and  penetrated 
to  Ni|i!iweo  on  the  Saskatciiewan  in  latitude  4.'?^°  north,  longitude  103"  west. 
Machir.ifl'H  Vol/.,  xi.  He  w.-is  stationed  and  engaged  in  building  a  fort  on 
Low.i  Peace  River  in  1702.   Id.  I'.T). 

"  I'v.U'V  Toy,  Evans,  and  others  prospected  up  Finlay  River  to  the  canon, 
a  (listiince  of  eighty  miles,  and  found  gold  on  all  the  bars,  in  some  places  as 
nnuli  iis  seventy-five  cents  to  tlio  pan.  J  ust  helow  the  cafion  a  hiancli  joins  it 
from  tlu^  soi»th,  whereon  Toy  obtained  tine  gold  for  a  lunuher  of  iiiiies.  Pw/i', 
in  Mm.  Mi iii'H  Hcpt.,  1875,  15;   Victoria  Weeklij  ColoiiM,  \)cc.  7,  ISTO. 

^■(hiiKiirl,  March  20,  1870,  cor.  Viciurin  Wcck/i/  ('olo)iint,  April  0,  1870. 

"Alexander  Fraser  and  a  party  prospected  the  head  of  Nation  River  in 
1870.    \'i(ioria  W'lckhj  ('<>lnni:<l,  Aug.  17,  1870. 

"  I'insnip  River  and  I'eacc  I'ivcr  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  carried 
fri'i'  I'old,  DaifyQii  on  Miiiex,  p.  .TJ. 

'■''  IVutcii's  Map  of  British  Columbia  indicates  coal  at  the  mouth  of  Trout 
or  I'iuiais  Rivers  near  latitude  55". 


>  ' 


■^1 


556 


GOLD  DISCOVERIES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


althougli  prospects  were  found  of  so  encouragiiior  a 
nature  as  to  induce  parties  to  overrun  the  Babiuc  and 
th(!  country  between  the  Nass  aud  Skeena  rivers; 
yet  the  Oniinecn  excitement  itself  was  sonictiuKs 
lefei-red  to  on  account  of  its  geoj^raphical  position  as 
the  Skeena  Kiver  excitement.  Near  the  coast,  ^h)l' 
fatt  of  tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company  found  at  Moli'att 
lliver,  fifteen  miles  north  of  the  Skeena  and  twelve 
mik'S  south  of  the  Na.ss,  an  extensive  dej)osit  of  hlack 
feand  containing  gold  of  the  size  of  number  four  shot, 
and  the  steamer  Wright  early  in  1871  reported  tlio 
discovery  of  new  diggings  at  or  near  the  saiiu' 
local  ity.^^" 

Omineca  district  certairdy  failed  to  justify  the  ex- 
pectations formed  of  it  in  more  than  one  res[Krt; 
tlie  peaceful  conquest  of  the  country  by  the  gDJd- 
seekers'  ]iredecessors,  the  pioneers  in  quest  of  furs, 
had  been  unattended  by  immigration;  for  seventy 
vi'ars  the  countiT  had  remained  without  roads  cir 
otluu'  notable  improvements  bt>yond  the  erectioii  of  a 
few  tiading  stations  with  gardens,  and  the  perfrctiiii,' 
of  natural  routes  of  conmiunication  by  cutting  trails 
ovi'i'  j)ortages  between  the  canoe  termini.  Muckinzie 
neither  saw  nor  heard  from  the  Indians  of  the  exist- 
ence of  the  precious  metal  in  the  bars  of  Peace  L'iver 
during  his  laborious  ascent  of  that  stream.  With  the 
new  inllux  of  miners  a  new  ova  was  to  be  e.\[K'(tt(l. 
Towns  woukl  be  built,  pack-trails  and  roads  would  lie 
o[)ened  into  the  mountains  and  otitlying  districts, 
fiekls  wt>uld  be  planted  for  the  sustenaiu-e  (>f  the 
comnumities  henci'forth  de})endent  directly  U[Min  the 
resources  and  identified  with  the  history  of  the  coun- 
try, ami  Omini'ca  would  become  the  nucleus  forscttle- 
nu'iits  ext(Muling  even  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
For  the  first  tinu;  in  tlie  history  of  the  country,  the 
imaginary  liise  of  Fift^'-four  Forty,  the  shiitboh'th  cf 
the  party  in  power  at  AVashington  in   184;'),  assunicd 

*«  ni-fnria  H'trW//  CuhniM,  A>ig.  17,  1870,  Fel).  'J'J,  1871;  B.  C.  Shnch', 
MS.,  p.  .-. 


^  K  .! 


;V'T\?r!i 


ITH. 

icouraginiT  a 
i;  Babiiic  and 
kOena  riwrs; 

,S     SOllK'tillUS 

,1  position  as 
J  foast.  .M ol- 
id at  Moli'att 
L  and  twtlvt' 
)osit  of  Mack 
er  four  shot, 
rep(trtc(l  the 
ii"    the    .siiuk' 

istify  tlu'  cx- 
ono  lesju'cr; 
)y  till'  yold- 
iost  of  furs, 
for  Sfvriity 
•ut  roads  (ir 
c;reotioii  of  a 
le  perfrctiiu,f 
uttiM!4  trails 

^lacki'iizii' 
of  till'  rxist- 

oaci'  JiiviT 
With  till' 
30  oxpri'tid. 
ds  Would  1r' 

\g  districts, 
ann'  lA'  tlio 
dy  uiioii  tlic 

i)f  till'  coUll- 

us  for  scttlc- 
^[ouiitaiiis. 
counti'v,  tlic 
jiil)l)(d('tli  (if 
if),  assumed 

I;  li.  C.  ,Sii,t<-lii'. 


OMINECA  GOLD. 


657 


the  dcfinitencss  of  realty,  though  its  actual  signifi- 
cance was  simply  that  of  the  natural  water-shed 
boundary  between  the  Fraser  and  Peace  river  basins, 
rendered  noteworthy  in  being  crossed  by  the  advanc- 
ing wave  of  population  of  the  Pacific  coast.  Beyond 
that  water-shed  no  other  power  than  England  ever 
claimed  dominion.  But  these  visions  melted  away  as 
soon  almost  as  they  were  formed,  and  with  them  the 
fame  of  the  pioneer  prospectors  of  whom  nothing  ot 

5  note  is  recorded  thereafter.''' 

H  The  season  of  the  great  influx  proved  unfavorable; 
the  ^^  ater  remained  so  long  at  a  high  level  that  only  a 
few  weeks'  work  could  be  done,  and  the  yield  as  a  con- 
sequence was  not  very  attractive.  Langevin  estimated 
the  product  for  Omineca  in  1871  at  $400,000  dis- 
tributed among  1,200  people,  and  Ireland,  the  express- 
man,at  880,000  or  $90,000  only,  up  to  September,  most 
of  which  had  passed  over  to  the  traders,  he  said,  to 
pay  for  supplies  which  owing  to  the  length  and  diffi- 
culty of  the  route  were  very  dear.^^  Besides  climatic 
and  geographical  drawbacks  including  freshets  and 
tlie  subsequent  dwindling  of  sluice  water,  there  were 
obstacles  in  connection  wdth  the  tracing  of  the  lead 
and  the  separation  of  the  metal.  A  peculiarity  of  the 
digniiigs  on  Omineca  River  was  that  native  gold  and 

"Samuel  Goldsmith,  one  of  the  Peace  River  miners  of  180.*?,  rosidcd  at 
Barkciville  in  1870.  Victoria  U'rekhi  Colonist,  Feb.  S.S,  1870.  Peter  Toy,  one 
of  till'  [lioiit'ers  of  1802,  waa  still  mining  in  the  fall  of  186(5  on  the  hars  of 
Finlay  Uiver.  Ke>o  fVcvtmiiintrr  li.inntiiirr,  May  II,  1SC7.  'Peace  lliver 
Sinitir  was  a  resident  of  the  town  of  (-crnianscn  (,'reek  in  1871.  liiitlir's  W'i/il 
Xor'h  /.mill,  .'i07.  '  Bill  Parker,  Jim  May's  companion  to  Pcac(!  River,'  was 
atClviUc,  W.T.,  in  ISGJ  and  '  very  well  oil".'  Victoria  Weekly  Colonist,  Aug, 
1,  ISIm. 

" Langevin  gives  $300,000  as  the  known  yield  an(7  adds  the  remainder. 
Puir  U'odH  Dtjil.  Re)it.,  187'2,  8-10.  In  October  IJO  miners  returned  on  the 
Ottei  tiXictoria  with  only  $10,000.  Sonic  a.scril)eil  the  general  want  (jf  success 
to  tin  lateness  of  the  season,  to  higii  uater,  and  the  great  cost  ui  provi.sions. 
SixdisfMii  liundred  men  still  remaiiic<i  in  the  dij^giiigs  in  October,  wiiile 
'.00  or  ,'iOO  were  making  preparations  to  remain  over  winter.  J).  Hrhntiin,  in 
V.S.rnniiiicrcial  Hil.,  1871,040;  I'irlonit  Diiil;/Colunisl,  Oct.  4,  1S71.  (leorgo 
lifiiit  arrived  at  Victoria  in  October  witli  S8,(i00  of  Omineca  gold.  A/.,  Oct. 
K  ISTI.  On  the  steamer  Otter  in  l)eccndier,  .'{II  of  tii"  passengers  were  'thit 
liroKi '  and  had  free  passaw.  Some  of  tiiem  pronounced  Onuneca  a  failure, 
while  (.thurs  spoke  favorably  of  the  diggings.  Victoria  Weekly  Colonint,  Dec. 
'-j,  lS7i. 


"''[ 

i 

668 


GOLD  DLSCOVERIES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


silver  ran  together  in  tlie  placers,  worn  by  fluviatllc 
ai^encies  into  particles  and  nuf^gets  of  the  same  size. 
The  gold  resembled  that  of  Keithley  Creek  in  size. 
.shape,  and  weight,  but  was  not  quite  so  briglit,''"  Tlic 
silver  was  not  alloyed  with  the  gold  but  nearly  pure, 
worth  ,$20,000  to  the  ton,  and  usually  water-worn  and 
rounded  thouijh  oecasif)nallv  rouffli.  The  adinixtiiic 
was  found  on  analysis  to  lie  a  small  percentage  of 
mercury,  consequently  a  native  amalgam/'' 

Ten  })er  cent  of  the  metal  washed  out  of  the  placers 
on  Vitalle  CVeek  was  silver,  and  when  the  niincis 
ceased  to  find  this  metal  they  also  ceased  to  find  gdld, 
Altliough  the  field  was  large,  the  deposits  were  to(i 
patchy  and  thin  to  afibrd  satisfactory  returns  to  alh 
nor  was  there  sufiricient  inducement  to  pursue  deep 
mining  to  any  extent,  although  deeper  channels  of 
older  streams  had  been  found  here  as  elsewh(>re.  All 
this  could  not  fail  to  accelerate  the  exodus  wlii(  h  s(  t 
in  on  the  approach  of  winter,  and  in  1872  the  re- 
maining population  of  Omineca  received  a  coiiipara- 
tively  small  accession.  The  yield  for  the  season  wiis 
estimated  bv  the  pold  commissioner  at  .$8  a  d.iv  to 
the  man.  The  miners  decreased  in  numlxT  ye;n'  In' 
year,  and  in  1S75  tlierewero  only  (i.S  persons  left,  \vlio 
produced  from  20  claims  $32,000/^  In  1S7G  the  yield 
was  so  insignilieant  tliat  the  minister  of  mines  left 
the  district  entirely  out  of  Cimsideration,  and  nt'ter 
this  only  a  few  miners  remained  striving  to  eki'  eiit 
an  existence  during  the  sliort  season  allotted. ■*'"  Omi- 
neca was  not,  however,  the  oidy  hope  of  this  nortlniii 
region,  for  beyond  it  had  risen  another  mining  field/' 

'^  Vhiorht  r>iulii  Cohnixt,  Nov.  4,  KS(i!(.  It  was  rich  orange  in  culnr  liki 
that  of  \a'.M\  Ri\xr.  Id.,  ISlarcli  '2,  ISTO. 

*"  Vlc/nrifi  ]V<ii;i  Cnlniiiyt,  Manli'J,  ISTO:   Tkiirsnn  on  Mlii'.i,  II    1.'. 

*' ()  I  (ifritiiinsoii  C'ri!i'k  in  DST.")  tliero  weru  \',{  claiiris;  on  Slatf  Crn  k.  4; 
oi\  Maiisoii  RivtT,  liO.st  deck,  cte.,  0;  total,  '20  clainm,  einiiloyinj^  4'.(  wliiti' 
ami  Ki  Chinese  miners.  All  were  liar  .mil  creek  digjtings.  Jliit.  .\liii'^  l!'yl-< 
IST."),  11,  l."i;  Sjhoii/'k  B.  C,  7(>:  <li(ii/c  J{.  ('.,  lS77-«,  ^l-l^o. 

*'  V,„rrir.,  J{.  ('.  Mhw.->,  MS.,  I.S,  14. 

■•'' I'Aer  since  ttie  (jhieen  Cliarlotti^  Islanil  gold  excitenn'nt  iii  IS,")I  'J.  >\\'M 
goM-fiinls  bail  liecii  rejtortcd  fro?n  tliero  at  intervals,  which  tcinli'il  to  ki'ip 
this  region  before  the  public,  without   eausinf,'  an  actual  niovement  ol  fj'il'l 


i,fii  m 


RTH. 


CASSIAR  AND  STIKEKN. 


559 


I  by  fluviatile 
:lio  same  size. 
Jreek  iu  size. 
>rijr]it;'*"  The 
1  nearly  \)uvv. 
itcr-worii  and 
le  adniixtuic 
)crceiitago  of 

:jf  the  })lacers 
I  tlio  miners 
.  to  iiiul  Mdlil. 
sits  were  to(i 
:turns  ti)  all; 
pursue  d('(]t 
■  cluiimcLs  of 
jwliere.  All 
us  ^vlu(■ll  set 
L872  the  rc- 
[  a  coinpaia- 
c  season  was 
,^8  a  (lay  to 
ibcr  yen)'  ly 
ons  left,  \\h>) 
•i7(j  the  yield 
>f  mines  left 
•n,  and  nfter 

(^  to  eke  out 

ted.-'-  ( )iiii- 
his  iiortliei'u 
lininir  Htld/' 


lUgO    HI 


.■nlnr   l.k( 


nil  SLite  Crrrk.  4; 
ijiliiyuig  -I'.t  wliltc 
Min.  J/n/'<  l'']'t-, 


fc  ill  IS,-)!  •_',  .-linlit 

ll  ti'Ildl'il    tn    IC'P 
lOVUlilOIlt  ot    fl'lM- 


which  promised  to  more  tlian  compensate  for  her  de- 
cline, and  this  was  the  Cassiar  district,  also  known  as 
Stikeen  River  district,  since  the  first  gold  excitement 
had  centred  on  this  stream. 

In  the  autumn  of  18G1  a  French  Canadian  hy  the 
name  of  Choquettc  ascended  the  river  with  some 
Indians  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  found 
ii;()od  prospects  which  continued  to  improve  during  the 
additional  forty  miles  of  his  ascent.  Every  bar  showed 
more  or  less  of  the  gold  which  resembled  that  of 
Fraser  River  in  being  fine  and  difhcult  to  wash  on 
the  lower  bars,  while  it  increased  in  coarseness  toward 
tiio  head-waters.  The  valk-y  soil  was  also  everywhere 
iuipr(!gnated  with  specks  to  an  altitude  of  2,000  feet. 
The  reports  hereof  created  no  little  excitement,  and 
despite  the  attractions  of  Cariboo,  over  800  men  set 
out  for  the  district  in  the  spring.  Oidy  a  little  ovct 
lialf  the  number  had  the  couraixe,  however,  to  face 
the  hardships  of  the  ascent  to  the  gold-field,  and  their 
expectations  hardly  met  with  the  results  that  they 
deserved.  Of  the  bars  below  the  canon  only  Car- 
penter Rar  proved  good,  the  average  yield  being  from 
ten  to  twenty  dollars  a  day,  though  a  few  miners 
iiuule  as  much  as  three  ounces ;  but  in  the  canon  nearly 
100  miles  in  extent  and  on  the  north  branch,  tin; 
l)ate]iy  coarser  gold  again  ]iros[)ected  ten  to  fifteen 
dollars  a  day  in  a  number  of  places,  while  the  head- 
waters looked  most  promising;  still  the  average  pay 
was  not  large,  and  the  mining  pojiulation  remained 
small,  ixxrtlv  for  want  of  readv  coniniunieation  and 
sii|i|dies.  The  river  despite  its  sloughs  and  curri'iits 
pi'oved  navigable  during  several  months  of  the  yi'ar 
lor  light-draught  steamers  as  far  as  Sliakesville,  170 
miles   from   its   mouth,  and  to  this  point   the  Fiijui;/ 

»i'<kir-;;  Init  ill  1859  a  nugget,  partially  composed  of  quartz  and  wcii.'lunj,'  14^ 
(iiMiics,  valued  at  .§250,  was  olitaiui'd  froiri  tlio  islanders  and  exliiMted  at 
\  ii'teria.  All  effort  was  then  made  to  t'onii  a  jiro.specting  exiieditioii  to  tlxs 
isliiiid;  to  wliieli  the  Hudson's  liay  Conipatiy  lent  their  aid;  Init  a  sntheieiit 
Miiiiilicr  of  men  failed  to  suliserihe  towards  it,  and  it  was  ahandoiietl.  Vidoria 
<v'z<in;  March  'J-J,  May  3  and  7,  1851);  Ji.  C.  J\i}tern,  ii.  70. 


I  :i 


11 
\thll 


j    ! 


iM 


•*  I 


1 1, 


m  >! 


M 


V,         ij-  *»' 


M 


5C0 


GOLD  IHSCO    ERIES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


Dutchman,  Captain  ISIooro,  made  several  trips;  but 
the  canon  wliicli  began  twenty  miles  beyond  this  jiLicu 
eould  not  be  entered  by  canoes  even  during  low  water, 
except  at  great  risk.  This  ]iart  (>f  the  country  was 
besides  arid,  owing  to  the  sunnner  droughts,  and  [ilK'il 
with  wasiied  crravel  hills  and  masses  of  lava  and  ha- 
saltie  roclcs,  producing  nothing  but  straggling  buslu's. 
Lower  down,  however,  tinilxr  existed  suitable  lor 
boat-buildinti'."  The  efforts  to  establish  a  jjold-ildd 
did  not,  therefore,  achieve  success,  and  nuning  was  for 
years  followed  only  by  odd  pros[)ecting  parties. 

In  U!72,  however,  the  intrepid  Thibi'rt  who  had  left 
Minnesota  in  ISG'J  with  one  companion  on  a  huntinij^ 
expedition  in  this  direction,  found  go'd  in  the  Kocky 
Mountains  on  one  of  the  Mackenzie  tributaries,  mar 
Dease  Lake.  After  wintering  on  Stikeen  liivcr  th(y 
returned  in  company  with  one  ^rcCulloch*'  to  J)case 
Lake  to  prospect  its  creek  waters,  and  found  a  dcjxisit 
yielding  as  nnich  as  two  ounces  of  rough  gold  a  day. 
The  g(dd  lay  on  a  slate  orbed-rock  or  black  rock  williiii 
one  or  three  feet  of  the  surfjice.  ( )n  one  creek,  named 
after  Thibert,  the  party  tof)k  up  tliree  claims,  and  in 
the  course  of  the  season  tliev  were  joined  bv  sonic 
thirty  men  who  all  wintered  on'  tlie  ground,  (^ood 
prospects  wei'e  also  obtained  on  J)ease  Creek,  which 
enters  the  lake  near  Thibert's  outlet,  and  uj)  Jjaird 
]{iver  on  !^^c^)ame  and  Sayyea'^  tril)Utaries, 

lieports  of  these  finds  were  e;)gt-rly  listened  to  l>y 
the  desponding  miners  in  southii-n  districts,  and  (hir- 
ing the  following  seasons  a  huge  iidiux  took  place, 
so  that  in  1H75  about  one  thousand  men  were  occupii'd 
in  the  district  chiefly  on  crci'ks  named.'*'      On  Druse 

**  rflr/l<ni<f  Bulklhi,  tVl).  13,  Jan.  IT),  May  7,  .lulyi.'!,  1874;  ir.///»  II' '/Ai 
hiU'i,  Fol).  '20,  1874;  Ji.  C.  Diirc/nri/,  ISti;!,  l2.Ki-S;  ViH'iria  Colonist,  .Im. 
5,  \Su-2. 

' '  The  Cassiar  gold  niiiics  were  ilisco\  ere  1  l>y  another  man  named  Mc(  'iilli"  li, 
who  Kulise(|iifiitly  lost  hi.s  life  in  the  jmrsiiit,  ,iu  l  ot,hern  «  ho  erossed  omt  num 
tlie  other  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.    I'lrnil'.t  Ji.  ('.  Mhii'.'t,  MS.,  14. 

^" Named  after  its  discoverer.  Miii.  Miiii.<  lli-jil.,  1875,  7-9;  li.  ('■  ''""". 
1877-S,  <.)0-1;  Oh/iiipi'i  K'-hn,  Scjit.  3,  1874;    Tiirljrirs  I',,-.,  MS.,  8,  It. 

*'  'T!iL^  j)o|nd:itio:i  estimated  hi'ru  I  coiicl'i  le  to  1);^  ahont  800  whites,  S;) 
C'hinu:iien,  and   '.00   l.idiaju  exclusive  of   tlie    eajsi:ir  u  itives,  i.  c,  ii  tiie 


SAYYKA  C'UKKK. 


SCI 


and  Thlbcrt  creeks  nearly  all  the  miners  were  doini!; 
well,  takini^  out  from  one  to  three  ounces  to  the  man, 
wliile  some  claims  were  yitdding  even  better.  ^IcJ  )am(! 
Cnck  was  occu[)ied  by  about  three  hundred  miners, 
l)ut  the  ground  was  more  patchy,  and  the  dams  had 
luM'ii  more  exposed  to  slides  and  freshets;  those,  how- 
evir,  who  had  maintained  their  dams  were  turning 
out  as  much  as  two  hundred  ounces  a  week,  and 
j)r()ving  the  richness  of  the  creek. 

( hi  Savvea  Creek  the  return  averacfed  ton  dollars 
a  dixy  in  coarse  gold,  with  nuggets  weighing  nearly 
tliirty  dollars,  and  the  most  glowing  anticipations 
Were  formed.  The  value  of  the  ground  was  pcnhaps 
best  demonstrated  by  the  returns,  which  for  187.") 
aniouiited  to  nearly  $1,000,000,  and  for  1874  to  but 
little  less.*^  This  result  did  not  fail  to  have  its  effect, 
for  the  next  season  witnessed  an  influx  still  larger 
tliiui  before,  amounting  to  fully  1,700  men,  a  great 
part  of  whom  came  with  no  definite  purpose  and 
ri'inained  idlers,  while  the  rest  assisted  in  extending 
tlio  district  by  means  of  new  developmcMits.  By  this 
time  it  had  been  h'arned  from  the  damaiic  effected  bv 
tlic  early  summer  iloods  that  the  early  s})ring  with  its 
k>w  water  preceding  the  freshets  was  the  best  time  for 
working  the  diggings,  despite  the  trouble  in  cutting 

miniiij,'  jmrtion  of  tlie  district.  ProbaMy  200  wliitos  may  l)e  added  to  tlit! 
iii"'\u  cstiiiiato  and  form  thu  total  population  of  Cassiar.'  Min.  Minis  J{(']>t.. 
IST."),  5. 

*■"  'it  is  now  well  c'stabli.-ihL'd  that  Deaso,  Thiburt's,  and  AtcDanie's  crcc'is 
liiivo  yielded  in  two  (seasons  nearly  !?-,0()0,<M).t,  and  the  two  latter  streams 
mil,  iiuilonhtedly,  proihico  far  inoro  in  tlio  future  than  tluy  liavo  yet  done. 
llui'e  other  streams  iiave  been  prospected,  tributaries  of  Deaso  Jiiver  and  l\i 
hiai'.l,  and  gold  in  jiayiuj^  (juantities  has  l)een  found  iiixm  each.'  Andrews' 
diiiii  (in  Dease  ( 'reek  yielded  o(K)  ounces  in  one  week,  ami  on  ISlcDuine  (,'roik 
the  l)i-;i'overy  Company  washed  out  170  ounces  in  one  week  and  200  ounces 
tiioiii\t.  On  Quartz  t'reek,  a  tributary  of  McDame.'Mr  McLonghlan  and 
[larty  of  two  otiiers,  for  one  day's  washing  took  out  .*.")0.  Some  have  great 
laitli  ill  tliese  creeks,  while  others  doubt  their  richness.  Tiiero  are  sixteen 
iiiiii  at  jireseiit  prospecting  tiiese  creeks.  Tlie  gold  obtained  is  of  a  rough, 
not  w  itcr-worn  appearance,  and  quartz  veins  may  bo  traced  in  various  placis 
iiitliat  viiiiiity.'  On  Sayyea  Creek,  Sayyea's  party  of  fourtook  out  '  for  I  l.'ij 
(lays'  work,  77  3-1(5  ounces,  making  an  average  to  each  man  p  r  diy  of  JrlO.HO, 
iK'arl\ .  Tlie  gold  abstracted  tlierofrom  is  coarse  and  seems  to  be  of  exec  lleiit 
iiual'ty;  some  pieces  weigh,  respectively,  JSS,  $18,  il7,  and  a  number  of  pieces 
avLiM-e  about  ?jl0.'  J/.'m.  M/hm  Ifqit.,  lS7o,  4,  7. 
lIisT.  BniT.  COL.    8(J 


'■'■ :' 

■ 

Hlil[i? 


■  '-■i^ 


■S^ 


;|ii|| 


502 


GOLD  DISCOVERIES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH, 


m 


U; 


I'' 


ico  and  removing  snow/*  During  the  winter  tunnel- 
ling was  the  rule  and  the  dirt  was  collected  for  sum- 
mer washing.  Owinj;  to  the  extreme  cold  it  was  often 
necessary  to  thaw  the  drift/"  By  this  season  unfortu- 
nately much  of  the  old  ground  on  Thibcrt,  McDaino, 
and  other  creeks  had  been  skimmed  of  its  riches,  and 
the  new  discoveries  failed  to  prove  of  any  extent,  so 
that  the  yield  for  1876  fell  to  a  little  over  $500,000." 
Among  the  new  discoveries  were  Snow  Creek,  a 
tributary  of  the  McDamc,  which  yielded  as  mucli  as 
$50  a  day  to  the  man,  but  for  a  time  only;  the  Tako 
country,  100  miles  north-west  of  Dease  Creek,  and 
the  head- waters  of  the  Stikeen,  which  promised  to 
afford  an  opening  for  the  many  disappointed  men. 
The  diggings  on  Sayyea  Creek  on  the  other  hand, 
which  held  out  so  many  hopes,  dwindled  into  very  [)oor 
ground,  and  the  Liard  itself  had  raised  great  expec- 
tations in  1875,  by  turning  out  a  nugget  of  seventeen 
dollars,  but  the  prospectors  who  were  led  by  this  lind 
came    back    disheartened    in   the  following   season.'' 

*•  '  The  damage  on  Dease  Creek  so  far  lias  been  immense;  the  melted  snow 
coming  down  tliat  course  in  torrents,  tore  away  all  tlic  wing-dania,  the  tiiii- 
hers  of  which  lie  lloating  on  Dease  Lake;  a  much  to  bo  regretted  loss  of  liurdy 
miners'  enterprise  and  industry.  Tlie  damage,  I  am  of  opinion,  .$.')(i,000 
would  not  repair.'  Mill.  MincH  J'epf.,  1875,  4. 

*"  '  So  extreme  is  the  cold  that  it  is  found  necessary  at  times  to  roll  hvze 
heated  bowlders  into  the  tunnel's  mouth  in  order  to  thaw  out  the  frozen  t,'i(  iiuul. 
In  one  tunnel  of  I'-'O  feet  at  40  feet  down,  the  ground  was  found  to  be  frozen.' 
I'oin'U'x  Jirit.  C„l.  Milieu,  MS.,  17. 

=•'  Dease  Creek,  3100,300;  Thibcrt  Creek,  $1.39,720;  McDame Creek,  .SIO.S,- 
700;  total,  S4(i.'},7-0;  to  which  may  be  added  '20  per  cent  for  other  ^'runnd, 
making  a  total  of  §55(5,474  for  Cassiar  district.  This  amount  must  lie  dis- 
tributed among  periiaps  1,800  men.  '>Some.3.")0  on  Dease  Creek  Chin.imen 
include<l,  about  400  on  Thibert  Creek  and  its  tributaries,  betwi'en  700  and  MX) 
in  the  vicinity  of  McDame  Creek,  and  several  parties  prospecting  in  nther 
portions  of  the  district.'  'The  unexpected,  and  from  the  results  of  the  pn>f  two 
seasons,  the  unjustifiable  rush  to  Cassair  this  spring  in  a  measure  accounts  for 
the  general  depression  which  afreets  alike  the  minor,  the  merchant,  anil  the 
packer.  Such  an  influx  instead  of  helping  the  district  has  had  the  contnuv 
effect.'  Mill.  Mine.'*  liqit.,  1870,  411-1-2,  410-17. 

^^  'On  Quartz  Creek  a  great  deal  of  prospecting  is  being  done,  but  n3  yd 
no  definite  idea. can  be  formed  as  to  its  richness  or  othei-wise.  A  disinviiy 
has  been  made  in  a  place  called  I'leasant  Valley,  about  two  and  one  half  nnlcs 
from  Snow  Creek,  find  very  nice  gold  taken  out.  It  prospected  .*2'2.50  to  140 
buckets.  On  McDame  Creek  very  few  creek  claims  have  been  jirospi  ited, 
owing  to  the  amount  of  water  constantly  in  tha^  stream,'  Miii.  Milan  Hi  pi-, 
1870,  412.  A  number  of  miners  returning  with  considerable  gold  from  Cnsiar, 
including  Gold  Commissioner  Sullivan,  sank  with  the  steamer /-"ocZ/ff  in  I'^'O, 
VoweWn  D.  V.  Milieu,  MS.,  15. 


TIL 

nter  tunnel- 
tod  for  .sum- 
it  was  often 
3on  unfortu- 
t,  McDanie, 
5  riches,  and 
ly  extent,  so 
:•  $500,000.^' 
)\v  Creek,  a 
as  much  as 
(\  the  Tako 
Creek,  and 
promised  to 
ainted  men. 
other  luiiid, 
to  very  [loor 
^reat  expec- 
)f  seventeen 
by  this  iind 
tig   season.'' 

tho  melted  snow 
g-ilaiiis,  the  tiiu- 
ited  lo.ss  of  liiinly 
opinion,  ?,j(l,000 

incs  to  roll  biriie 
lie  frozen giouiul. 
md  to  be  froiien.' 

ime  Creek,  SU'A- 
or  other  ^'niiiiiil, 
int  must  be  dis- 
Creek  Cliiiiaincii 
ivcenTOOiinaMJO 
pecting  in  other 
taof  the  pii>t  two 
suroaccoiiut.s  for 
jrchant,  and  the 
lad  the  eonti-iiry 

done,  but  as  yd 
3e.  A  distiivcry 
id  one  half  iiiili'S 
ted!?'J--'.50to  140 
)een  pnispi  itud, 
^hi.  Miins  I.'')'!., 
)ld  from  ( ':i  -Kir, 
T  Pacijk  in  iNli. 


A  HUNDRED  GOLDEN  STREAMS. 


66B 


T1i  natural  result  was  that  the  population  for 
1877  did  not  exceed  1,200,  about  one  third  of  whom 
were  Chinese;  but  the  prospecting  was  carried  on 
even  more  vigorously  than  before,  with  good  results, 
and  the  excellent  showing  of  the  benches  on  Thibert 
as  well  as  McDame  creek  gave  promise  of  a  bright 
future,  and  tliis  was  the  more  a  matter  of  congratu- 
lation, since  the  creek  claims  had  not  only  been  pretty 
well  explored,  but  were  accessible  for  only  a  very 
short  season. 

The  north  forks  of  the  McDame  also  assisted  to 
restore  to  this  creek  its  prestige,  as  did  the  discovery 
on  the  Walker  tributary,  entering  near  its  mouth,  of 
twenty-dollar  prospects  in  granulated  gold.  Gold 
quartz  had  been  found  on  this  main  creek,  largely 
mixed  with  copper  and  lead;  and  on  the  Liard  a  lode 
of  argentiferous  galena  had  been  explored  to  some 
extent;  but  the  failure  of  the  quartz  operations  at 
Glenora  on  Stickeen  head-waters  showed  that  the 
iniinn's  were  not  as  yet  prepared  for  this  branch  of 
mining. 

The  yield  for  the  season  was  placed  at  $500,000, 
and  this,  in  view  of  the  smaller  number  of  miners  and 
the  severe  freshets,  which  rendered  the  creeks  un- 
workable till  the  middle  of  August,  may  be  regarded 
as  more  favorable  than  the  result  for  1870."^  The 
supplies  for  the  district  were  in  part  brought  by  way 
of  Fort  Frascr,  but  chiefly  up  the  Stickeen  and  by 
paek  trains.  The  centre  of  trade  was  at  Lakctown, 
on  Dease  Creek,  where  several  substantial  business 
houses  had  risen,  and  whence  quite  a  fleet  of  i)oat3 

■■■' '  Dease  Creek,  881 ,300 ;  Thibert  Creek,  .?17.'?,700 ;  IMeDame  Creek,  §144,- 
80O;  amount  taken  out  of  wiiich  no  dclinite  returns  could  be  procured,  say 
84,"i,(K)0,  which,  with  the  sum  of  §5.5,000  allowed  for  the  probable  yield  from 
the  (h.te  upon  which  the  statistics  were  completed  until  the  ."Jlst  of  December 
next,  will  bring  the  gross  amount  to  $409,8;i0.  Dease  t'reek  sufTered  most 
from  the  incessant  rains,  and  the  returns  from  that  creek  arc  in  conseipiento 
iu'  litlow  what  tliey  otherwise  would  have  been.  The  majority  of  claims  in 
that  oreek  have  been  transferred  to  the  Chinese.'  Miii.  Mines  Rejit.,  1877, 
40(1  I.  ( 'assiar  as  a  cousetiuenco  assumed  greater  strength,  and  the  following 
seasi.ii  the  jiopulation  again  appi'oached  the  figure  of  1870.  VoweWs  B.  (J. 
JA«.s  \V,\  B.  C.  Guide.,  1877-8,  8&-90. 


'tit.,  'i 


k 


■^!'  I'll* 


:>'. 


C-    1 


i! 


5.H 


GOLD  DlSC'OVElllES  IN  THE  FAR  NORTH. 


departed  every  week  over  Doase  Lake  in  tlie  tllrcrtloii 
of  the  various  crocks  and  rivers  coniiecting  with  itw 
waters."  In  1877  the  gold  coinmissioner  was  ahlc 
to  report  tlie  opening  of  land  for  the  cultivation  of 
cereals  and  vegetables,  with  results  that  promised  tn 
render  the  district  independent  in  some  degree  of  out^ 
side  markets/'' 

''•  'PriccH  in  1875  at  Laketown  were:  flour  per  lb.,  25  cents;  bauon  i»v  lli., 
50  cents;  sugar  per  lb.,  45  cents.  In  1877,  flour  pur  lb.,  '20  cunts;  biii.ni 
per  lb.,  45  cents;  sugar  per  lb.,  45  cents.'  Jliii.  Mines  Itqpt.,  1875,  5;  1.^77, 
402. 

'''''  The  lakes  and  streams  were  besides  rich  in  fish,  anil  game  abounded, 
Vori'eWa  B.  G.  MineH,  MS.,  21;  Min.  Miiwa  HepL,  1877,  402. 


'# 


Tiprs 


• '  r 

i  I 


illlllil 


i'''l!ll 


game  abouudcil. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 


COAL. 

(■(lAi.-iiKMiiNd  Formations  East  ani>  West— California,  Orwion,  and 
W AsiiiNdTo.v  Fields  CoMrAHEn — Bunisii  Coliimiiia  Coal-iieai!IN(1 
rmtMATioNs — Bituminous,  Liunite,  and  ANTiiitAcfrK — Brown's  Lo- 
(  Ai.riiEs— Kichardson's  Tuou(;h — Beaver  Hauiiok — Quathino  II ar- 
v.ipi!— Xanaimo — TiiK  Nanaimo  Coal  CttMi'ANV — Tiik  Vancouver  Com- 
lANV — The  Welli.noton  Comtanv — I'ltocREss  OK  Development  at 
Nanaimo— DuNHMUin's  Adventures — The  Nanaimo  Stonk  Quarry — 
The  Harewooi)  Mine — Workincs  of  the  Vancouver  Colliery — 
(^M  EEN  Charlotte  Islands  Anthracite— Ari'EMi'TED  Dkvkloi'ment  ok 
THE  Mines — Brown  and  Richardson's  Visits — Claudet  and  Isher- 
wdod's  Analyses — Comox  and  Bayne  Sound — Develoi'ments — Dis- 
nivr.KiEs  ox  the  Mainland — Ministers'  Kei-orts — Statutory  IIegu- 

I.ATIONS — SUMMAKY. 


11    t  J 


I\  connection  with  the  estabhshinf^  of  forts  Rupert 
and  Xanaimo*  I  liave  <(iven  a  full  account  of  the 
uarlicst  coal  discoveries  in  British  Columbia.  I  will 
now  briefly  glance  at  later  clevelo[)ments,  beggiui^ 
the  reader  meanwhile  to  remember  that  it  is  the 
history  of  coal  and  the  develojuuent  of  the  coal  inter- 
ests of  the  country  rather  than  technical  descriptions 
or  analyses  that  I  am  attemptini''  to  write. 

The  coals  and  liiinitt^s  of  western  North  America 
are  found,  as  a  rule,  in  formations  different  from  those 
in  wliich  they  occur  at  the  east;  the  secondary  and 
tiTtiary  rocks,  at  various  horizons,  in  the  west,  takin*^ 
th(>  jihice,  as  coal-])rodacing  formation,  of  the  carbon- 
ifertiiis  strata  of  the  east. 

]h  tween  California  and  Alaska  are  three  distinct 
coal  sections  beloni^ing  to  three  distinct  geologic  for- 
mations respectively;  the  tertiary,  extending  through 


1i 


!  , 


■Sio  cliiipter  xi.,  this  volume 


<6ti6) 


BfiC 


COAL. 


Orrf]fon  and  Washinj^ton ;  tlio  crotaroous,  covoiliijr, 
for  tliii  most  part,  VaiicouviT  Island  ;  and  tho  cretacto- 
Jurassic  cxistinj^  rliiclly  in  (^uceii  Cliarlottu  Islands. 
Calilbriiia  has  littlo  to  Uoast  of  in  tho  way  of  coal 
do|)osits  of  ocononii(!  ini  tortanco.  True,  in  tiio  Coast 
Kani^o,  and  in  many  places  alonjj^  tho  Siorra  Font- 
hills,  from  ono  ond  of  tho  .statu  to  the  other,  coal  is 
found  srattenul;  but  usually  in  such  small  (juantitiiN 
and  of  such  poor  <iuality  or  so  unfavorably  situated  as 
to  1)0  of  little  value.'"'  Actual  devclopmonts  in  On  i^mi 
are  not  so  far  in  advance  of  those  in  (California,  as  an- 
the  ])o8sibilities  of  Orej^on  sujx'rior  to  those  of  (all- 
fornia.^  Expectation,  however,  seems  thus  far  jui- 
marily  to  have  l)cen  directed  to  Washinj^toii  and 
British  Columbia,  and  that  with  fair  success/  Tli/ 
rule  seems  to  be  that  as  we  follow  the  coast  north 
ward  the  quality  improves.^ 

In  British  Columbia  only  we  find  thus  far  beariULr 
coal  the  three  formations ;  on  A'ancouver  Island  and 
the  coast  adjacent,  two  tertiary  rocks  with  bitu- 
minous coal  and  lionite,  and  cretaceous   rocks  ^vitll 

^Kvon  of  tho  Monto  Diablo  fiul.l,  tho  only  oiio  which  has  tliua  far  ass\iiiii.l 
any  CDUHi'lorable  dogrco  of  financial  iniportunco  hi  tho  state,  \V.  A.  (iomlyrar, 
afler  devoting  sonio  sixty  pages  of  hln  CchiI  Jliii'-.i  i)/'  the  U'l'Mcrn  ('mi.-'l  U>  \u 
deseription,  finally  concludes  'that  the  days  of  tlie  old  Mt  Diahlo  niiius  an' 
iiuinhered.'  Likewise  as  to  Oregon,  whieh  in  respi'ot  of  mineral  finis  In' 
regards  as  next  least  in  importance  to  California,  ho  devotes  considciiillu 
spaee,  although  the  only  mines  worke(?.  with  profit,  he  says,  are  at  Cims  ilay, 
anil  these  are  not  of  extraonlinary  value.  Tiiis  was  a  safe  asscrtinii,  tlie 
Coos  ]?iy  mines  being  the  oiiiy  .  ;!es  ir  Oregon  upon  which  work  to  any  con- 
siilerablo  extent  had  been  d  /ao  at  Jie  ti;iio  of  his  writing. 

•'No  dimht  tlie  ojjeiiing  of  iniii.,3  on  tho  lower  Columbia  has  been  nfanliJ 
by  I'ortlaii  I  capitalists,  ji'a'.iu--  of  tho  building  of  a  new  metropolis  in  thit 
qiartcr.  Many  have  exvr'.s.si  ,1  tho  opinion  that  tho  coal  resources  of  Oiugi'ii 
are  etpial  to  tho.se  of  Wasliiiigton. 

*  'It  is  uiKpiestionably  to  the  mines  of  "Washington  Territory,  and  of  lint- 
ish  Columbia,  tliat  this  Pacific  Coa.st  must  look  liereafter,  both  for  its  clii'  i 
doMiestio  and.  its  nearest  and  most  relialde  foreign  supplies  of  that  iudispc  iihv 
ble  necessity  of  all  civilized  communities — a  good  article  of  coal.'  6'i»"';/'"'  < 
l!o(d  Minea  of  the  Western  Co<i.st,  p.  15.3. 

'■Ill  the  endeavor  to  establish  tho  comparative  value  of  fuels  for  ^^tiaiii- 
raising  ])urposes,  the  United  States  war  department  give  tho  foUowiiiu  isli 
mate:  One  cord  of  good  oak  wood  was  found  equal  to  1,8(X)  lt)s.  Naiiiiiiiid, 
2,'JOO  lt)s.  Bellingham  ]Jay,  2,400  Ihs.  Seattle,  2,500  Ihs.  Rocky  Mountain,  ^m 
Uis.  Coos  Biiy,  or  2,600  fbs.  Monte  Diablo  coal.  Tlie  average  compositidn  if 
Vancouver  Island  coals  as  deduced  friun  bis  analysis  is  given  by  Harriiigti'" 
as  follows:  Water,  L47;  vol.it;lo  combustible  matter,  slow  coking,  28. 1'l,  fii-t 
coking,  32.09;  fixed  carbon,  slow  coUing,  04.05,  fast  coking,  5U.55;  ash  O.'.l). 


% 


"I    -I* SI 


m 


l.S,    COVCIlli;;^ 

^lui  crc'tacfd- 
)tto  Islands. 
way  of  cdiil 
ill  tlio  C'ltast 
■iierra  Foiit- 
tlier,  coal  is 
11  (iuaiititit-> 
r  situated  as 
ts  in  ()r('L;(iii 
DHiia,  as  a  If 
losu  of  ('al'i- 
1U8  far  |iii- 
iiii<^tou  and 
•cess/  Thv 
^oast  north- 

1  far  l)oariiii4' 
Island  and 
witli  bltu- 
rocks  with 

thus  far  assniiiicl 
W.  A.  (icMMlveur, 

i'Mern  Cixi-^l  to  il.< 
J)ial>l<>  iiiiiies  arc 
iiiiueral  fiicls  he 

otua  COIlsiilciulili; 

are  at  C'cds  ]h\, 
ifo  asscrticiii,  the 
Work  to  any  cuii- 

lias  l)L'cu  rt'tunk'il 
ictropoli.i  in  tli.it 
sources  of  Oregon 

tory,  and  of  lint- 

both  for  its  clii'  i 

f  that  iuili^|iiii.-v 

coal.'  6'i«"/;/"(('< 

'  fuels  for  strain- 
10  foHowin^  csti- 

IX)  lt>s.   Nanai , 

r  Mountain,  -.'.(ilK) 
o  coiiipositiiiii  !•! 
Du  by  Harrington 
okiiiii,  '.'8.1 '.I,  fa.-t 
,  50.55;  a^h  li.'.U 


KlNlJ  AN1>  QUALITY. 


fid? 


Mtuininous  coal,  and  on  Queen  Charlotte  Islands 
liiwtr  cretaeeous,  or  cretaceo-jurassic  rocks  holdiiig 
anthracite." 

KolKit  ]irown  locates  the  secondary  coals  of  Van- 
cduvcr  Island  in  the  foUowinj^  order,  proccedin;.;'  north- 
ward :  In  the  Cheinanis  district  near  tlu;  river  of 
that  name;'  at  the  J  )e  Courcy  Islands,  on  one  of  which 
a  scam  two  feet  in  thickness  was  found;  at  Xaiiaiino, 
wiiere  cretaceous  coals  attain  the  fullest  devdojt- 
iiiciit;  at  l^aynes  Sound  and  vicinity;  at  Sukwasli, 
near  Fort  liupert,  and  across  the  Island,  followinj^  a 
(•(lal  hasin,  to  Quatsino  Sound.** 

James  liichardson,  on  behalf  of  the  geological  sur- 

^ The  most  Rcrutiniziiig  and  able  exposition  of  liriti.sh  Coluinbia  coals,  in 
my  oiiiiiioii,  is  j^ivcii  by  (ieorgo  M.  Itawson  in  tin:  ('(iiint/iiui  J'urijif  Ji'tiilimi/ 
J,'i}uirt,  ri'itriiitecl  in  jiainiililut  form.  Of  westtrn  anthracitio  coals  lie  say.s: 
'  N'aliialile  coal  di'inwits  may,  iiowever,  yet  be  found  in  the  carboiiitVrous  for- 
inatioii  jd'ojier  of  the  far  west;  and  where,  ;is  on  some  jiarts  of  the  wtst  co  st, 
the  cilcareous  roeks  of  this  age  are  largely  replaced  by  aigiUatcous  and  are- 
liaci'iiiis  1"  's,  the  lirobaliility  of  the  discovery  of  eoal  is  giva'est.  I  b.lieve, 
iM'leiil,  that  in  a  few  localities  in  Nevada,  eoal  sliah's,  used  to  some  extent  as 
l\i(  1  in  the  absence  of  better,  are  found  in  rocks  sujiposed  to  be  of  this  age. 
Tin;  iliscoveiy  of  certain  fossils  in  IS7(i  in  the  liiiiesloiies  of  the  lower  Cache 
(  riik  group  now  allow  these,  and  probably  also  the  associated  (piarlzitcs  and 
iitiur  rocks  to  be  corn-lated  with  this  perioil;  and  it  is  worthy  of  mention 
tliat  black  sliales,  with  a  consitler:ible  Jicrcentage  of  anthraeilic  carbon,  occur 
in  ciiiiiiection  with  these  in  several  places,  and  may  yet  be  found  in  some  parts 
of  tiicir  extension,  to  become  of  economic  value.  Mr  Richardson  has  also 
foiiiiil  small  fragments  of  true  antliracite  in  rocks  wiiicli  are  very  probably  of 
this  age,  on  the  shores  of  Cowitchin  Hay;  and  inland,  seams  of  anthracite,  witli 
rcij.ird  to  wiiich  notliiiig  certain  is  yet  known,  are  reported  to  exist.'  An  I 
atj.iin:  'K<pcks  of  the  same  age  with  the  coal-bearing  scries  of  the  (^'iiceii  C'aar- 
liilto  Islands  are  lirobably  present  also  on  the  Mainland,  where  fos.sils  indicat- 
iiii;  a  horizon  both  somewhat  higher  and  a  little  lower  in  the  gcologiial  scale 
lia\c  already  been  found,  and  apparently  occur  in  dillerent  parts  of  a  great 
<'iiiiliirmabl(;  rock  series,  though  this  cannot  yet  be  conlideiitly  stated. 
Tie  su  rocks  are  extensivi-ly  dcveiojied  on  the  eastern  flank  of  the  Coa-t  K  inge, 
near  tiie  heail-waters  of  both  branches  of  the  Homallico,  and  jirobiibly  occur 
ill  considerable  force,  with  a  similar  relation  to  this  axis  of  di.sturbiincu 
tliroiigliout  its  length,  as  the  explorations  of  last  summer  have  led  to  the  ili.i- 
cnveiy  of  rocks  near  the  same  horizon,  on  the  Iltasynuco  and  Salmo;;  ri;  eis, 
in  latitude  52"  50'.'  Diiuvon  on  Minvx,  17-Ht;  ltn<.  Cuii.  J'oc.  li.  /■'.,  1S77, 
i;-'7  :!4. 

'■Coal  has  been  bored  for  here;  but  I  am  not  aware  that,  so  far  as  the 
sinkings  have  progres.sed,  the  sc.ims  have  been  passed  through.'  llr'rrn'x  Cn  l 
!■')' !■/■■<,  10.  This  was  prior  to  ISlii).  The  same  paper  is  given  in  the  Tnin.-ai-- 
fH„i.<  i,f  till'  L'diiili!iri//i  Oiol.  Si,i\,  1,S()8-'J. 

'See  Brown's  map  in  /'(tirniiiiiii'a  Geo;/.  MillheHuiKjen,  1800,  and  Adri- 
rnttfi  (  hurt,  Xo.  171'J.  '  It  is  no  exaggeration,  indeed,  to  say  that  coal  exists  all 
along  the  shores  of  both  colonies;  and  when  any  of  the  inlets  become  of  sulH- 
1  lint  importance  to  make  the  work  remunerative,  there  is  no  doubt  it  will  be 
loniid  in  Working  position  and  sullieieiit  (juantities.'  Maijii<.'6  B.  C,  380. 


\:M 


i'l 

t 

1 

■   ' 

n  1, 

1  ',1 

bC>8 


COAL. 


vey  of  Canada,  examined  tlie  southern  part  of  the 
eastern  .shore  of  Vaneouver  Island  in  1871.  Betwuon 
Cape  Mud<^e  and  within  fifteen  miles  of  Victoria 
there  appeared  to  extend  a  narrow  trough  in  wliiih 
coal  seams  were  apparent  in  twelve  or  fifteen  dif- 
ferent places,  in  five  of  which  were  held  divers  claims 
by  their  respective  companies. 

At  Comox  Harbor  several  claims,  prominent  anidiitr 
whicli  was  tliat  belonsTfini;  to  the  Union  Coal  MiniiiLr 
Coni[)any,  were  taken  up  about  1870.''  Xorth-wtst 
from  the  Union  and  not  far  distant,  several  seams 
were  discovered  and  reported  by  P.  J.  Leech  in  hSlU. 
Sixteen  miles  from  Comox  Harbor,  in  the  same  dircc- 
tion  and  near  the  coast,  was  a  seam  four  feet  in  wi(kli. 
Xear  Comox  was  tlie  Beaufort  mine,  where  was  ^Odd 
hard  coal,  the  seam  being  tliree  feet  and  more  in 
widtli.  It  was  situated  on  the  left  bank  of  Biadky 
Creek,  down  which,  half  a  mile,  a  seam  aj)peared,  and 
half  a  mile  further  another  seam.  These  were  dis- 
covered by  Hemy  Bradley,  one  of  Ricliardson's  men, 
and  uj)on  examination  proved  to  be  from  one  to  two 
feet  wide.  Westward  from  the  point  last  named,  one 
and  a  half  miles  on  Trent  Iliver,  was  a  seam  nine  I'cLt 
in  tliickness.  Not  far  distant  were  tlie  Perseverance 
and  the  Baynes  Sound  claims.^"  To  the  Comox  Basin 
he  gave  a  k'ngtli  of  sixty-four  miles,  or  if  lii'iited  to 
Kookooshun  Point  and  the  Qualicum  Iliver,  forty 
miles. 


I  have  elsewhere  in  this  volume  noticed  the  first 
intelhgvnce  conveyed  by  the  natives  to  the  officers  of 


'  Here  is  '  an  almost  perpendicular  clifif,  which  rises  on  the  north  siilo 
siTiulI  luiiok,  trilmtary  to  tlie  Puntluch  Kivcr,'  where  occur  coal  scan 
(l.'sccucliiig  sections.  '  None  of  the  seams  iii  thi.-i  locality  have  yet  Ueeu  oji 
for  proiluctive  •woikint,'.'  /i'ic/(an/.ioii,  iu  liivt.  (•'col,  liiir.  ( 'niKuht,  1871--,  "( 

'''Oil  the  coast  no  rocks  are  seen  from  the  path  leaiUng  to  the  lJ:iv 
Souinl  claim  all  the  way  to  (ijualicum  River,  a  distiiuce,  in  a  genei.il  so 
ciiitward  course,  of  sixlecn  miles.  But  on  l>eniiiaii  Island,  lyi!i;,'on  the  lU' 
<ast  .side  of  IJaynes  Sound,  there  is  a  continuous  exposure  for  ten  miles,  \\\ 
ii  nearly  the  whole  leii;rtli  of  the  island,  in  an  esear|iment  risiiij;  up  froiii 
to  seventy  feet,  and  niiining  jiretty  iiiueli  willi  the  strike.  liUkunUoii 
J.'cjit.  GcoL  i<ur.  Laiiuda,  Ib71-U,  7'J. 


.f  a 
s  ill 
md 
i  7. 

IIS 

ith- 
mil 

tc'l 


Tr^rr 


1 


bi:a\'er  and  xanai.mo  harbors. 


5()i) 


tho  Hudson's  Bay  Company  of  tlie  existence  of  coal 
ill  tl»e  vicinity  of  Boavtjr  and  Nanaimo  harbors,  and 
the  knowlodufo  of  outcroppings  elsewhere.  Work  at 
liupcit  was  bejji'un  hut  soon  ceased,  the  deposits  being 
too  scattering,  but  at  Xanainio  coal-mining  developed 
into  ^arge  i)r()i>ortions.  The  coal  at  Fort  Rupert  still 
(diitinm'd  to  attract  tlie  curiosity  of  strangers.  The 
Vliiiiipcr  in  18(10  gathered  specimens  which  were  pro- 
nounced by  jSIayne  "(|uite  equal  to  the  Xanainio  coal ; 
and  the  Indians  brought  some  from  the  Mainland 
opjiosite,  which  was  also  very  good." 

Some  work  was  done  at  Quatsino  Harbor  by  the 
Hudson's  Hay  Company,  but  the  seam  opened  being 
hut  eighteen  inches  in  thickness,  the  venture  was 
soon  abandoned  as  unprofitable." 

The  Hudson's  Bay  Company  continued  to  work 
tho  coal  S(;ams  of  Xanainio,  under  the  designation  of 
the  Xanaimo  Coal  Companv,  until  18G1,  when  they 
■sold  the  mines  to  a  number  of  English  gentlemen, 
Avlio  associated  under  the  name  of  Tho  Vancouver 
(\ial  ^Mining  and  Land  (\)mpany,  Limited,^"  tho  mines 
tliereafter  be':'oming  [)opularly  known  as  the  Yan- 
coiivt'r  Collii'rv.  The  company's  land  embraced  0,000 
acres.  A  marked  im|)rovement  in  working  the  mines 
w;is  soon  discov(.'i'ed  under  tlie  new  company.  Xew 
iiiacliinery  was  brouglit  from  England;  new  sliai'ts 
wrie  sunk ;  the  facilities  for  loading  vessels  were  in- 
iivased  by  whai'ves, jetties,  and  barges.  The  Douglas, 
Newcastle,  and  Dunsnmir  veins  were  now  all  success- 
l';illy  worked,  the  first  mentioned  particularly  so,  with 
constant  improvement  in  tlie  (piality,  until  competent 
judges  pronounced  tlie  ])ouglas  vein  but  little  inferior 
to  the  best  Welsh  coal.^'*     Erom  the  J)unsmuir  mine 

" /*'  'OHK   V.  /.,  -17.      't'liiil  has  l)e('ii  founil  in  this  inlit  of  tho  sainu 

iliar.ui  .  ,pi)iiri;ntly  iin  that  at  I'nrt  UuiuTt  anil  Naiiaiiiio,  ami  will  mmw  day 
lie  wnrknl  to  ailvaiitam'.'  /•Vi/-//(w'  L'.tMii/,  'JO. 

'-<■,.], it, il  fl();>,()iK)  in  10,00  (  shar.Mi^i'  tlO  o.'.oli.  Directors.  Hon.  Mr  Jns- 
tici'  il.il.hiiitiin,  (iiiiigcC 'aiiijilii'U,  C.  W.  \V.  Kit/w  iUiani,  .losi'ph  y  Fry,  Jam  s 
V.  II.  Irwin,  and  I'ri  Itau.v  Srlliy.  Ruaidfiit  manager  at  NanaiUio  iii  iMi.'!, 
'.  .1.  Nic.il;  and  in  1,ST7,  Mark  Hate. 

'■'l/o,r/iri/ 11)1(1  Jlttntai'n  J'ircrt.,  1803,  144;  JliUiinuB,  C.  Cw\'e,'S',Mi  Jhiw 
tun  f'l  Mint'.^  I'J. 


m 


* 


1 

570 


COAL. 


II 


tliat  is  to  say  Dunsmuir,  Digj]flo,  and  Company,  or 
tlio  Wellington,  situated  three  miles  soutli-M'est  from 
Departure  Bay,  several  hundred  tons  were  tukun 
about  18GG-7. 

Under  the  management  of  practical  men  and  an 
abundance  of  capital,  the  works  at  Naniamo  progressed 
faxorably.  Indeed,  it  is  noticeable  than  whenever  tiie 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  stepped  aside  from  fur-tradliii,', 
failure  almost  always  followed — instance  the  early 
efforts  at  the  Bed  Biver  settlement,  and  the  agricul- 
tural s}K'Culations  of  the  Puget  Sound  Company  at 
the  Cowlitz  and  Nisqually," 

When  on  the  coast,  the  steam-sloop  Plumper  ct)..  1 
at  Nanaimo  in  December  18y7.^'^  Mayne  rejxirts  along 
the  shore  "the  colliery  buildings,  and  about  a  dozen 
remarkably  sooty  houses  inhabited  by  the  miners  and 
the  few  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  officers  here.  'J'liere 
is  a  r:-sident  doctor  in  the  place,  who  inhabits  one  of 
these  houses,  and  to  the  left  of  them  stands  the  com- 
pany's old  bastion,  on  which  arc  mounted  the  four  or 
five  lioney-cond)ed  twelve-pounders  with  which  the 
great  fur  c  Mipany  have  been  wont  to  awe  the  neigli- 
boring   Indians  into  becoming    respect   and    submis- 


sion 


"  18 


'*  'Tlu'y  niisiiianagcd  affairs  at  Nanaimo,  certainly.'  Mniiut's  D,  ('.,  ."iSi. 
Reporting  aliciut  18(J0,  Nicol,  the  manager,  remarks:  'We  liave  got  tlui  coal 
iu  a  Itoro  nearly  live  feet  tliiek.  J  liave  now  fully  proved  l,()!)(),()dO  tons.  A 
shaft  50  or  o'2  fathoms  deep  M'ill  reach  the  coal;  dip  1  in  7;  a  very  good  work- 
ing seam.  1  have  no  doulit  there  is  another  seam  underlying  this  one,  of  an 
inexhaustible  extent.  I  have  got  tlie  outcrop  inland,  and  from  dip  to  striku, 
I  am  sure  it  is  about  30  fatiioms  helow;  so  tluit  liy  continuing  tiie  same  shaft, 
if  necessary,  anotlier  large  scam  containing  millions  will  lie  arrived  at;  Init 
the  lii'st  seam  will  last  my  life,  even  with  very  Luge  works.  Witii  almiit 
,i'r),(KK)  or  ,i'S,(HM)  I  could  get  along  well,  and  start  a  business  doiuL;  fnn" 
00,(K)i)  to  10l),tM)0  tons  a  year.  The  price  is 'io.f.  to 'JS.v.  alongside  the  sIk|i.' 
Says  iJauermann,  geologist  of  tlie  bouiulary  expedition:  'Two  seams  of  i.iial, 
averaging  six  or  eiglit  feet  each  in  thickness,  occur  in  these  beds,  and  arc  ex- 
tensively worked  for  the  8U[iply  of  the  steamers  running  between  Victoiiaainl 
Fraser  Uiver.  The  coal  is  a  soft  i)lack  lignite,  of  a  dull  earthy  fracture,  inli  r- 
Bpersed  with  small  lenticular  l)ands  of  bright  crystalline  coal,  and  nsi  inlil.s 
Bome  of  the  duller  varieties  of  coal  produced  iu  the  south  Uerbyshuc  and 
otiier  central  coal-lields  iu  Kugland.' 

'■'  'Tiie  only  spot  iu  the  Island  where  the  coul  is  worked,  although  it  aii[icar.s 
ill  sever.il  otiier  places.'  iMiu/iic'/i  li.  C,  3."). 

'"  He  cmnplains  that  the  coal  w:us  'excessively  dirty.'  A  line  cut  of  Xaniimo 
is  given  by  Mayne,  lirit.  CuL,  .'(5,  sliowing  the  fort  and  tlie  coa'-woiks  witii 
the  row  of  cottages  uii  the  bank,  and  a  vessel  loading  coal  at  a  wii-vrl. 


i 


T^T!1P 


W 


I 


PROlJRESS  AT  XANAIMO. 


871 


ompany,  or 
h-west  in  mi 
were    taki'u 

lien  and  an 

()  iirogrcsscd 
liciieviTtiie 
fur-trad'mif, 

t)  the  early 
the  agrieul- 

'^oinpauy  at 

imperayilid 
I'jjorts  aldiiu 
)()ut  a  dovrn 
!  miners  and 
lere.  There 
ihits  one  (if 
ids  the  ('(tni- 
the  four  (ir 
.  wliieli  tlie 
e  the  neii;ii- 
Liid    suhinis- 


>/iic\i  B.  ('.,  .'!S2. 
:ivo  y:ui  tho  coal 
Oi)(),000  tons.  A 
I  vory  godil  wiirk- 
g  tlii.-!  oiiu,  (if  an 
(1111  (lip  til  stiiki:, 
t;  tlie  saiiii.'  slialt, 
0  arrivuil  ,it;  Imt 
ks.  AVith  ^Iiniit 
iiCMs  (loiiiu   liiim 

llgsi(l(J    tlu'    slli]!.' 

i()  scams  of  I'lial, 
liL'iU,  ami  ai'c  ex- 
i't'c'ii  Victoiiaanil 
y  fracture,  iiitrr- 
,1,  ami  rc'.^i  laM.s 
Dcrhysliuv  ami 

ihougliitainiears 

oout  of  Naiiaiiiiii 
0(ia' -works  wiih 
;  H  \vi/-irf. 


^ 


Captain  Richards  of  the  Plumper,  reports  to  the 
governor  of  Vancouver  Island  in  October  1858:  "A 
good  pier  has  lately  been  built,  alongside  of  v/hieh 
vt  ssels  may  lie  and  coal  with  great  facility.  As  iiiueli 
as  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  have  been  taken  by  one 
vessel  in  a  day,  and  several  vessels  together  iniglit 
take  in  the  same  quantity.  Several  thousand  tons 
are  ready  for  shipping,  and  the  miners  easily  keep 
tliat  quantity  on  hand."  James  Hector,  geologist 
under  Palliser,  1859,  writes:  "Already  it  is  exten- 
sively used  by  the  British  navy  on  that  station,  and  it 
was  found  to  require  only  a  sliglit  modification  in  the 
nietliod  of  feeding  the  fires  to  make  it  highly  eflective 
as  a  steam-generator."  ^' 

Pemberton  says  tliere  were  fifty  buildings  and  two 
sieam-engines  at  Nanaimo  in  IWOO.  According  to 
Forbes  tliree  mines  were  being  worked  in  18G2,  New- 
castle Island,  Number  Three  l*it,  and  Parkliead  Level 
and  Slo})e.^^ 

For  the  further  advancement  of  the  coal  interest 
thus  everywliere  a))j)earing,  an  ordinance  was  issued 
in  I8G9,  under  which  by  special  license  any  person 
(11'  association  might  seek  for  coal  for  the  time  desig- 
iiaied,  and  if  successful  obtain  a  crown  grant  for  the 
la: "i  iij'.der  certain ccMiditions.  The  ])rospecting  license, 
t'  1  w'l'i-li  a  small  fee  was  paid,  entitled  the  holder  to 
ex  i u  "i  :e  rights  of  search  within  presicribed  limits. 
Tliu  ilcslred  grant  of  land  was  obtained  on  tliese  terms, 
foHoNvl';  Anderson:  *']^\)r  any  quantity  up  to  and 
iiieiuding  one  thousand  acres,  at  the  price  of  {\\v  dol- 
lar.-. ]»er  acre,  provided  always  that  on  proof  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  government  that  the  sum  of  ijj!  10,000 
lias  been  beneticially  expended  on  any  land  held  under 
prospecting  license  for  coal,  a  grant  of  (,»ne  thousand 

"  Sco  London  Qunr.    Jour.,  Oeoij.    Soc,  Nov.    18(50;  McDohhIiCh  li.   C, 

;:,v  7:). 

'  From  wliicli  tlin.'o  niiiics  for  tlio  year  endiiii,'  Ajiril   ISllO,  14.4."),")  tima 

' t'  iikim   liy    173   vessels;    tlit^   yiMr   following    llt.'.KI,)    tons   Wiru    raised. 

I'liic  .•?()  or  .'?7;  iiumluT  of  iiiuii  at  this  time  emiiloycil  llH.   .Sec  i'urliv/t'  Ei.iiiij, 
is,  lii),  .'J7-8,  li'.';  JiiUtruy'n  V.  /.,  S'.t,  Kil';  M>-l)umld'<t  Lcciure,  uO. 


':   i 


i 


572 


CO.VL. 


''      '^    If 

im  |i 


acres  of  tlie  land  held  under  such  prospecting  llcen^o 
sluill  be  issued  to  the  company  holding  it  without  pay- 
n)ent  of  the  upset  price  of  such  land.  In  other  words, 
they  receive  viriuclly  a  bonus  of  $5,000  in  considera- 
tion of  the  preliminary  expenditure  of  the  larger  sum." 

"  When  I  was  in  the  bush,"  writes  Robert  Duiis- 
muir  to  H.  L.  Langevin,  minister  of  public  works, 
"in  the  month  of  October  18G9,  not  exactly  for  tlie 
purj  ;  •  >  Pvi"<'Spec<ing  for  coal,  but  being  thoroughly 
acquuii  from    past   experience  with   all   the  coal 

formatioi  n  this  country,  I  came  across  a  ridge  of 
rock,  which  I  knew  to  be  the  strata  overlying  tlie 
lowest  scam  that  had  as  yet  been  discovered  here.  A 
sliort  time  afterwards  I  sent  two  men  to  prospect,  and 
in  three  days  discovered  a  seam  of  coal  three  and  a 
half  feet  in  thickness,  thirty  feet  below  the  tops  itf 
the  ridge,  dipping  south-east  one  foot  in  six.  Aiter 
procuring  from  government  a  right  to  further  pros- 
pect, I  sunk  a  slope  ninety-seven  and  two-thirds  yuids 
in  the  seam,  and  mined  therefrom  about  500  tons, 
tM^enty-five  tons  of  which  w^ere  taken  on  board  of 
H.  INI.  S.  Boxer  for  trial.  The  same  quantities  were 
taken  from  tlie  Vancouver  Coal  Company's  Douglas 
Pit  and  New  Castle  Mine." 

Andrew  Watt,  the  engineer  of  the  Boxer,  made  a 
lengthy  report  which  pronounced  in  favor  of  the 
Dunsmuir.^'^  In  several  otlier  places  Mr  Dunsnnur 
found  coal,  onco  among  the  roots  of  a  fallen  tree,  under 
which  w^as  a  valuable  seam.  His  estimate  of  the  yield 
of  his  field  was  7,000  tons  to  the  acre. 

When  at  Xanaimo  in  1871,  Richardson  found  E. 
E.  Emery  raising  gray  sandstone  for  the  new  mint 
building  at  San  Francisco  from  the  quarry  opened  on 
their  claim  by  the  Vancouver  Company,^"  who  were 

"  '  With  Dunsmuir  coal  the  throttle  was  nearly  wide  open,  with  New  Ciistle 
and  Douglas  from  one  third  to  one  half  open.'  The  firat  made  less  soot  iiml 
less  dirt  tlian  the  others.   Laiujemn's  B.  C,  12. 

^''  '  Six  Idoiks  for  pillars  had  been  procured  from  the  ten-feet  bcil,  one  (if 
M'hieh  was  luiug  dressed  into  shape  for  use.  When  finiuheil,  the  lengtli  ot  tlie 
l)illars  would  be  27i  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  3  feet  10  inches.     Mr  Euiery  wm 


VANCOUVER,  HAREWOOD,  AND  WELUNGTON. 


573 


'  who  Wire 


working  with  small  stcam-cngincs  the  two  scams  on 
Xowcastlo  Iriland,  where  little  had  been  done  for  some 
time  past.  Piled  on  the  wharf  were  several  hundred 
toi'iS  of  coal,  whence  an  occasional  schooner  or  steamer 
was  supplied.  The  main  works  of  this  company,  how- 
ever, were  at  Nanaimo,  distant  from  the  Newcastle 
Island  works  two  miles.  Here  work  has  been  more 
continuous  for  the  past  twenty  years  than  on  New- 
castle Island,  40,000  tons  being  taken  out  in  1870 
against  14,000  tons  in  18G0.  Richardson  places  the 
area  of  the  Nanaimo  coal-field,  which  includes  st^veral 
minor  and  unworked  scams,  at  about  ninety  scjuare 
miles,  having  a  length  from  Gabriola  Island  to  the 
Dunsmuir  claim  of  sixteen  miles  by  a  breadth  of  six 
miles 

Sproat  returns  241  miners  in  1072,  the  entire  pop- 
ulation then  numbering  1,000.  Wages  at  that  time 
were  from  one  dollar  for  Chinese  and  Indians  to  four 
dollars  for  white  men  per  diem.^^ 

Early  in  1874,  T.  A.  Buklcy  began  operations  three 
or  four  miles  back  of  Nanaimo,  on  what  was  afterward 
known  as  the  Hare  wood  Coal  Mine,  which  holds  land 
to  tlie  extent  of  nine  thousand  acres.  Ca  \  aeron  Island 
ill  Nanaimo  Harbor  is  the  point  of  shipment  for  this 
mine. 

In  1077  there  were  three  companies  at  work  in 
tlio  Nanaimo  district,  the  Vancouver,  tlie  Wellington, 
and  the  Harewood,  the  first  working  two  scams,  six 
and  three  feet  in  thickness  respectively.  The  Wel- 
lington Company  worlvod  one  scam  nine  and  a  half 
feet  thick,  and  held  aiiotlier  six  feet  in  thickness. 
They  had  three  wharves,  with  all  the  facilities  for 
loading  vessels.     The  Harewood  seam  was  five  or  six 

also  quarrying  flag-stones  from  the  ]2-feet  bed,  from  which  are  ohtaiticd  very 
eviMi-siirfuced  slaba,  from  oiio  to  six  inc'.ios  thick.  One  of  tho  latter  tl.ic'.cnc:!  i, 
wliicli  I  measured,  was  t<!n  feet  square.'  Itichanlson,  iu  liuiit.  O'eol.  >iiii:  Can- 
nila,  1871-2,  84. 

^''Tlie  cou,l  shipped  by  tins  company  during  the  ten  years  ending  Slat 
Decombcr  1872,  reached  3;i3,3;)5  tons,  nc-irly  one  half  of  which  was  for  tlio 
l^in  Francisco  market.'  Sprual'a  Ji.  C'.,  78.  See  alao  Andemoiin  Vom.  o/ the 
"'fji<,  84,  and  app.,  ii.-iii. 


i  r 


?*  I 


F' 


lip 


ill 


574 


(•OAK 


feet  thick. '^^  From  the  Vancouver  and  Wcllln'^tr-n 
mines  coal  was  carried  to  the  wharf  by  short  steam 
railways;  the  Harewood  mine  used  an  elevated  wire 
tramway. 

Under  a  judiciously  combined  system  of  capital 
and  labor  Nanairno  has  developed  into  a  busy  incor- 
poratc>d  town.  Beautifully  situated  with  bright  skies, 
pure  air,  and  seaboard  attractions  and  utilities,  with 
schools,  churches,  municipal  council,  and  member  of 
parliament,  it  presents  little  of  that  booty,  opaque 
appearance,  either  physical  or  moral,  so  common  to 
the  colliery  villages  of  England.  From  the  first  the 
Vincouver  company,  of  which  the  manager  is  some- 
times maj'or,  as  was  the  case  with  Mark  Bate  in  1877, 
adopted  a  wise  and  humane  policy,  selling  lots  at  low 
prices  so  that  the  poor  might  have  a  home,  ami 
encouraging  settlement  and  improvement  by  various 
means. 

A  trough  of  coal-bearing  rocks  had  been  conjec- 
tured in  regard  to  Queen  Charlotte  Islands  not  wholly 
unlike  that  before  mentioned  on  Vancouver  Islaiul 
It  is  said  to  extent!  from  the  northern  part  of  Morsoby 
Island  northward  eighty-four  miles.  Besides  the 
Queen  Charlotte  Company's  mine  at  Cowgltz,  in 
SkiJegate  Channel,  for  some  time  past  anthracite 
has  been  known  to  exist  at  Cumshewas  Harbor,  and 
Masset  at  the  northern  end  of  the  islands. 

Robert  Brown,  botanist  of  the  British  Coluuiltla 
exploring  expedition,  visited  the  Queen  Charlotte 
Islands  in  18G6  in  company  with  a  party  of  miners 
who  went  thither  to  examine  the  coal  deposits  of  that 

^'' '  The  coal  is  worked,  I  believe,  on  the  pillar  and  stall  system,  though  parts 
of  the  seam  liave  been  so  steeply  inclined  as  to  require  stoping.  Tlie  iiiiutrs 
cniploycil  are  whiten,  Chinese,  and  Indians.  Mr  Good  states  the  nuniliir  of 
oach  for  the  year  1875  to  be  as  follows;  whites,  390;  Chinese,  170;  Indiaiw, 
51;  giving  a  total  of  023.  The  wages  earned  by  the  whites  vary  from  two 
dollars  to  five  dollars  a  day;  by  the  Chinese  and  Indians,  from  cue  ddllar  to 
oio  dollar  and  a  half.'  The  total  output  of  the  Nanaimo  mines  for  187^  »iui 
in,145  tons;  for  1870,  140,187  tons;  price  at  the  mine,  five  or  six  ddlltit; 
of  iSon  Francisco,  ton  dollars.  IUhbeii's  Guide  B.  C,  98;  JJuwson  on  Mhw',  '.0. 


!«  ■* 


w^ 


QUEEN'  CHARLOTTE  IfLANl'S 


575 


section,  At  Skidcgate  Bay  where  was  then  the  chic  f 
(iL'velopment  he  spent  several  weeks.  "Two  rival  par- 
tics  of  miners  were  there  prospecting,"  he  says,  "and 
one  of  them  had  driven  an  adit  into  the  hill-side  some 
two  or  three  hundred  feet  above  the  sea-level." ^^ 

Tliese  early  prospectors  were  at  first  unsuccessful. 
Xi)\v  and  then  tlie  pick  would  strike  a  block  of  good 
anthracite,^*  but  for  the  most  part  it  upturned  only 
"a  material  not  unlike  wet  or  damp  gunpowder." 
Later  they  were  more  successful,  so  much  so  that  a 
company  was  formed  at  Victoria,  called  the  Queen 
Charlotte  Coal  Mining  Company,  which  began  opera- 
tions there,  but  were  obliged  to  abandon  tliem  on 
account  of  the  irregularity  of  the  deposit. 

llichardson  was  tliere  in  1872,  and  reported  that 
the  best  seam,  which  for  GO  or  70  feet  had  a  thickness 
of  six  feet,  was  lost  in  shale  and  limestone.  Tliere  was 
another  bed  of  good  anthracite,  two  and  a  half  feet 
taick,  and  many  smaller  seams  discovered  in  various 
directions.  This  was  on  the  north  side  of  Skidegatc 
Channel.  On  the  south  side,  fourteen  miles  south- 
east from  Cowgitz,  where  tJie  Queen  Charlotte  Com- 
pany had  opened  their  mines,  the  existence  of  anthracite 
was  reported  by  the  natives.'"  "  Nothing  can  be  better 

-■' '  Here  they  had  gone  through  a  great  lied  of  coarse  conglomerate,  a  fine 
hard  slate  whea  the  coal  was  reached.  This  coiiglonierato  was  in  every 
lusjicet  siniihir  to  that  associated  with  the  Nanaiino  coalfields;  but  the  slate 
was  peculiar.'  Brown's  Coat  Fields,  20. 

'^*  At  the  government  assay  office,  New  Westminster,  an  analysis  made  hy 
I 'huK let  showed  carbon,  71.20;  moisture,  5.10;  volatile  conilni:itil)le  matter, 
17.-7;  ash,  C.43,  which  brings  it  close  to  Pennsylvania  anthracite.  The  chief 
oiigincer  of  the  United  States  navy,  B.  F.  Isherwood,  gives  as  the  result  of 
Ills  experiments  at  the  Mare  Island  navy-yard,  on  some  of  the  coals  of  the 
West  luul  east  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  their  relative  strength  and 
(:i.(iii(iuiio  vaporization  under  various  conditions  of  combustion,  among  other 
vishiaJile  information,  the  relative  weights  of  steam  obtainable  from  equ.-il 
hulks:  From  a  cubic  foot  of  I'enusylvauia  anthracite,  at  a  slow  rate  of  com- 
liustidu,  471.51  lbs.;  Queen  Charlotte  Islands  anthracite,  309.37;  Welsli, 
5.id.!12;  Rocky  Mountain,  Monte  Diablo,  Coos  Bay,  and  Seattle,  319.98;  Bel- 
lingluun  Bay,  371.80;  Nanaimo,  372.04;  Nanaiino  colco,  192.47.  See  /.v/kt- 
ivou. !'.•<. Report,  in  E.r.  Dor.  No.  i'OG,  1871-2,  SdSe.is.,  4J(l  Comj.,  passim. 

'■*  'Tliis  would  give  an  extent  of  at  least  twenty  miles  to  the  coal-bearing 
strata  which  have  thus  been  partially  examined,  and  the  facts  mentioned  iudi- 
citi'  a  general  presence  of  coal  in  it,  however  nmch  what  may  be  considered 
the  same  seams  may  vary  in  their  distances  from  one  another  on  the  strike,  in 
t!i 'if  thicknesa  and  their  qualities.'  Uichardsou,  iu  Geol.  Sur.  Canada,  1872-3, 
5!>-tiO. 


! 


f'W 


IS :  :•;■'. 


f  \{  ■ 


!«-( 


:]: 


p 

f     M 

ItJ 

■   '       t 

-     i.j  ;- 

•S^j 

57(3 


COAL. 


or  more  substantially  constructed,"  reports  Ricliard- 
son,  "than  the  wharf,  the  houses,  traniways,  incliiK's, 
dumping-sheds,  and  tunnels  of  the  Queen  Charlotte 
Coal  Mining  Company,  and  it  is  much  to  he  regretted 
that  their  efforts  have  not  been  more  sueeessful." 

Extensive  deposits  were  reported  discovered  on 
Skeena  River  by  Downie  in  IBSS).-'"  "I  saw  seiinis 
of  coal  to-day,"  writes  an  explorer  on  Simpson  liiver 
to  Governor  Douglas,  "fifteen  feet  thick,  better  than 
any  mined  at  Vancouver." 

The  coals  of  Baynes  Sound  and  vicinity  are  pro- 
nounced by  some  better  than  that  of  Nanaimo,  hut 
the  harbor  facilities  are  much  inferior.^'  Before  18(!9 
this  regit)n  had  been  thoro\ighly  prospected. 

The  Baynes  Sound  Colliery  Company,  Limited, 
having  5,000  acres  of  coal  lands,  began  operations  ten 
miles  south-east  from  Comox  in  187(>.  By  the  expira- 
tion of  the  following  year,  a  narrow-guage  tramway 
from  the  mine  to  tide-water,  three  and  a  half  miles, 
had  been  constructed,  with  a  locomotive,  cars,  and  a 
wharf  with  two  sliutes.^^  A  saw-mill  was  built,  a  town 
site  surveyed  to  which  was  given  tlie  name  Quadra, 
and  a  store,  drinking-shop,  hotel,  and  pcjst-otiiee  erected 
for  the  aceonunodation  of  the  dozen  settlers  who  were 
there  in  1877. 

At  Burrard  Inlet,  coal  was  foimd  by  Henry  X. 

^^  '  The  Skeena  River  is  said  to  pass  through  an  extensive  coal  formation, 
with  coal  beds  3  to  35  feet  thick.  This  may,  however,  be  lignite.'  Dun'mu 
on  Mini-i,  44. 

'■"  '  Tlie  eoal  here  is  of  better  quality  than  at  Xanaiino,  and  producoa  ex- 
cellent coke.'  JlroirnnCoiilFieldH,  13.  'Tliut  dukix  area  haopiobably  agreaUr 
extent  of  productive  measures,  and  may  eventually  liecoiue  nioro  iiiipurtaiit 
than  Nanaimo.'  Damon  on  Min&i,  20. 

**  'The  mine  is  opened  from  the  bank  of  a  small  river,  adit.or  level  fieo, 
from  Avlience  the  coal  is  delivered  into  bunkers  near  the  mouth  of  tliu  mlit. 
From  tlie  bunkers  it  is  let  into  the  cJirs  and  delivered  on  shipboard  witl.out 
being  again  handled.  The  bunkers  already  constructed  have  a  capacity  of 
'2,()00  tons.  There  are  two  coal-seams  being  worked,  one  overlying  the  dtlRr. 
Tl'.e  lower  seain  is  seven  feet  thick,  and  the  upper  one  six  feet.  The  coal  in 
tiio  upper  seam  is  very  similar  to  the  Douglas  seam  of  Nanaimo,  wliik'  tliat 
in  the  lower  seam  appears  to  differ  from  all  the  otlier  coals  art  yet  discovered 
on  the  Liland.  It  is  a  dense  hard  coal,  free  froui  sulphur,  gives  a  ileiis; 
hurd  coke,  and  requires  a  strong  draft  to  ignite  it.'  B.  C  Gukle,  1877-S,  107. 


iV  4: 


ilH 


OUTPUT  AND  PRICES. 


f)77 


Peers;  and  in  1859  six  bajj^s,  taken  by  the  Plumper 
from  the  outcrop  from  a  place  whicli  was  called  Coal 
Harbor,  were  ])ronounced  by  the  en<:^inecr  of  fair 
(|uality.  Coal  was  likewise  seen  in  the  delta  of  Fraser 
Kiver,  but  even  if  the  bed  was  of  any  importance  the 
woter  could  scarcely  be  excluded  so  that  it  could  be 
worked.  '" 

The  minister  of  mines  reporting  in  1875  is  pleased 
to  notice  the  increase  of  the  output  of  that  year  over 
the  year  previous.  He  places  the  yield  for  1874  at 
81,000  tons,  and  that  of  1875  at  110,000  tons.  All 
the  coal-mines  then  being  worked  in  British  Columbia 
were  at  or  in  the  vicinity  of  Nanaimo,  The  diamond 
drill  was  brought  into  requisition  in  searching  for 
fresh  seams  bv  an  en<;ineer  broujjht  from  Enjjjland 
for  tliat  purpose. 

Ill  1870  fire  broke  out  in  the  Wellington  mine, 
causing  some  damage.  Tlie  Bayncs  Sound  and  Hare- 
wood  mines  that  yea**  bef^m  putting  their  coals  in 
market,  and  the  price  throughout  the  province  gener- 
allv  was  reduced  from  ten  and  eleven  dollars  to  eiijht 
dollars  and  seventy-five  cents. 

The  depression  of  the  market  at  San  Francisco, 
witli  other  causes,  resulted  in  the  cessation  of  opera- 
tions at  the  Harewood  in  1877;  notwithstanding  which 
the  out])ut  for  this  year  was  15,000  tons  more  thau 
tiiat  of  187G. 

By  act  of  the  legislative  assembly,  April  18,  1877, 
tlie  coal-mines  of  British  Columbia  were  placed  under 
stringent  and  healthful  regulations.  By  tliis  act  women 
and  girls  are  not  allowed  to  work  under  ground,  nor 
aiiv  bov  under  twelve  years  of  auje;  and  wlien  a  bov 
under  fourteen  is  employed  by  reason  of  the  th"  mess 
<tf  the  seam,  or  from  any  other  cause,  to  work  below 
ground,  he  shall  not  so  work  more  than  five  days  of 

-' MrDonald  is  quite  mistaken  wlicn  lie  says,  .Brit.  Col.,  S!?,  'Tlie  first 
ilisciiviiy  iiiiide  of  this  mineral  in  British  Columl)ia,' meaning  thoruhy  the 
M.iiiil  i.i'l,  'was  at  BurrarJ's  Inlet,  six  miles  from  New  WestiniuHte;-,  about 
lliruc  yuar.s  a;;o.' 

llisr.  Bkit.  Col.    37 


' 


578 


COAL. 


¥ 


ml 


six  hours  each  in  any  one  week.  Wages  must  not  be 
paid  in  a  liquor  saloon;  persons  paitl  according  t(i 
quantity  raised  might  nominate  their  own  clu.ck- 
weigher;  single  sliafts  were  prohibited,  except  iu 
opening  or  proving  a  mine  or  other  specified  cu.scs. 
Then  the  act  tells  how  a  mine  shall  be  divided  into 
parts;  how  examiners  for  granting  certificates  of  com- 
petency to  managers,  and  how  managers  shall  be  ap- 
pointed, and  in  which  appointment  the  greatest  care  is 
to  be  taken  by  the  board  and  by  tlie  minister  that  oiilv 
competent,  experienced,  and  temperate  persons  shall 
be  selected.  Annual  returns  nmst  be  made  to  tliu 
minister  of  mines;  notice  must  be  given  of  all  acci- 
dents; and  when  a  mine  is  abandoned  the  grounds 
must  be  fenced.  Inspectors  were  to  be  appointed  who 
should  make  their  annual  report;  and  provisions  were 
made  for  the  regulation  of  arbitration,  and  the  hokliiiy' 
of  coroners'  inquests  on  accidental  deaths.  Pages  of 
rules  and  penalties  follow,  rules  concerning  ventila- 
tion, fencing,  stations,  withdrawal  of  men  in  time  of 
danger,  safety-lamps,  blasting,  water,  man-holes,  roofs, 
slides,  signalling,  working  shaft,  machinery,  engines, 
breaks,  gauges,  barometer,  wilful  damage,  ins[)ectioii 
by  both  employers  and  employed,  and  so  on  at  length. 

Summarizing  the  results  of  coal  and  lignite  discov- 
eries in  British  Columbia  to  1877,  we  have,  beginninij 
on  the  coast  at  the  north,  the  reported  discoveries  of 
Downie  on  Skeena  River;  the  specimens  of  anthra- 
cite brouofht  from  Masset,  the  anthracitic  seams  dcvel- 
oped  at  Cowgitz,  and  the  anthracite  reported  by  the 
natives  on  the  soutli  side  of  Skidegate  Channel,  all 
on  Queen  Charlotte  Islands;  the  bituminous  coal  at 
Beaver  Harbor,  near  Fort  Rupert,  and  a'c  Quatsino 
Sound;  specimens  brought  by  the  natives  to  the 
Plumper  while  at  Fort  Rupert,  from  the  Mainland 
opposite;  the  discoveries  and  developments  in  the 
Comox,  Baynes  Sound,  Valdes  Inlet,  and  Nanaimo 
districts;  on  the  north  side  of  Cowitchin  Bay  and  the 


SUMMARY. 


579 


interior;  specimens  mentioned  by  Brown  from  the 
Clieinanis  district,  and  from  the  De  Courcy  Islands ; 
the  lioad  of  Alberni  Canal;  at  Saanich,  a  very  infe- 
rior quality;  at  Soke,  a  shallow  boring  passing  through 
Olio  inch  of  coal,  near  the  coast  west  of  Soke  Inlet 
and  buck  of  Barclay  Sound;  specimens  shown  by  the 
natives  at  Nitinat;  at  Burrard  Inlet,  in  the  delta  of 
the  Fraser,  and  between  Burrard  Inlet  and  Howe 
Sound;  in  which  vicinity  in  the  flat  lands  thin  seams 
of  lignite,  probably  of  upper  tertiary  formation,  ap- 
poni-;  farther  back,  on  the  lower  Fraser,  particularly 
mar  Langley,  thin  seams  of  bituminous  coal  are  found 
probably  in  lower  tertiary  beds;  on  the  Chilliwack 
River,  five  miles  from  the  Fraser,  Dawson  reports 
Litmiiinous  coal  of  good  quality;  also  at  the  junction 
of  Nicola  and  Coldwater  rivers,  and  at  several  other 
jiliu M,;s  on  the  latter  stream ;  on  the  north  Thompson 
Kivor,  forty-five  miles  above  Kamloop;  in  the  vicinity 
of  Ijilloet;  lignite  at  Guichon  Creek,  near  Nicola 
River;  on  the  south  branch  of  the  Similkameen  above 
the  l*assyton,  and  again  four  miles  above  Vermilion 
Fork,  and  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Similkameen, 
three  miles  above  Vermilion  Fork;  more  lignite  at 
tlie  Cold  Spring  House  on  Lightning  Creek;  on  the 
Fraser  between  Soda  Creek  and  Fort  George,  and  at 
Quesiiel ;  coal  on  Bear  River  near  latitude  54°,  on 
Peace  and  Pine  rivers,  described  in  Selwyn's  Report, 
1870-0;  on  Simpson  River  ;  lignite  on  Parsnip  River; 
on  the  lower  Nechaco  River,  east  of  Fraser  Lake ; 
on  tile  upper  Nechaco,  south-west  from  Fraser  Lake, 
and  on  the  streams  Black  water,  Chilaco,  Nasco,  and 
Piuichaisco.*' 

''  Those  desirous  of  investigating  further  the  coal  interest  of  the  Northwest 
Coast  may  consult  McKay  n  /ice,  MS.,  10,  11  ;  Dnuijlag'  I'nwUe  Papers,  MS., 
iiiscr.,  oO-O;  Dcann  Settlement  V.  I.,  MS.,  20;  li.  C.  Sketches,  MS.,  passim; 
Miirfarlaiie's  CcHil  Regions  of  A  m. ,  passim;  C'ormodllis'  New  El  JJonulo,  43,  wliicli 
says:  '  (,'oal  abounds  over  the  whole  of  the  north-eastern  territory,  that  is  to 
say,  from  Cheslaker's,  latitude  50°  3(i',  to  Cape  Scott  at  its  southern  extremity; ' 
JJthv/d-i/'s  Cnnadn  on  the  Pacific,  170;  Pacific  Railroad  lief lorts,  i.  473,  ami  vi. 
I>2  4;  Home  Commons  Returns  tn  Three  Addresses,  7;  Bla/nshnrd,  m  House  Com. 
Ji'ji/..  'J8ti ;  Dunn's  Or.Ter.,  '240,-  Oramt,  in  fjondon  Oetxfraphical  Society,  Jour- 
mi,  x.xvii.  275-315  ;   Victors  All  over  Oregon  nndWashington,  337;  Rept.  Cam., 


\     ! 


;1 


If.l 


880 


COAL. 


grth  Conij.,  .1(1  fJran.,  IT.  Pepl.  SI,  35,  where  Mr  ■Baylies  says  in  1812:  'Cal  in 
prodiyiou's  ijuantitirs  has  already  been  discovered;'  WULck'  Xnr.  U,  S.  lU. 
}.lor,  Lx.,  iv.  passim;  S.ilh  Voii<j.,  3d  Ses».,  U.  S.  11.  liCpt.  171,  i.  'J;  Ex.  Ihr. 
No.  200,  4.2d  CoiKi.,  2d  Sisn.,  11.  IlvjiC,  'JOC,  x.;  U.  S.  Connnerro  .S/al.,  IS(i;i, 
103;  Mniino'nU.  'v.,2o,?,~iQ-^'2;  Gniij'-i  Hist.  Or.,  V.V.);  Ooodiimr'nCoal  Miw<, 
passim;  li.  V.  Dircctury,  1803,  50, 142-3;  Pemb,-rton'«  V.  /.,43-8;  Forhcn  i:<.nii, 
18,  'JO;  Mncdonald'H  Lecture,  00;  lUiUrm/H  V.I.,  89,  102;  Mwdoii(ilil\  li.  r., 
37,  307;  IMwKon  on  Mines,  17-27;  Guide  li.  C,  1S77-8,  4,  49-00,  97-IOi),  :i;!(i, 
Imray'a  SaVinrj  JJirccHona  IV,  Const  iV.  Am.,  27S;  Coiinol.  I.at(:.<,  U.  C,  ISTT, 
4CI-%;  Statutes  D.  C  1878,  C9;  Ilept.  Min.  Mines,  187.VC,  and  1877,  lassini; 
Sproat'.^  li.  C,  G,  22,  77-9j  Andtmon'a  JJom.  West,  84-0,  app.  ii.,  iii.;  Finn- 
iii'/t  IleptH.  Stir.  Van,  I'uc.  liailway,  passim;  Brown's  Coat  lii'.td.^,  passim;  and 
Lanqcvin's  U.  C,  11-13,  80-7,  129-31;  Compton'tt  B.  C,  MS.,  (lassim;  rirVo/h 
Cc'.onist,  Aug.  10,  1804,  July  17,  1800,  March  22,  May  17,  1871,  -Ian.  21>,  1^7:), 
April  22,  1874,  etc.;  VkloriaStandard,  April  23,  25,  May  8,  June  I,  Au^.  I'.i, 
Nov.  19,  May  14,  23,  1877;  Brillih  Goltimbian,.]\xi\e  .5,  1S07;  HecUtle  Ti-ihunc, 
Feb.  23,  1877;  Mining  Maij.,  i.  309-10;  Com.  lid.,  1808,  293-7;  and  BuyLfi 
r.  /.,  M^.,  11-14. 

Among  other  works  consulted  in  the  preceding  chapters  may  be  mentiimi  il 
J),  a.  and  r.  /.,  by  W.  C.  llazlitt,  and  The^  Great  Gold  I'iilds  of  Cur,',,,:,, 
with  an  Authentic  Description  of  B.  C.  and  V,  I.,  by  the  same  author.  Thj 
former,  which  is  compiled  from  various  authorities,  and  consists  larjiely  nf 
quotations,  gives  brief  sketches  of  early  voyages,  of  native  life  and  lialiit:, 
of  the  resources  of  tlie  country,  and  of  the  gohl  discovery.  In  the  latti  r  w.; 
have  a  well-written  account,  containing  all  the  reliable  information  thr'i  ik- 
cessible  to  the  author,  who  was  not  a  resident  of  either  colony.  IJot 
umcs  appear  to  have  boon  written  mainly  for  the  information  of  ii 
emigrants.  V.  I.  and  B.  C,  Where  They  are,  What  They  are,  ai 
They  7nay  Become,  by  A.  Rattray,  M.  D.,  Edin.,  li.  X.,  is  a  cleverly  m.  ,  i 
little  book,  which  shows  that  its  author  has  been  at  some  pains  to  iiiquiro 
into  tlio  condition  and  prospects  of  the  two  colonics,  I'roniinenco  \a  ;;i'.  tij, 
however,  to  V.  I.,  and  the  object  of  the  work  is  apparently  to  display,  lu  Vm 
most  favorable  light,  its  advantages  for  settlement.  As  indicated  in  tiu'  litlt. 
page,  the  subject-matter  treats,  not  so  mucli  of  what  had  lieen,  a.s  of  \.  iuit 
waj  to  be;  and  comparing,  as  I  turn  over  its  pa^es,  the  colored  litlio.;i:i[H  i 
of  Hope  and  Yale,  I  cannot  but  admit  that  the  predictions  of  the  autlwjr  li:.\o 
already  been  measurably  fulfilled.  When  and  after  the  gold  cxcituiiniit 
brought  the  mainland  into  prominence,  the  journals  of  th<!  Pacific  coast  wen 
teeming  with  paragraphs  and  articles  touching  the  El  Dorado  of  lliiii  !i 
America,  though  before  1853  I  find  but  scant  refei'cnce  to  eitiicr  colony.  IVr 
items  and  comments,  see,  among  others,  S.  F.  Bulletin,  .July  12,  Dec.  •">,  lS.".."i; 
March  22,  1850;  Apr.  24,  May  7.  IS,  Juno  3,  5,  8,  9,  11,  12,  18,  1!),  21,  •-'-•,  A 
28,  30,  July  2,  3,  0,  7,  8,  9,  12,  15,  10,  17,  19,  23,  20,  .'JO,  Aug.  2,  7,  18,  \'X2:',, 
24,  27,  Sept.  1,  2,  3,  G,  7,  9,  17,  25,  29,  Oct.  1,  4,  12,  13,  IS,  23,  20.  .'!:),  Nov. 
2,  4,  5,  10,  12,  13,  17,  22,  23,  24,  29,  30,  Dec.  G,  8,  9,  20,  21,  22,  2t.  27,  JS, ,!  i, 
31,  1858;  Jan.  3,  11,  12,  13,  14,  19,  20,  29,  Feb.  15,  17,  23,  .March  3,  8,  HI,  i:, 
21,  25,  29,  .10,  Apr.  1,  1,5,  18,  2,3,  23,  30,  May  12,  1,3,  14,  17,  IS,  .30,  31,  June 
10,  11,  1.3,  14,  24,  July  13,  15,  29,  .30,  Aug.  1,  11,  25,  20,  Sept.  30,  On.  li, 
Nov.  30,  Dec.  14,  23,  1859;  Apr.  18,  July  0,  Aug.  20,  Sept.  27,  Oct.  1-^,  -M, 
1800;  May  31,  Juno  11,  14,  July  2,  15,  Sept.  2,  Oct.  17,  1801;  Jan.  .30,  .Miudi 
e,  22,  31,  Apr.  4,  21,  May  9,  10,  13,  20.  27,  June  9,  14,  24,  July  II.  10,  ■22.  J:), 
Aug.  1,  Oct.  13,  23,  27,  31,  Dec.  15,  1802;  Feb.  10,  2.3,  Marcii  12,  2.3,  .30,  Apr. 
20,  27,  May  19,  Juno  29,  July  11,  21,  Aug.  3,  Sept.  9,  19.  Oct.  7,  21,  2;),  iKo. 
10,  ISO.'';  Apr.  25,  June  10,  30,  July  19,  Aug.  9,  10,  27,  Sept.  5,  12,  J;!,  '.'7, 
Oct.  G,  10,  13,  14,  24,  Nov.  1,  1.5,  22,  1804;  Jan.  12,  Feb.  3,  Marcli  4,  .M;  y.'ll, 
Juno  19,  Julys,  1805;  Feb.  14,  Apr.  10,  May  8,  June  II,  July  .3,  An,'.  II, 
Sept.  1,  ISOG;  Feb.  1,1809;  March  24,  Apr.  20,  June  17,  1870;  Juno  2_',  .li;I.V 
13,  1871;  Jan.  8,  29,  Feb.  14,  Sept.  4,  2.5,  1872;  Oct.  1,  1873;  Apr.  5,  IS7'; 
Apr.  7,  1879;  Alta,  May  17,  1854;  Jan.  27,  June  30,  18.57;  M.iy  IS,  .lime  7, 
8,  Aug.  2,  12,  25,  20,  Sept.  18,  20,  Oct.  3,  21,  22,  Nov.  4,  .30,  1858;  Jan.  5.  11, 


mi 


r 


AUTHORITIES. 


681 


H,20,  01,  27,  ril,  Feb.  15. 10,  17.  21,24,  March  1,  4,  5,  9,  17,  10,  2.'),  30.  Apr. 

I,  ;i,  1 1,  l.'>,  :7,  21,  'Jo,  28,  29,  .'W.  May  10,  1;»,  14,  10,  IS,  20,  21,  2;l,  24,  'Ji:,,  27, 
:j,  ::l,  .Imu^  1 1,   17,  2'),  July  la,  14.  .'tO.  Aur.  4,  II,  27,  Nopt.  2,  20,  Oct.  1 1, 

II,  I.'.,  ;tl,  Nov.  3,  14,  30,  Dec.  11,  24,  IMO;  Jan.  25,  Feb.  4.  10,  Miircli  5, 
.\|)r.  4,  13,  18,  May  21,  June  13,  20,  July  4,  18,  27.  30.  Auj-.  1.  5,  7,  9,  14, 
Ci.Oct.  1,  19.  22,  Nov.  8,  11,  2.3,  Dec.  II,  22,  29,  ISOO;  Fob.  7,8,  May  2.3, 
Juno  17,  18,  July  II,  21,  Au«.  8,  Sept.  9,  2.3,  Oct.  8,  II,  22,  Nov.  .3.  2ri,  ISOl; 
Jimu  2:),  Auy.  2,  2.'),  Oct.  14,  21,  18C2;  Jan.  22,  Apr.  24,  Juno  9,  19,  .30,  July 

II,  .Auj,'.  10,  'JO,  Sept.  7,  Nov.  10,  1803;  July  19,  Nov.  2,  1804;  Jan.  20,  Apr. 
|i.  Ma V  22.  July  3,  Auf,'.  10.  20.  Dec.  0,  10,  1805;  Feb.  20,  Dec.  28.  iNiO; 
.\l,r.  i2,  July  20,  KS07;  March  2,'),  1809;  March  24.  July  15,  Dec.  3.  1S71; 
A' til  !.■>,  1S77;  Ta//.  Jan.  12,  Apr.  19,  Juno  24,  July  19,  Aug.  10,  11,  20, 
Kilt.  i;t,  27,  Oct.  0,  Nov.  13,  1804;  Juno  1.3,  1805;  Feb.  8,  March  20,  May 
ill,  Jmio  1.3,  July  19,  Aug.  28,  1807;  Feb.  27,  March  1,  Apr.  30,  July  1,\ 
Ai.g.  9,  20,  ,30,  Sept.  18,  19,  Nov.  24,  1808;  March  6,  1870;  Jan.  4,  1871; 
N)v.  7,  1872;  Feb.  13,  Juno  25,  1874;  Jan.  25,  1878;  Timen,  Juno  4,  IS07; 
Muv  10,  June  25,  July  20,  Sept.  2,  5,  1808;  Feb.  17,  March  10,  22,  .30.  Apr. 
•N,  Oct.  14.  23,  1809;  llcralU,  Apr.  2.3,  Juno  10,  Sept.  6,  1858;  March  31, 
Nov.  10,  1859;  March  5,  Apr.  20,  May  9.  Dec.  13,  1800;  March  10,  12,  1809; 
/W,  Sc]it.  15,  187.1;  Jan.  7,  July  25,  1878;  Chronicle,  Jan.  5,  20,  1809;  July 
1(1,  IS7I;  Golden  Era,  March  15,  1857;  Aug.  27,  1805;  Mercantile  Gazi/li', 
Juno  1!),  1858;  Sac.  lii'cord- Union,  Aug.  10,  1855;  Feb.  27,  Apr.  9,  10,  May 
•:.',  Sept.  17,  IS50;  Jan.  22,  Feb.  5,  Apr.  5,  12,  21,  23,  May24,  28,  Jun    s,  9, 

III,  11,  12,  19,  22,  23,  Sept.  27,  Oct.  18,  Nov.  24,  Dec.  29,  1858;  Jan.  :;,  Apr. 
i:i,  Jiuio21,  25,  1859;  March  21,  Apr.  .30,  Aug.  22.  Sept.  27,  20,  Oct.  9,  18(i0; 
Martli  9,  Apr.  29,  Juno  1,  .Sept.  24,  Nov.  9,  12,  10,  21,  Dec.  12,  1801;  March 
3,."),  1S(;2;  Porllaml  West  Shore,  July,  1879;  Standard,  Sept.  7,  1877;  Went- 
tni  iin-iniiian,  Jan.  10,  1878;  Pioche  Record,  March  14,  1873;  Tuncarora 
Tmes-lk'view,  Feb.  10,  1878. 


1 


*    I '[   I  I 


l-'\ 


r 


S't 


CHAPTER  XXTt. 

UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 
1863-1871. 

A  Legislative  Council  Ouoanized  for  British  Columbia — iNArr.unAt 
Address  of  Governor  Douglas  —  A  Meek  Response  —  Sei'akate 
Rulers  Appointed  for  the  Two  Colonies — A  Cordial  Leave-takind 
— Review  of  Douglas'  Administration — Regime  of  Fi;euekjck  Slv- 
HOUR — Excessive  Taxation — Union  of  the  Colonies — The  liuinsu 
North  Ameuica  Act  —  Anthony  Musgrave  Governor  — Uuni.-'. 
Columbia  a  Province  of  the  Dominion — A  Legislative  Asskmbi.v 
Substituted  for  the  Council— Condition  of  the  Province— I.njjia.v 
Policy  of  the  United  States  and  of  Great  Britain. 


h ' 


Those  among  my  readers  who  may  chance  to  have 
hved  in  a  British  colony  have  probably  observed  lunv 
little  there  is  to  relate  concerning  the  government  uf 
that  colony,  and  how  void  of  interest  is  that  little. 
There  are  of  course  the  usual  changes  of  administra- 
tion, the  usual  squabbles  in  the  legislature,  some  of 
them  as  disgraceful  as  any  which  occur  at  Sacramento 
or  Salem,  or  wheresoever  else  amateur  law-makers 
lay  burdens  on  the  people,  and  contend  in  unsoi'inly 
phrase  for  the  people's  spoils.  As  a  rule,  however, 
though  with  many  exceptions,  the  colonies  are  liohtly 
taxed.  They  pay  no  tribute  to  her  Majesty's  gov- 
ernment; they  do  not  even  pay  for  the  support  <ir 
expenses  of  the  troops  or  vessels  of  war  sent  lortli 
for  their  protection;*  and  they  object  very  stroni^lv 
and  decisively  to  too  much  amateur  legislutioii, 
especially  when  it  touches  their  pockets.     In  brief, 

'  Except  the  so-called  colonial  aliowouco  of  si.vijcnoo  a  day  inadi:  tu  the 
troops. 

iGU'Jt 


LEGISLATIVE  COUNCIL. 


£83 


most  of  the  British  dependencies  are  virtually  re- 
j)ulilies,  with  the  privilege  of  becoming  at  any  time 
actual  re])ublics,  and  have,  free  of  expense,  the  pro- 
lection  of  Great  Britain,  while  the  governor  wields 
little  more  authority  than  does  in  the  mother  country 
the  queen  of  England,  who  cannot  obtain,  except  from 
licr  private  revenues,  a  sixpence  wherewith  to  pur- 
thase  her  breakfast,  unless  it  be  voted  by  parliament. 

But  in  18G3  Vancouver  Island  and  British  Colum- 
bia were  merely  colonies  in  name.  During  the  regime 
of  Douglas,  and  for  several  years  thereafter,  it  can- 
not be  said  that  responsible  government  existed  either 
on  the  Island  or  on  the  Mainland.  In  the  fornier 
there  was,  as  we  have  seen,  an  elective  house  of  assem- 
bly, but  its  vote  could  not  remove  the  executive 
oliicials,  as  was  the  case  in  other  colonies.  The 
legislative  and  executive  functions  were  vested  in  the 
governor  and  his  council,  whose  acts  were  termed 
ordinances,  and  had  almost  the  force  of  statutes  in 
nailiament.^  On  the  Mainland  a  legislative  council 
vas  organized  by  authority  of  a  royal  order,  dated 
the  nth  of  June,  1803,"  and  consisted  at  first  of 
thirteen  members,*  of  whom  five  were  government 
officials,^  five  weie  magistrates  appointed  by  the  gov- 
ernor, and  the  remainder  were  elected  by  the  people, 
certificates  being  issued  to  them  on  the  reporting  of 
their  names  by  the  returning  ofiicer. 

The  council  met  for  the  first  time  at  New  West- 
minster on  the  2 1st  of  January,  18G4,  nine  members 


Vvro.smo.t,  r.  f.  ami  Dnt.  Col.  Govt,  5IS.,  19. 

'  For  copy  of  this  onlev,  ace  Jour.  LeijhL  CoiiprU,  li.  C,  1SG4,  4-5. 

'  I'lie  incinhcrs  for  the  first  session  wcro  Arthur  N.  liirt.li,  colonial  socre- 
t:iiy  :iii(l  presiding  ineinbor;  Ilonry  1'.  1'.  Crease,  attorney-general;  Wyniuml 
0.  Ilaniley,  collector  of  customs;  Chartrca  lirew,  I'etcr  O'Ueilly,  Kihv.iril  II. 
.Samliis,  Henry  M.  IJall,  ami  I'hilip  II.  Niiul,  magistrates  f.  r  Nt  \v  West- 
iiiiiistcr,  ('uril)oo,  Vale  ami  Hope,  Lytton,  and  Uouglas;  and  Josliua  A.  1!. 
Hnin<'r,  liol)ertT.  Smith,  lleniy  llolbrook,  James  Orr,  anil  Walter  S.  Biac  U 
fr  tlicir  respective  districts  of  New  Westminster,  Vale  and  Ly^ton,  l)oUj'- 
las  and  Lillooet,  Carilioo  ICast,  and  Cariboo  West.  During  this  session  ;i 
resolution  presented  by  Mr  Homer  praying  that  a  legislative  assembly  bo 
or{;;uii'/ud  was  negatived  hy  the  easting  vote  of  the  presiding  nieinlxr. 

^Tlio  colonial  secretary,  attorney-general,  treasurer,  chief  eonimissio  'cr 
of  lauds  uiid  works,  uud  eolloctor  of  customs. 


584 


UNION  AND  CONFKUIiKATION. 


I 


1)c>iiig  pf(>siMit.  In  liis  ()j)('tiin<(  iuldi'oss  l)i)unr1as  con. 
^^ratuhiU'd  ilu'in  on  this  first  step  toward  rcpicscntu- 
tivo  ^ov<jrnnH'nt  and  popular  institutions,  which,  lu; 
(Kiclarcd,  hci"  IVrajcsty  had  withhohl  dai'inj^  the  in- 
Ihncy  of"  the  i-olony,  only  from  a  sinci-ro  lei^ard  for  its 
liMppiness  and  prosperity.  JIo  urged  on  tluiUi  a  \  iiMti- 
ons  p!-oseeution  of  the  public  works  c  •  measure  <>( 
vital  imj)ortan(;e  to  the  colony,  and  ;  that  wcuhl 
give  to  the  waste  lands  of  liritish  Cokunbia  a  valtu! 
which  they  did  not  tlien  possess.  With  a  view  to  in- 
ci'ease  po[)ulation  and  encourage  Kettlement,  hi;  hud 
throwi»  open  the  public  lands  to  a(;tual  settlers  on  the 
most  liberal  terms,  and  had  done  his  utmost  to  cn- 
« ourago  minin<»'  and  every  species  of  enterprise  that 
tended  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  country,  tlioti'^h 
the  rc>sultol'  tlu'so  measures  had  not,  as  yot,  answered 
his  tixpcx'tations.  The  Indian  tribes,  he  said,  wcic 
(juiet  and  \\v\\  dis])osi!d.  Jleserves,  endjracmg  villa'^i! 
sifi'sand  cultivated  fields  had  been  set  apart  for  llicm, 
thciir  ai'ea  in  no  cast;  exceeding  ten  acres  for  each  family, 
and  this  being  inalienable  and  held  as  joint  prop- 
erty." Appiopriations  were  reconunended  ibr  wW- 
gious  purposes,  and  for  the  establishment  and  suppnit 
of  schools,  though  it  was  far  from  his  wish  to  cslah- 
lish  a  dominant  or  endowed  church  in  a  colony  to  which 
people  of  all  religious  denominations  wtjro  invited.  1  h; 
piomised  soon  to  lay  before  them  a  conununicaliou 
from  the  secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies,  with  pro- 
jiosals  for  opening  telegrai)hie  and  [)ostal  conunimi- 
cation  between  Jiritish  CoUunbia  and  the  head  tit' 
Lake  Superior.  Finally  he  laid  before  them  an  i  cli- 
mate of  the  expenditure  for  the  past  year,  amonn(iii;4 
((»  I'lDi'.SOO,"  while  the  reveiuie  for  the  same  jxriod 
was    but    .£  1  f 0,000."      Meanwhile    bonds    had    luvii 

"'I'lioiigli  iiM  inilivithiiilii  tlicy  liad  tho  Haiiu-  ri^lit  of  iici|uii'iii^  nn<I  lioMini^ 
luiiil  l>y  iniivliiisi!  or  (n'ru|)atioii  lis  othiM'  claHm-s  ot  lior  Miijcsily's  Hulijcct  ; 

'Of  wliiili  i's;!,!);!"  was  for  |ml)lic  ro^uU,  £1'J,(mO  lor  rcili^inptioii  ol  iiail 
lioiuls  cri'aliil  in  liSli'.',  l'l.'),'2SH  for  pulilio  works,  l)uil<liii;;«,  ami  Uaiispml, 
£l.'l,7-.">  for  iiiteri'st  mi  loausaiul  fiukiny  fuiul,  ami  £lll,(il.i  for  tlio  civil  i  ilali- 

liHllIIR'llt. 

"Of  which  over  JCrir>,000  was  obtained  from  cuatonia  dues.  Mwjiin,  I'./. 
und  U.  V. 


GOVKRNOll'S  ADDUKSS. 


585 


crcatod  and  loaim  contrac^tod  to  tlio  amount  of  £(][),- 
SOT),  Icaviiii^  .still  a  dclicioiioy  of  £\7,0[)f),  in  addition 
1(»  ;i  sum  of  , £10,700  duo  to  tlio  inij)erial  govcrnnifut 
I'or  tlic  (;x])iMi.s('s  of  tlio  royal  onj^inoorH.  For  I8(M 
tlic  outlay,  including  tlio  debit  balanco,  was  sot  down 
,it,  1'  I  07, i)  I  0,  and  tlio  incoino  fi-oni  all  sourcos  at  £  I  20,- 
()()(),  (lius  l(;aving  a  halanco  of  X  12,01)0;  but  thi.s,  it 
was  (!X|>lainod,  mado  no  jirovision  for  tlio  mainto- 
iiaiici!  of  a  gold  escort,  or  lor  tbo  cxjionso  of  public 
\v(iii:s.  Asking  tlio  advice  of  the  members  wlietlier 
it  was  expedient  to  undertake  KUeh  works  during  the 
(  uiiciit  year,  and  if  so,  how  their  cost  should  bo  de- 
frayed, the  governor  took  his  seat." 

Tlius  did  the  lordly  Douglas  give  to  the  colonists 
(if  Ihilish  (Columbia  a  foretaste  of  the  blessings  of 
iv|i!-('sentative  government.  At  this  date  tlu;  white 
]Mipiila(ion  of  the  (rolony  was  probably  less  than  liight 
llioiisaiid,  and  of  this  number  a  largo  proportion  was 
(if  (he  migratory  class.  To  lay  on  them,  at  this  early 
|i(ii()d  in  their  history,  a  tax  oxcoechng  ijTiO  |)(>r  caj)- 
ila  was  a  measure!  unlieard  of  in  the  histcjry  of  Jiritish 
inli(iii/;ition,  and  one  that  olsowliero  would  at  Icsast 
liave  provoked  much  angry  discussion.  ]5ut  not  so 
among  this  staid  and  dutiful  assemblage.  I'ho  sjieech 
was  received  with  prtifound  rosjiect;  the  oath  was 
a(liiiinist(;red  by  Mr  Justice  ]iegbio,  who  declared 
llic  st'ssion  duly  ojtened.  His  excellency  then  took 
Ills  leave;  and  after  some  unimportnnt  business,  the 
iiiciubers  adjourned,  presenting,  three  days  later,  an 
liiiiiihlc!  a(hlress,  wherein  tln^y  expressed  their  earnest 
ii'SdKe  to  act  in  concert  with  tho  governor  to  the 
l)('si  of  their  ability. 

Th(!ro  is  a  r«'freshing  Kiniplicity  about  tho  early 
sessions  of  the  legislative  council,  and  one  that  con- 
1  lasts  straiigcily  with  tho  stormy  incidents  of  a  later 
ji'  liod.  On  the  5th  of  February  this  body  went  into 
iiMiiiiiittoo  of  supply,  and  on  its  rising,  a  few  miuutos 

'A  copy  of  Ilia  addrusa  will  bo  found  in  Id.,  1804,  1-4. 


i 


I) 


!•:':.,  '  i 


,    i 


H'f: 


\„  '    s^' 


m 


'li 


:  i 


1 


1 '  /  ' 


i  i: 


680 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


later,  the  prosidinj^  member^"  reported  the  adoption 
of  a  bill  of  supply,  amountinj^  to  £135,039,  for  tho 
service  of  the  ensuing  year,  together  with  a  recom- 
mendation  that  it  be  now  read  a  first  time.  Tlio 
question  of  the  first  reading  being  then  put  to  the 
council,  it  was  so  ordered,  and  the  bill  was  read  ac- 
cordingly. A  few  minutes  later  it  was  read  a  second 
time,  and  com  nitted;  reported  back  without  aniciul- 
ments;  passed  to  a  third  reading,  the  standing  orders 
being  suspended;  and  thus,  probably  within  the  space 
of  an  hour,  the  supplies  were  voted,  an  additional 
sum  of  £80,700  being  granted  during  the  session  by 
various  resolutions." 

Tlic  term  of  the  governor's  commission  for  Van- 
couver Island  expired  in  September  18G3,  and  for 
British  Columbia  one  year  later.  Partly  on  account 
of  his  free-handed  disposition  of  the  public  funds,  how- 
ever, and  also  with  a  view  to  sever  the  last  link  tliat 
connected  them,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Conipan}',  many  of  the  colonists,  both  of 
the  INIainland  and  Island,  had  already  petitioned  for 
tho  appointment  of  separate  governors,'-'  and  before 
the  close  of  18G3  it  was  officially  announced  that 
their  request  would  be  granted.  That,  nevertlicless, 
Douglas  was  still  supported  by  the  wealth  and  intel- 
ligence of  both  colonies,  is  sufficiently  apparent  from 

'"  111  the  absence  of  tho  colonial  secretary,  tho  chair  was  occupied  by  tlio 
attoi-ncy-gcncial. 

"./o»r.  Li''iid.  Council,  D.  C,  1SG4,  IS;  speech  of  Gov.  Seymour,  in  Id., 
ISli.-),  .S. 

'^As  early  as  October  lSv")8  a,  petition,  signed  by  117  residents  of  Victoria, 
was  forwardi'd  to  Sir  lUihvor  Lytton,  praying  for  the  iciuoval  of  Douglas. 
Tlio  potitidiiors  asked  tliat  'an  Knglish  gcntlcmaii,  free  and  iiulcpcndt'iit  of 
any  intiiost  save  the  public  welfare,  may  be  appointed  by  iun-  Majesty^  gov- 
orniiiont.'  i'c  Cosmos,  I'.  /.,  ami  IJril.  Col.  Ooit,  MS.,  '2'i.  Amor  DeCusiiios, 
a  native  of  Nova  SLOtia,  came  to  Cal.  in  IS.");!,  removing  to  Victoria  in  l.'.V'-, 
wJKre  he  began  tho  publication  of  a  newspaper  in  the  autumn  of  tluit  ytiir. 
11c  commenced  his  public  career  l)y  drawing  up  the  petition  above  rcfcrml 
to;  and  though  on  principle  opposed  to  tho  government  as  it  then  existeil, 
was  elected  a  incniber  of  the  second  legislature  of  \'.  I.  From  his  O'onri)- 
VKiilii  I'/  Vaiicoiifir  /sla)id  and  llri/iKh  Columbia,  iMS.,  I  jiavc  gathcre.l  items 
of  interest  extending  over  the  period  between  tlie  fouiuling  of  Victoria  iunl 
the  confederation.  In  the  opening  pages  of  hia  MS.  is  an  account  of  vaiious 
newsiaper.s  published  at  Victoria,  between  1358  and  1803,  uf  which  lumiiuu 
will  be  made  later. 


':^- 


he  adoption 

G.39,  for  the 

;li  a  rccom- 

time.     TIio 

put  to  the 

vas  read  ac- 

ad  a  second 

lout  aiuend- 

tiding  orders 

lin  the  space 

11  additional 

)  session  by 

)n  for  Van- 
JG3,  and  tor 
^  on  account 
r  funds,  how- 
ist  link  tliat 
th  the  IIiul- 
ists,  both  of 
etitioned  for 
'  and  before 
ouneed  that 
nevertheless, 
h  and  iutel- 
iparent  from 

I  occupicil  by  the 

Seymour,  in  /(/., 

ilcnts  of  Victoria, 
loval  of  Douglas. 
(I  indcpcmk'iit  of 
ur  Majesty's  gov- 
Amor  Do  Cosnius, 
Victoria  in  !;.")>, 
nin  of  that  yciir. 
m  above  n  kvm\ 
3  it  then  cNisti'd, 
From  his  (>'<i/''  ni- 
ce gathere.l  items 
;  of  Victoria  .'iiiil 
ccount  of  various 
if  which  uuniiuu 


SIR  JAMES  DOUGLAS. 


687 


the  addresses  presented  to  him  by  the  people  of  Van- 
couver Island,  at  his  official  leave-taking  in  Scptem- 
hei',  and  by  the  people  of  British  Columbia  a  few 
months  later.  The  former  was  signed  by  all  the 
hankers  and  professional  men,  and  nearly  all  the  lead- 
ing merchants  of  Victoria,  while  to  the  latter  were 
{il)[)ended  more  than  nine  hundred  signatures.^^  But, 
as  he  declared,  it  was  his  earnest  desire  to  withdraw 
from  further  public  connection  with  the  colonies,  and 
this  desire  he  had  long  ago  intimated  to  the  secretary 
of  state.  In  fact,  it  may  be  doubted  whether  Doug- 
las was  ever  really  willing  to  accept  office  as  governor. 
In  doing  so  he  added  nothing  to  his  income;  on  the 
contrary,  it  is  probable  that  the  increased  expense  of 
his  establishment  made  him  a  loser  thereby;  while 
in  freedom  from  harassing  cares  the  position  of 
governor  under  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  was  in- 
iinitely  preferable  to  that  of  her  Majesty's  represent- 
ative in  the  colonies. 

By  the  October  mail  arrived  a  number  of  the  Ga- 
zette, in  which  appeared  the  announcement  that  Doug- 
liis  had  been  kni^jhted.  A  few  months  later,  after 
henig  feasted  and  flattered  to  more  than  his  heart's 
content,  he  bid  farewell  to  the  settlement  which  he  had 
i'ounded  in  1843,  as  a  mere  trading  post,  with  little 
certainty  that  it  would  ever  become  the  metropolis  of 
a  thriving  and  ambitious  colony.  As  he  proceeded  on 
loot,  accompanied  by  his  staff,  from  the  government 
house  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  wharf,  every  flag-staff  in 
the  town  was  decorated  with  bunting,  the  citizens 
laisiiig  their  hats  as  he  passed,  and  many  of  them  join- 
ing- in  the  procession.  The  sicamor  Ejitevjnise,  gayly 
(locked  with  colors,  awaited  his  arrival,  and  as  ho 
leached  the  foot  of  the  gangway,  the  cheers  which  had 

''Co,Tcsof  them  will  be  fonnd  in  Addr.  and  Memor.  Sir  Jameft  Douglas, 

3,  ISJ  ,'j.  The  former  enclosed  a  memorial,  iiid  the  latter  waa  in  the  form  of 
un  inldieas,  both  to  be  forwarded  to  the  duke  of  Neweastlo.  Addresses  were 
presented  by  the  legislative  council  and  assembly  at  Victoria,  and  by  the 
legislature  at  New  Westminator,  for  which  see  Id.,  18-20;  Jour.  Leijid. 
Voiiiic'd,  B.  C,  18G4,  29.  TIio  government  officials,  the  iuhabitauts  of  Yale 
uiul  Hope,  and  others,  also  forwarded  addresses. 


nil 


'\\' 


'  I*. 


I 


u 


PI 


I  ■  II 

1 1  •    m 


^ 


C83 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


grocted  him  along  his  route  burst  forth  with  rcdouMed 
volume,  the  multitude  thronging  round  to  grasp  hiin 
by  the  hand.  As  the  vessel  moved  off,  the  band  sta- 
tioned on  board  the  Otter  ntvack  up  the  tune  of  Aukl 
l^ang  Sync,  and  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns  was  fired 
b}'  tlio  Hudson's  Bay  employes.  Then  followed  tlio 
strains  of  the  national  anthem;  and  thus  was  Sir 
James  Douglas,  K.  C.  B.,  sent  on  his  way  to  tlu; 
Mainland,  there  to  be  again  banqueted,  toasted,  and 
plied  with  addresses,  and  then  to  retire  for  a  wliilo 
into  private  life  at  his  home  in  New  Westminster.'* 

Twenty-two  years  had  now  elapsed  since  the  natives 
of  Camosun  luui  first  seen  the  calm  waters  of  their 
harbor  ruffled  by  the  little  steamer  on  board  of  which 
Douglas  came  and  determined  the  site  of  the  present 
city  of  Victoria.  During  many  of  these  years  he  had 
controlled  the  aflfairs  of  the  great  monopoly  in  tho 
north-west.  How  skilful  had  been  his  management, 
how  mild  his  rule,  and  how  judicious  his  policy,  tho 
reader  is  well  aware  who  has  followed  his  career 
throughout  the  narrative  which  I  have  laid  before 
him.  If  his  administration  as  governor  is  open  to 
censure,  the  faults  which  he  committed  are  sucli  as 
detract  but  little  from  his  fame.  That  he  was  lavish 
in  tho  expenditure  of  the  public  funds,  laying  upon 
the  infant  colony  burdens  greater  than  it  could  bear, 
cannot  be  disputed;  but  this  outlay,  incurred  mainly 
for  opening  roads  to  the  mining  districts,  then  tho 
main  source  of  wealth,  and  without  which  Victoria 
would  have  remained  a  village,  must  be  regarded  ratlicr 
as  an  investment  than  as  a  tax  on  the  i.idustries  of 
the  people.  Insignificant  as  were  then  the  British 
possessions  in  the  north-west,  remote  from  the  mother 
country,  with  which  there  was  no  prompt  communi- 
cation, except  through  foreign  sources,  with  a  sparse 
but  heterogeneous  population,  composed  largely  of 

"A  description  of  the  fCtes  and  banquets  hold  at  Victoria  and  New  West 
minster,  with  the  addresses  and  inomoriala  presented  by  the  citizens  ami  the 
comments  of  tlie  press  on  the  occasion  of  Douglas'  retirement,  will  be  fouuil  in 
Addr.  and  Memor,  Sir  James  Douglas, 


1  rcdouMed 
grasp  hi  in 
e  band  sta- 
le of  A  aid 
s  was  fiix'd 
llowed  tho 
s    was  Sir 
/ay  to  th(! 
)asted,  and 
'or  a  wliilo 
ninster.'* 
the  natives 
rs  of  their 
d  of  which 
;liG  pr(3sciit 
ars  lie  had 
)oly  in  tho 
mai^onient, 
policy,  tho 
his    career 
laid  bel'oro 
is  open  to 
ro  such  as 
was  lavish 
■ying  upon 
!Ould  bear, 
'ed  mainly 
i,  then  tho 
:h  Victoria 
•ded  rather 
lustries  of 
he  British 
he  mother 
communi- 
;h  a  sparse 
largely  of 

nd  New  West 
itizons  ajiil  the 
ifillbe  fouiulia 


GOVERNOR  SEYMOUR. 


689 


Americans,  impatient  of  British  rule  and  imbittercd 
hy  the  disputes  incidental  to  the  San  Juan  difliculty, 
without  the  means  of  competing  with  older  and  more 
favored  communities — amid  all  these  difficulties  the 
colonies  had  developed  with  a  steady  and  stalwart 
growth.  And  to  none  was  this  result  so  largely  due 
as  to  him  from  whom  we  will  now  take  our  leave, 
quoting  in  conclusion  a  few  words  from  his  reply  to 
an  address  presented  by  the  citizens  of  New  West- 
minster— words  uttered  in  no  spirit  of  vainglory  or 
boastfulness:  "This  is  surely  the  voice  and  heart  of 
British  Columbia.  Here  are  no  specious  phrases,  no 
lioHow  or  venal  compliments.  This  speaks  out  broadly, 
and  honestly,  and  manfully.  It  assures  me  that  my 
administration  has  been  useful;  that  I  have  done  my 
duty  faithfully;  that  I  have  used  the  power  of  my 
sovereign  for  good,  and  not  for  evil;  that  I  have 
wronged  no  man,  oppressed  no  man;  but  that  I  have, 
with  upright  rule,  meted  out  equal-handed  justice  to 
all." 

Toward  the  end  of  April  1864,  a  few  days  before 
the  close  of  the  first  session  of  the  council,  Frederick 
Seymour,  successor  to  Douglas  on  the  Mainland,  ar- 
rived at  New  Westminster.  Seymour  had  formerly 
held  office  as  governor  of  British  Honduras,  whore 
his  health  had  been  seriously  impaired.  He  was  a 
man  of  mediocre  ability,  of  no  great  force  of  charact'  r, 
somewhat  timid  and  over-conservative  in  policy,  and 
a])t  to  place  too  much  dependence  on  those  by  whom 
he  was  surrounded;  one  who  might  have  reigned  with 
credit  in  a  settled  and  prosperous  community,  as 
among  the  sugar-planters  of  Belize,  but  was  ill  fitted 
for  the  control  of  a  young  and  ambitious  colony.  The 
task  which  he  had  now  before  him  required  the  ser- 
vices of  a  more  capable  ruler,  and  this  ho  soon  made 
apparent  to  the  members  of  the  council.  Proroguing 
that  body,  on  the  4th  of  May,  he  remarked  that  he 
found  himself  obliged  to  consider  a  measure  involving 


f  ■      i,  ! 

i      ■ 
U     \     ;      i 

H, 


■  1 


m 


■Hf 


590 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


the  whole  financial  arrangements  of  the  colony;  an- 
other proposing  to  regulate  its  paper  currency ;  a  third 
affecting  its  internal  navigation;  together  with  scinio 
twenty  resolutions,  many  of  them  of  grave  import, 
and  involving  a  considerable  expenditure.  As  to  most 
of  the  important  measures,  especially  those  concern- 
ing the  supplementary  estimates,  he  deferred  his  decis- 
ion until  the  winter  session,  or  reserved  them  for  her 
Majesty's  consideration.  He  gave  his  assent,  however, 
to  the  inland-navigation  ordinance,  and  to  resolutions 
for  the  survey  of  a  road  from  the  mouth  of  the  (}uos- 
nel  to  Cariboo,  together  with  an  extra  expenditure  of 
£40,000  in  that  district.  He  also  assented  to  sevenil 
others  wherein  no  outlay  was  involved,  among  them 
being  regulations  for  the  postal  service,  for  amending 
the  customs  duties,  for  declaring  the  legal  rate  oC  in- 
terest, and  for  regristerinoT  documents  relatinjj  to  real 
estate." 

On  the  21st  of  October  a  proclamation  was  issued 
dissolving  the  legislative  council,  "for  divers  godd 
causes  and  considerations,"  and  a  week  later  a  notiro 
was  published,  containing  a  list  of  the  new  appoint- 
ments, eight  out  of  the  thirteen  members  of  the  I'ornicr 
council  being  reelected."  At  the  opening  session, 
held  on  the  12th  of  December,  the  governor  stated 
that  only  £135,039  out  of  the  £210,400  voted  for  the 
public  service  of  1804  had  been  expended,  the  dis- 
bursements for  the  current  month  being  estimated  at 
£8,000,  thus  showing  an  expenditure  less  by  £72,000 
than  had  been  sanctioned.  Meanwhile,  however,  tlio 
revenue  had  fallen  short  of  the  estimates  by  some 
£13,000.  Under  an  act  of  the  previous  session,  u 
loan  of  £100,000  had  been  authorized,  against  which 
they  had   drawn  but  £20,300,  the  remainder  being 

Among  the  items 


available  for  the  service  of  1805. 


"  Also  to  ordinances  relating  to  patents,  facilitating  the  formation  of  joiut- 
stock  mining  companies,  and  for  tlio  relief  of  certain  naval  and  military  set- 
tlers. Speech  of  Frederick  Seymour,  in  Jour.  Legi.tl.  Council,  li.  C,  1604,  43. 

'"TIio  names  of  the  members  will  be  found  in  Id.,  1805,  after  the  table  of 
contents. 


IMJ 


•  ;ilito^  • 


colony;  an- 
icy;  a  third 

'  with  SOllK! 

ivc  import, 
As  to  most 
ise  conoci'ii- 
d  his  (lecis- 
lem  for  hvs 
it,  however, 
resolutions 
»f  the  Quos- 
)enclituro  of 
d  to  several 
mong  them 
ir  amending 
1  rate  ol'  in- 
,ting  to  real 

was  issued 
livers  good 
iter  a  notice 
ew  appoint- 
f  the  t'ornicr 
ing  session, 
ernor  stated 
otecl  for  the 
ed,  the  dis- 
istimatcd  at 
by  £72,000 
owever,  the 
:es  by  some 
3  session,  a 
;ainst  which 
inder  being 
^  the  items 

irmatioD  of  joiut- 
and  military  set- 
,  B.  C,  lbO-1,  43. 
ifter  the  talile  of 


tX)LONIAL  AFFAIRS, 


691 


of  expense  for  the  past  year  was  one  of  £1G,000  for 
the  suppression  of  the  Chilkotin  massacre,''  of  which 
Seymour  gives  a  detailed  account  in  his  address.  He 
reijrets  that  several  needed  improvements  have  been 
delayed  through  lack  of  funds,  among  them  being  the 
establishment  of  a  light-ship  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Fraser.  Finally  he  calls  the  attention  of  the  council 
to  certain  resolutions  passed  by  the  assembly  at  Vic- 
toiia  in  favor  of  a  conditional  union  with  British  Co- 
liunbia  under  one  governor.  Expressing  his  own 
views  on  this  subject,  he  remarks  that,  while  it  would 
be  better  for  imperial  interests  that  Great  Britain 
should  be  represented  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
by  a  single  ruler,'*  he  does  not  think  that  at  present 
British  Columbia  would  gain  by  the  suggested  change, 
and  advises  them  to  consult  only  their  local  interests. 
At  the  next  meeting  the  council  responded,  as  usual, 
in  meek  and  respectful  phrase,  and  the  business  of  the 
session  commenced. 

Thus  did  the  colonial  ship  of  state  sail  forth  on 
these  untroubled  waters,  her  course  seldom  disturbed 
by  the  faintest  breath  of  popular  discontent.  Most 
of  the  measures  brought  before  the  council  were  ini- 
tiated by  the  attorney-general,  those  which  passed  to 
a  third  reading  and  received  the  governor's  sanction 
relating  mainly  to  municipal  affairs,  public  improve- 
ments, and  matters  of  local  interest.'® 

Let  us  turn  now  to  Vancouver  Island,  w'here,  as 
will  he  remembered,  the  first  term  of  the  legislative 
assembly  expired  in  1859.  To  the  mention  already 
made  of  this  assembly^"  there  is  nothing  worthy  of 

"  The  crown  refused  to  refund  any  part  of  this  sum. 

"As  in  case  of  war,  in  which  event  the  officer  in  command  of  the  naval 
forces  liiiglit  be  seriously  embarrassed  by  tlio  conflicting  policy  of  two  gov- 
enioi'H. 

"'I'ables,  showing  the  progress  of  the  various  bills  introduced,  will  be 
fouiiil  for  each  year  in  Jmir.  Lnjid.  Council,  U.  (7.,  facing  p.  1.  See  also 
<-'oi.<'jL  Stilt.  Brit.  Col.  {ed.  1877),  passim;  Acta  and  OrUin.  Western  Col., 
lSJS-70,  passim. 

"See  pages  2:2-7,  this  voL 


i;d!' 


i 
I  f 


I. 


■|M|iii| 


I  Iff" 


502 


UNION  AND  CONFEDKRATION. 


note  to  1)0  added,  except  that  the  members  stonily 
lel'used  to  j^'raiit  supplies,  or  become  responsible  Inr 
debts  incurred  by  the  Hudson's  13av  Coini)any.  Wlicii 
the  second  le<^islature  met,  in  18(10,  the  connection 
between  the  colony  and  the  company  havin<^  llicii 
been  dissolved,  the  question  was  ajjjain  brous^ht  i'oi- 
ward,  Who  was  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  latter?  It 
was  resolved  that,  as  the  former  assembly  had  in- 
curred no  responsibility,  the  present  one  would  adopt 
the  same  polii-y,  and  leave  the  company  to  settle  its 
claims  with  the  home  tjovernment. 

For  the  year  18(51  the  legitimate  revenue  of  the 
colouy  was' £25,29 1;  for  18G2,  £24,017;"  for  18i;:), 
£30,000;  and  for  18G4  it  was  estimated  at  £37,704. 
The  receipts  for  the  last  of  these  3'ears  were  increajicci 
by  sums  due  from  British  Columbia,  advances  to 
crown  agents  in  London,  balance  of  loan,  and  other 
sources,  to  about  £77,000,  while  the  expenses  wiio 
SL't  down  at  £59,0G2,  of  which  £15, GIG  was  lor  puh- 
lic  works  and  buildings,  and  £10,3G0  for  roads,  streets, 
and  bridges.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  only  £1,000 
was  devoted  to  educational  purposes  during  this  viai', 
while  the  appropriation  for  police  and  jails  was  al>out 
double  that  sum.^^ 

In  18G4  the  white  population  of  Vancouver  Island 
was  estimated  at  about  7,500,  or  somewhat  less  than 
that  of  British  Columbia,  the  rate  of  taxation  bein^' 
nearly  £8  per  capita,  as  against  £24  in  the  latter  enl- 
ony.  The  princijuil  sources  of  revenue  at  this  Jato 
were  from  land  sales  and  liquor  licenses,  from  a  tax  ef 
one  per  cent  on  real  estate,  and  from  the  sums  e^l- 
lected  under  the  trade  licenses  amendment  act  of 
18G2.'^^     By  the  provisions  of  this  act,  merchants  and 

"  The  reason  for  the  slight  ilecrease  of  tliis  year  was  tliat  tlie  iiist.iliiiiiits 
due  l>v  lanuors  on  huui  purcliaseil  from  go\crnnient  were  postponeJ  o;i  ac- 
count (if  losses  sustained  during  au  unusually  severe  winter.  Maiji('-  I'.  A 
a.it  II.  C.S-.'O. 

'•'  For  the  administration  of  justice.  £7-1  was  voted;  for  the  mail  service, 
£-..">G0;  lor  ligtit-liouses,  £1,400;  and  for  charitable  allowances,  £o.'>0.  /I'l 

:?19. 

"The  real  estate  tax  produced  £i;!,OfiO;  trade  liceuses,  £j,510;  liijuor 
licenses,  £4,600;  uiid  laud  sule^,  £0,.'iS'J.   id.,  318. 


mi 


i 


£j,510;  li'iuor 


ECONOMY.  603 

traders  were  required  to  pay  an  annual  assessment, 
viuyin;.'',  according  tc  a  graduated  scale,  from  £2  a 
yeai'  lor  those  whose  sales  were  loss  than  £200,  to 
£G0  a  year  for  those  whose  receipts  exceeded  £100,- 
000.  For  bankers  and  auctioneers  the  license  was 
£50  a  year;  for  lawyers  and  real  estate  agents,  £10; 
for  civil  engineers,  architects,  surveyors,  and  proprie- 
tors of  billiard-saloons,  £5. 

In  one  of  the  most  distant  portions  of  the  British 
cmiiire  we  have  now  two  colonies  mustering  together 
w)iiio  twelve  or  thirteen  thousand  white  inhabitants, 
paying  on  an  average  under  this  crude  system  of  tax- 
ation nearly  £19  a  year  per  ca[)ita,  or  at  least  eight 
times  the  rate  levied  in  the  mother  country,  with  her 
army  and  navy,  her  peers,  her  j)rinces,  her  paupers,  and 
licr  I'rightful  incubus  of  debt.  Under  such  conditions, 
the  extinction  of  the  two  colonies  was  but  a  mat- 
ter of  time.  It  did  not  follow  that  because  Great 
Britain  had  jilaced  herself  in  the  condition  of  a  coun- 
try squire,  whose  estates  though  heavily  encumbered 
Were  not  hopelessly  encumbered,  her  youngest  off- 
spring should  thus  follow  her  example.  Loans  for 
British  Columbia  were  barely  negotiable  in  the  Lon- 
tluu  market,^*  and  could  be  placed  only  at  excessive 
rates  of  interest.  Moreover,  her  sister  colony,  sepa- 
rated by  less  than  twenty  leagues  fi-om  the  ^Mainland, 
was  undcigonig  a  severe  financial  depression,  occa- 
Mone'il  in  part  by  over-trading  and  speculation.  Some- 
thing must  be  done  in  the  matter,  and  at  least  the 
exix-nditurc  for  the  civil  list  mii>-ht  be  curtailed. 
\\hen,  therefore,  Captain  Kennedy,  successor  to 
iJouglas  at  Vancouver  Island,  landed  at  Victoria  in 
IBGl,  ho  was  received  with  eveiy  manifestation  of 
loyalty,  entliusiasm,  and  respect;  but  his  gratification 
was  somewhat  modified  by  the  announcement  that 
his  salary,  and  that  of  other  officials,  had  been  struck 

"Tlio  total  debt  of  British  Columbia  in  1807,  ilcdacting  sinking  fund  in- 
vestm.  iits.  was  §1,002,1)83;  of  Vancouver  Island,  $293,(iU8.  Jour.  LeyisL 
Cmnal,  B.  ('.,  1807,  app.  xvii. 

Ht8T.  BbIT.  COL.     38 


I 


'    o\ 


hi 


rl 


m 


■    !  I  I 


:-M 

i 

■1   .(• 

;    \ 

";i:r 

;    ■    ' 

.)  ' 

;l  ■  ' 

^ 


ll  >, 


t! 


IHUI 


■m 


•iflRI 

'II  n 

It!  11 


504 


UNION  AND  CONFKDEllATION. 


front  tho  cstiiiiatcs  for  the  year  by  a  unanimous  vote 
of  Iho  lugislaturu.'"' 

The  c'siiuiutcs  for  tho  civil  list  of  this  year  wvro 
proposed  hy  tho  duko  of  Newcastle,  his  grace  iull- 
nuiting  that  the  crown  lands,  then  about  to  bo  con- 
veyed by  tho  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  the  hoiiKs 
government  in  liquidation  of  claims,  should  bc^assigiK.d 
to  the  legislature,  and  that  from  the  proceeds  of  ^ulcs 
tho  salaries  of  tho  governor  and  other  officials  should 
bo  paid.  But  tho  sales  from  crown  lands  for  tlu; 
previous  yeai-  had  amounted  only  to  £4,500,  uliili; 
the  necessary  expenses  of  government  were  £o5,()(j0, 
Tho  proposition  of  his  grace  was  of  course  i-ejc  tcil, 
whereuj)on  her  ]\Iajosty's  government  decided  touiuto 
tho  two  colonies,  though  probably  somewhat  against 
the  will  of  tho  people  of  British  Columbia.  In  view 
of  tho  facts  that  have  been  stated,  however,  it  does 
not  appear  that  tho  ministry  wore  to  blame  in  tho 
matter.  A  yearly  expenditure  of  £GO,000  i'ov  the 
more  civil  list  of  the  two  colonies,  with  their  luuuh'iil 
of  inhabitants,  was  a  somewhat  novel  phase  in  tliu 
progress  of  British  colonization. 

According  to  tiio  provisions  of  tho  union  act,  enti- 
tled the  British  Columbia  act  of  18GG,  tho  authority 
of  tho  executive  government  and  legi?  laturo  of  Britisli 
Columbia  was  extended  over  Vancouver  Island,  tin; 
number  of  members  of  the  legislative  council  h(  in^' 
increased  to  twenty-three.  Tho  existing  ordiiiaiKv.s 
were  to  remain  in  force  until  otherwise  determined  In' 
law,  except  that  those  relating  to  the  customs  vw- 
nuos  of  British  Columbia  were  to  bo  "xtei  iod  i 
Vancouver   Island,   and   that  in   the  'or  were 

vested  all  powers  as  to  the  appointme  ^varelnuis- 

ing  ports,  and  of  warehouses  in  such  ^  i  s,  ton'  iher 
with  all  matters  relating  thereto.  Nothmgco*  Mined 
in  the  act  was  to  take  away  or  restrict  the  audunity 

''Kennedy  was  extremely  courteous  in  manner,  somewhat  of  a  flatterer, 
and  an  excellent  speaker;  Imttlie  people  soon  observed  that  these w>ie  alwul; 
the  best  charactoristica  he  possessed.  In  truth,  there  was  at  this  date  littla 
for  n  governor  to  do  except  to  be  courteous.  L'iliott'a  B.  C,  I'oiUks,  MS. 


iiinous  vote 


END  OF  THE  VANCOUVER  COLONY. 


•loa 


(if  tlic  governor  to  make  regulations  I'or  the  peace, 
onlcr,  and  good  government  of  the  two  colonie.s, 
(itlur  before  or  after  the  union. ''°  Thi^:;  act,  whic-h 
lii'.U's  date  the  Gth  of  August,  18GG,  was  [)roehiinied 
hy  the  gov(;rnor  on  the  17th  of  November  in  the 
same  year,*'  and  thenceforth  the  colony  of  Vancouver 
Island  ceased  to  exist,  the  attorney-general,  a  few 
weeks  later,  introducing  a  bill  for  assimilating  its 
laws  with  those  of  British  Columbia. 


TfT|ff  J 


The  confederation,  or  rather  the  legislative  union 
(if  Upper  and  Lower  Canada,  was  a  measure  first 
mooted  in  1822,  and  one  that  took  cft'cct  in  1841. 
Nevertheless,  the  party  contests  between  the  inhab- 
itants of  the  two  regions,  divided  as  the}'  were  by 
lace,  religion,  and  interests,  became  so  bitter  that,  as 
tlic  reader  is  aware,  matters  came  to  a  dead-lock. 
lioii':;e  the  idea  of  a  legislative  union  of  all  the  Brit- 
i  ',  American  colonies,  thou'di  reserving  to  each  its 
individuality  and  its  local  government.  Moreover, 
the  dangers  to  which  they  were  afterward  exi)osed 
Ky  the  possible  issues  of  the  civil  war  formed  an  ad- 
ditional incentive  to  their  union.  Thus  it  was  that 
the  leaders  of  the  several  parties  put  aside  their 
issues  and  a<xreed  to  make  common  cause,  to  which 
the  home  government  responded  bypassing  the  Brit- 
ish North  America  act  of  18G7,  whereby  the  colo- 
iiii.'s  could  unite  at  will  in  a  confederation  to  be 
known  as  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

Alter  the  passage  of  this  act  none  were  more  eager 
to  l)e  admitted  into  the  confederation  than  the  people 
of  British  Columbia;  but  this  was  not  yet  Lo  bo.  On 
the  17th  of  December,  18G8,  the  leQfislacure  met  for 
the  lirst  time  at  Victoria,  according  to  the  expressed 
(lesiie  of  the  colonists,  including  the  residents  of  the 

''"Ad  >  and  30  Vict.,  in  Jour.  Legid.  Coiincil,  D.  C,  186",  1-2.  l?y 
tliis  act,  -I  ami  -2  Vict.,  to  provide  for  tl'e  government  of  15.  C,  ami  -G  and 
27  Vict.,  to  define  the  bouniiaries  of  tiie  ( olouy,  and  for  otlier  purposes,  were 
re[ical(jil. 

'•  For  copy  of  proclamation;  see  Id.,  2. 


\m'': 


\i 


■i!     :l 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


!,     *V> 


niainlard,  tbough  very  much  against  the  governor's 
wish.^  His  excellency  remarked  that  it  was  his 
pleasing  duty  to  state  that  the  colony  did  not  appear 
to  be  in  a  condition  to  create  despondency;  that  1)\^ 
unmitigated  economy  he  had  reduced  the  expenses  of 
government  by  $88,092,  and  that  he  had  never  taken 
upon  himself  "to  appoint  a  higher  officer  than  a  con- 
stable." Tbey  must  wait,  however,  for  admission  as 
a  province  until  the  intervening  territory  under  con- 
trol of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company"*'  should  have 
been  incorporated. 

The  people  of  British  Columbia  did  not  want  such 
government.  They  would  very  nmch  have  prefeind 
such  a  ruler  as  Douglas,  with  his  courtly  mien,  ami 
even  with  his  reckless  disregard  for  the  credit  of  the 
colony,  to  this  negative  and  timid  magistrate.  Tliou^h 
his  lavish  hospitality  may  have  saved  him  from  buiii'jf 
unpopular,  at  his  decease,  which  occurred  in  Juno  of 
the  following  year,  there  were  few  who  sincerely 
mourned  his  loss.^°  In  his  successor,  Anthony  Mus- 
grave,  C.  M.  G.,  who  held  office  until  the  1st  of  July, 
1871,  or,  as  it  is  known,  the  first  dominion  day,  llio 
people  gladly  recognized  a  governor  whose  tact,  de- 
cision, and  experience  fitted  him  for  the  control  of  men. 

'■''^SL-yinour's  ncldress  to  the  council  on  the  proposed  change  of  the  scit  of 
govennncnt  is  Kiiiiply  pitifnl.  It  concluiles:  'lie  trusts  that  no  inline. ii.Ic 
action  may  lie  urged  upon  liiiti,'  but,  sliould  any  ))o  rc(]uired,  'ho  will  liunlily 
rcconnnciul  to  Uic  (|uecn  that  lie  and  liia  successors  in  oliicc  lie  cuuiiniuhL  '.  lo 
reside  permanently  in  the  present  capital  of  the  colony. '  Jour.  Lvijial.  (  hho- 
cAK  li.  C,  1SG7,  t)'2.  To  this  the  business  men,  fanners,  miners,  etc.,  nf 
till'  island  and  mainland  responded  that  Victoria  wiif  the  most  suitalile  sji't. 
A  petition  to  this  purport  vas  signed  by  CO  residents  of  New  \Vesimi;i~Ai. 
Aiiiong  the  1.407  inhabitants  of  Vancouv.;r  Island  who  ]ietitiiiMe(l  his  txul- 
kiicy  were  W.  J.  Macdonald,  mayor  (t  Victoria,  and  Roderick  Fiid:iy--' n, 
chiif  factor  II.  15.  Co.     From  tlio  mainland  the  total  signature;  nuMilnic! 


:.ll 

l!ie 


llie 


8I-.  /»/.,  ap.  xvi.  In  the  legislative  council  a  resolution  wa;  jiasseii,  1'; 
uliirniativc  vote  of  14  to  5,  that  Victoria  was  the  most  suitable  jilace  (ui 
scat  of  Icgi-slaturc.  Id.,  18C8,  11-1'2. 

'"Manitoba. 

•'•'Seymour  died  on  board  H,  M.  S.  Sparroichnwl;  while  on  a  trip  ti 
noi  Lhei^ii  port'jii  of  the  colony.  Cooper's  Matithnr  Maltrr^,  MS.,  'Jl.  ll  "O 
can  believe  Mr  Elliott,  he  spent  all  his  salary  and  'mpaiied  his  private  fintiiuo 
by  \iU  io:)lish  hospitality.  In  Ih'itish  Columbia  I'oiitifx,  hij  A.  ('.  IJ  ioil,  .MS., 
1  have  liuen  furnished  with  a  brief  sketch  of  the  cliaraetori.«tics  ami  career  of 
the  rulers  of  B.  C.  and  V.  I.,  from  the  rOginie  of  (iov.  Seymour  to  tli.it  ef 
Guv.  Trutcii,  with  some  incidents  in  the  politiuul  unuals  of  both  colonies. 


n-*  I 


GOVERNOR  MUSGRAVE. 


697 


III  Lis  inaugural  address,  ^lusgrave  expressed  his 
conviction  that,  under  certain  conditions,  which  he 
thought  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  arrange,  the  colony 
might  derive  substantial  benefit  from  the  union,  and 
that  with  the  advice  of  his  council  he  had  prepared  a 
s'lienie  which  he  would  cause  to  be  laid  before  them; 
that,  while  the  views  of  her  Majesty's  government 
had  been  clearly  and  forcibly  expressed  on  the  matter,"' 
Ihere  was  no  desire  to  urge  the  union,  unless  it  were 
ill  accordnnce  with  the  wishes  of  her  Majesty's  sub- 
jects. The  resolutions  presented  by  Musgrave  were 
adopted  with  but  slight  alterations."'^ 

A  delegatit)n  was  sent  to  Ottawa  to  lay  before  the 
dominion  government  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the 
council,  to  explain  the  views  and  wants  of  the  colony, 
iind  to  ascertain  how  far  they  could  be  fulfilled.  In 
his  address  at  the  opening  of  the  session  of  1871,  the 
governor  laid  before  the  legi..' ^^'^rc  the  report  of  the 
piivy  council  of  Canada  on  the  subject,  remarking 
that  the  terujs  accepted  were  as  liberal  as  the  colony 
could  fairly  expect,  and  in  some  respects  more  advan- 
tageous than  thos3  submitted  by  the  colony,  lie 
(hi  refore  recommended  them  at  once  to  pass  an 
address  to  her  Majesty,  in  accordance  with  the  ])ro- 
Aisions  of  the  British  North  America  act  of  18G7, 
playing  lor  admission.^'^ 

»'  Soo  ,/otir.  Lc'/ist.  CounrU,  B.  C,  187S,  2S  et  r.  i  On  tlio  24tli  of 
Api  il,  18GS,  iui  ikMioss  to  the  (jiiouii  was  moved,  in  wliicli  tlic  conditii^.is  of 
111'.'  uiiiou  wo'u  hiiil  down  in  a  soniuwhat  liij^di-handcd  manner.  A'l  amend- 
iiii'nt  was  carried,  in  which  it  was  declared  that,  wiiiKj  the  council  was  in 
favcr  (if  the  union,  they  were  without  euliicient  information  airl  experience 
(1  the  jiractical  worliin;;  of  confederation  in  the  North  Ameilcan  prcjvi'ices  to 
tnl  jiistilied  in  <lelining  the  terms  on  whicli  such  a  union  wouhl  ho  to  their 
advantage,  . 

'Mn  a  despatch  to  (iov.  Musgrave,  dated  Aug.  14,  1809,  Karl  GranviUe 
st;it''s  that  the  queen  would  ]irolialily  ho  advised  heldre  long  to  i.s.suc  an  orihT 
iii  ciiiincil,  incorporating  ill  the  ilondnion  all  the  British  pos.sesisions  in  N.  Atii. 
^^ith  the  exception  of  H.  C.  'J'ho  (juestion  therefore  presented  il.self,  wheiher 
Ihis  single  colony  should  he  excluded.  On  that  (piestion  the  colonists  did  not 
"I'ji'ar  to  lie  nnaninions;  but,  judging  from  his  ilespatches,  the  pr(!\inliiig 
<i|.iiii(in  appeared  to  he  in  favor  of  union.  He  had  no  hesitation  in  staling 
tli:it  swell  was  also  the  opinion  of  her  Majesty's  goveruuient.  ,SV«.s.  y'a/.(-/-.i, 
Jirl'.  Col,  ISSl,  i:?9. 

"./o((r.  LuiiJ.  Cowicd,  Ji.  C,  IS"1,2.  For  proposed  and  accepted  terms. 
Bee  .S('4«.  Puiicrn,  Brit.  Col..  1881.  140-3. 


: 

I; 

f  ■ 
i; 

(  i 

I  t 


■2, 
I       '«' 


11 


t 


n"f^ 


kf^* 


its''  f« 


4 


1 


i 


698 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


According  to  the  terms  of  the  union  of  Britisli 
Columbia  with  Canada,  the  latter  was  made  liable 
for  the  debts  and  oblij^ations  of  <he  colony  existinLf  at 
the  time.  British  Columbia,  not  having  incurred  lia- 
bilities equal  to  those  of  the  provinces  then  constitut- 
ing the  dominion,  was  to  be  entitled  to  interest  at  tlio 
rate  of  five  per  cent  on  the  diflerencc  between  her  in- 
debtedness and  that  of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Bruns- 
wick, pro  rata  of  their  population.^*  For  the  su])p()i't 
of  her  government  and  legislature  a  subsidy  of  $;J5,000 
a  year  was  to  be  paid,  together  with  a  grant  of  eighty 
cents  per  capita  of  the  inhabitants,  then  estimated  at 
GO, 000,^^  such  grant  to  be  augmented  according  to  the 
increase  in  population  until  it  should  amount  to  400,- 
000,  after  whicli  the  grant  should  not  be  further  in- 
creased. The  dominion  was  to  provide  an  cllicient 
mail  service  fortnightly  by  steamer  between  Victoria 
and  San  Francisco,  and  twice  a  week  between  Victoria 
and  Olympia,  the  vessels  to  be  adapted  for  the  coii- 
veyance  of  freight  and  passengers.  Canada  was  to 
assume  and  defray  all  charges  incidental  to  the  ser- 
vices which,  by  the  British  North  America  act  (if 
18G7,  pertain  to  the  general  government,  as  the  salary 
of  the  lieutenant-governor,  the  expenses  of  the  su- 
preme and  district  courts,  of  the  customs,'"'  the  [jostal 
and  telegr'aph  services.  Pensions  were  also  to  be  pro 
vided  for  those  whose  position  and  emoluments  wouiu 
be  affected  by  these  changes. 

British  Columbia  was  to  be  represented  in  the  sen- 
ate of  the  dominion  bv  three  members,  and  in  tln' 
commons  by  six,  this  representation  to  be  increase  1 

^*  In  1871  the  indebtedness  of  is^ova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick  was  f'27.77 
per  licad.  This  provision  was  altered  in  llio  terms  of  tlie  union  act,  assciitol 
to  March '2,  IfSTJ,  whereby  15.  C.  was  to  receive  from  the  domiuion  guviiii- 
nient  from  time  to  time  sums  of  money  not  to  exceed  the  dillerence  hetwwu 
the  actual  dcl)t  and  tlie  allowed  debt  of  the  province.  Jlensatje  rel.  to  Tei  ws  of 
l.'iii  .11  .1(7,  53. 

^•' This  is  probably  nn  cxaggiTation.  In  a  work  issued  by  the  agent-ut'ii- 
eral  of  iho  province  in  London,  containing  much  reliable  and  well-cunili::^'  1 
infoinialidU,  and  entitled  Urit.  Col.  Inform,  /or  Emiijrautn,  the  popuiaLimi, 
incluiliug  Indians,  is  estimated  in  187-  at  4J,000. 

^"The  cu>toms  ami  excise  duties  were  to  continue  in  force  until  the  racillo 
coast  was  cunncctcil  by  rail  with  Canada. 


Lr  i  :ii 


■^'\\ml 


■  il 


UNION  WITH  CANADA. 


699 


iitil  tliu  raciilo 


from  time  to  time  under  the  act  of  18G7,  the  pro 
visions  of  which  were  to  apply  to  British  Columbia  as 
fully  as  if  that  colony  had  been  one  of  the  provinces 
()ri;^finally  united  under  the  act. 

A'>d  now  follow  the  most  important  clauses  in  the 
agreement,  |)ortions  of  which  I  present  to  the  reader 
verbatim:  "The  government  of  the  dominion  under- 
take to  secure  the  commencement  simultaneously, 
within  two  years  from  the  date  of  the  union,  of  the 
tniistruction  of  a  railway  from  the  Pacific  towards 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from  such  point  as  may 
1)0  selected  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  towards  the 
racific,  to  connect  the  seaboard  of  British  Columbia 
with  the  railway  system  of  Canada;  and  further,  to 
secure  the  completion  of  such  railway  within  ten  years 
iVoni  tlie  date  of  the  union.  And  the  government  of 
British  Columbia  agree  to  convey  to  the  dominion 
gdvernment,  in  trust,  to  be  appropriated  in  such  man- 
ner as  the  dominion  government  may  deem  advisable, 
ill  furtherance  of  the  construction  of  the  said  railway, 
a  similar  extent  of  public  lands  along  the  lino  of  rail- 
way throughout  its  entire  length  in  British  Colum- 
bia, not  to  exceed,  however,  twenty  miles  on  each 
siilo  of  said  line,  as  may  be  appropriated  for  the  same 
purpose  by  the  dominion  government  from  the  publii; 
lauds  in  the  north-west  territories  and  the  province 
nf  ^lanitoba.  .  .In  consideration  of  the  land  to  be  so 
cdiueyed  in  aid  of  the  construction  of  the  said  rail- 
way the  dominion  government  agree  to  pay  to  British 
Cnlunibia  from  the  date  of  the  union  tlie  sum  of 
!?IUO,000  por  annum,  in  half-yearly  payments  in  ad- 
vance. The  dominion  government  shall  guarantee 
the'  interest  for  ten  years  from  the  date  of  the  com- 
pletion of  the  works  at  the  rate  of  live  per  centum 
per  annum  on  such  sun',  not  exceeding  £IUO,()0() 
sterling,  as  may  be  required  for  the  construction  of  a 
lirst-class  gravmg-dock  at  Es(juiuialt."^' 

"  l!y  tlio  terms  of  union  anionilincnt  net,  nssentc<l  to  Mar.  2,  1S7I,  British 
Culiiiuliia  was  to  rt'ceivo  t'roni  tlio  <loininion  governnieiit  i;."iO,()00  toward  tlio 
cuiiainicLion  of  the  doclv  in  lieu  of  interest.   Mtn^ajc  nl.  tu  TtnM  of  (Jniun,  53. 


600 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


fi'f 


The  care  of  Indians  and  the  management  of  lands 
reserved  for  them  were  to  be  assumed  by  the  domin- 
ion government.  Traets  of  such  extent  as  it  had  been 
the  custom  of  British  Columbia  to  appropriate  were 
to  be  conveyed  for  that  purpose  by  the  local  govern- 
ment to  the  dominion  government  as  they  might  be 
needed,  and  were  to  be  held  in  trust  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  the  natives. 

Finallv,  the  constitution  of  the  executive  and  lci>is- 
lature  was  to  remain  as  it  existed  at  the  time  of  the 
union,  until  altered  under  the  authority  of  the  ]3riti;>li 
North  America  act,  it  being  understood  that  the  do- 
minion would  consent  to  the  introduction  of  responsi- 
ble government  when  desired  by  the  inhabitants  of 
British  Columbia,  and  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
governor,  under  the  authority  of  the  secretary  of  state 
for  th'':  colonies,  to  amend  the  constitution  of  the  legis- 
lature, by  providing  that  a  majority  of  its  members 
should  be  elective,  the  province  having  also  the  vi^lit 
of  specifying  tlie  districts  for  which  the  first  elccliou 
of  members  for  the  commons  should  take  place. ^^ 

It  was  provided  that  on  the  presentation  of  ad- 
dresses i'rom  the  legislature  of  British  Columbia  and 
the  Canadian  houses  of  parliament,  the  union  should 
take  effect  on  such  day  as  her  Majesty  might  a[)point. 
On  the  20th  of  January,  1871,  an  address  was  adopted 
by  the  former,  without  a  dissenting  vote,  and  tlio 
above  terms  and  conditions  having  been  previously 
agreed  to  b}'  a  committee  of  the  privy  council  ol'  tlio 
dominion  after  considerable  discussion  with  delegates 
sent  Irom  British  Columbia,^"  the  measure  received 
the  queen's  consent  and  the  union  was  consumniutetl. 

No  time  was  lost  in  taking  advantage  of  the  cl;ui>e 
in  the  terms  of  confederation  relating  to  the  establish- 
ment of  responsible  government,  which  was  in  t;ut 
[)rovided  for  belbre  the  agreement  had  received  I  ho 


unpc 
oil  tl 
oove 

n 


"The  full  text  of  the  agreement  will  also  be  found  in  Jour,  Le<j\sl.  Vonucil, 
B.  C.  IS71,  14-10. 

•"Trutch,  Helmuken,  and  Carrall.  Id.,  4. 


■^^Tf^ 


\lh^ 


CONSTITUTION  ACT. 


601 


iiuperia,!  consent.  At  a  meeting  of  the  coiUK-il,  held 
oil  the  12th  of  January,  1871,  it  was  resolved  that  the 
governor  be  requested  to  transmit  to  the  house,  in 
acciirdance  with  his  inaugural  address,  a  bill  increasing 
the  number  of  elective  members  and  excluding  nomi- 
nated members,  so  that  responsible  government  should 
coiiie  into  operation  at  the  first  session  of  the  legisla- 
ture subsequent  to  the  union  with  Canada.*'^  On  the 
14tli  of  February  a  bill  received  the  governor's  signa- 
ture, entitled  the  constitution  act  of  1871,  whereby  it 
w;i!s  provided  that  the  legislative  council  should  be 
aboHshed  and  a  legislative  assembly  substituted  in  its 
.stead,  the  latter  to  be  elected  once  in  four  years,  and 
consist  of  twenty-five  members,  chosen  by  twelve 
I'lcctoral  districts."  No  public  contractor,  and  no  per- 
siiii  holding  office  whereto  a  salary  or  emolument  of 
any  kind  was  attached,  payable  from  the  revenues  of 
the  colony,  was  eligible  as  a  member;  thougii  members 
of  the  executive  council  were  eligible,  provided  they 
were  elected  while  holdinu:  such  office.  The  latter 
wore  to  be  composed  of  such  persons  as  the  governor 
niii^ht  select,  not  exceeding  five  in  number,  and  in  the 
lii.--t  instance  were  to  include  the  colonial  secretary, 
the  attorney-general,  and  the  chief  commissioner  of 
lands  and  works.  The  powers  of  the  executive  were 
to  iL'uuiii)  in  force  as  they  before  existed,  so  far  as  they 
Were  unaltered  by  the  constitution  act,  or  by  tlie  Brit- 
ish Xorth  America  act,^^  or  by  order  of  her  ^Majesty 
iu  council,  or  by  act  of  the  British  parliament.'*'' 
A  month  later  an  act  was  passed,  entitled  the  Quali- 

'"//.,  1871,  9-10.     The  resolution  was  moved  by  Mr  Hclinckcu. 

"  Afteiwaiil  increased  to  1.'?. 

'•'  liy  thin  act  it  waspi-oviiled  that  the  chief  magistrate  of  tlio  colony  should 
laiik  a.-i  lieut-gov.,  and  bo  ap|iijinted  by  thu  gov.-gcii.  of  L'aiiada,  liis  n'spnn.si- 
li!c  ailvisei's  being  the  atty-gen.,  wlio  also  held  oliice  ascol(jiual  seci'etary,  the 
luiiiisloruf  liiiauce,  and  the  eliief  eoiiiiiiissioner  of  hiiuls  and  works.  'J'hus  it 
v.iil  Iro  t-ern  that  the  composition  of  the  executive  council  was  altered  liy  tiio 
I  'ii-ititution  act,  tliougli  tlio  alterations  made  iu  its  |)owcrs  were  of  slight  im- 
I'litaiice,  tiie  principal  one  being  that  uo  part  of  the  revcinie  of  tlie  colony 
!^  iinild  he  paid  out  from  the  treasury  except  by  warrant  over  the  governor's 
ti^'iialure. 

"  For  text  of  the  coustitutiou  act,  see  Acts  LegisL  Council,  B.  C,  1871, 
.Vu.  a  of  mil  Vict. 


■  :  ft 

1    if> 

!'  ■  '■ ! 

i 

■ii'i  \\'\ 


!• 


G02 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


fication  and  Hegistration  of  Voters  act  of  1871,"  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  which  no  person 
could  be  elected  a  nieniber  of  the  legislature  who  had 
not  been  a  resident  within  the  colony  for  at  least  one 
year  previous  to  the  date  of  his  election,  or  who  was 
a  minister  of  any  religious  denomination,  whattvtr 
might  be  his  rank  or  title.  Conciirning  the  franchise, 
the  regulations  were  unusually  restrictive,  when  com- 
pared with  those  of  other  British  colonies,  in  some  of 
which,  as  in  New  South  Wales,  suffrage  exists  in  its 
simplest  form,  six  months'  previous  residence  being  tln' 
sole  qualification.  In  British  Columbia  the  elector,  if 
a  British  subject,  must  be  able  to  read  the  English 
language,  or,  if  a  foreign-born  subject,  the  language  of 
his  native  country,  and  must  have  resided  in  the  colony 
for  six  months  before  sending  in  his  claim  to  vote.  He 
nmst  possess  a  freehold  estate,  situated  within  his 
electoral  district,  of  the  clear  value  of  $250,  or  a  lease- 
hold estate  of  the  annual  value  of  $40,  or  be  a  house- 
holder or  lodger  occupying  premises  or  apartments 
rented  at  the  same  valuation,  or  pay  for  board  and 
lodging  at  least  $200  a  year,  or  must  hold  a  duly 
recorded  preemption  claim  or  mining  license,  tlic  for- 
mer of  not  less  than  one  hundred  acres.'"' 

Tlas  was  British  Columbia  fairly  launched  on  her 

■"^I'liis  biiing  the  short  title,  the  act,  in  common  with  many  others  jiasseJ 
by  I'lO  legishituie,  having  a  longer  title  for  its  heading,  whicli  roads  in  tiiis 
case,  'An  act  to  amend  the  law  as  to  tlio  (lualihcatioii  of  electors  and  vi  elec- 
tive iiicmbers  of  the  legislature,  and  to  provide  lor  the  registration  ol  persons 
entitled  to  vote  at  cloctiona  of  sucli  niend)ers.' 

'-'/(/.,  1S71,  Xo.  IJo/o-'/lh  I'ict.,  p.  2.  No  foreign-born  subject  wlio  had 
renDiuiccd  his  alk^giancc  or  become  a  citizen  of  a  foreign  state  could  he  re.u'i''- 
tei-od  under  tlic  provisions  of  this  act  until  he  had  again  taken  tiio  ualii  ef 
allegiance  to  her  Majesty.  With  regard  to  aliens,  the  regulalions  weiu  the 
same  as  those  existing  in  the  dominion,  as  provided  in  cap.  Cli,  ol.st  \'iet , 
1S()S.  After  an  uninterrupted  residence  for  three  years,  an  alien  mIki  iKid 
taken  or  caused  to  be  H!cd  the  oaths  of  allegiance  and  residence  beeiune  en- 
titled to  a  certificate  of  naturalization,  and  enjoyed  all  the  rights  of  a  natiu'id- 
born  subject.  The  only  charges  were  '25  cents  for  the  certilieateand  ."id  cents 
for  recording.  An  alien-born  woman  when  married  to  a  Ihiiisli  suhjeet  bo- 
canie  thendiy  naturalized.  On  tile  '22d  of  Marcii  the  election  regnlatioiisaet, 
1S71,  received  tiie  guvenior's  signature,  its  provisions  relating  maiiil.\  to  tlie 
appointment  and  duties  of  returning  otHcers,  election  clerks,  and  poll  i  leiks. 
For  text,  SCO  Act. i  Le<jUL  Coiiiidl,' B.  ('.,  Xo.  13  of  S.'flh  Vht.  Five  days 
later  the  Corrupt  I'ractices  I'revention  act  was  jtassed,  'to  prevent  liiiljeiy, 
treating,  i  nd  undue  inlluencu  at  elections  of  members  of  the  legislature.' 


m 


■  i  II  ,'■ 


COLONIAL  PROGRESS. 


603 


I    f 


career  as  a  province  of  the  dominion  under  tlic  forms 
lit'  icsponsible  government,  and  with  a  prospfct  of 
bocnming  at  no  very  distant  day  one  of  the  most  val- 
iialilo  of  England'^  colonial  possessions.  Since  tlio 
ilosc  ot  the  Douglas  regime  the  financial  status  of 
ilio  colony  had  materially  improved;  her  debt  had 
bjcii  extinguished  by  the  terms  of  the  confedera- 
tion, while  her  expenditure  had  been  greatly  reduced, 
lliua])j)ropriation  for  the  service  of  1871  being  8347,- 
53J,  or  some  §25  per  capita  of  the  white  population, 
then  estimated  at  about  fourteen  thousand,  as  against 
8110  for  1803.  Meanwhile,  as  we  have  seen,  roads 
liail  been  opened  to  the  principal  mining  districts,  and 
public  works  had  been  pushed  forward  vigoi'ously. 
Though  slow  of  growth  compared  with  other  gold-bear- 
iii;^'  regions,  in  prosperity  and  industrial  enterprise  the 
[iioviuce  compared  not  unfavorably  with  many  i>or- 
tiuns  of  the  Pacific  coast.  Her  cereal  crops  rivalled 
ill  quality  those  of  California,  and  her  root  crofjs  were 
not  inferior  to  those  of  Oregon.  On  her  pastures 
wore  raised  sheep  and  cattle  whose  flesh  was  not  ex- 
allod  in  flavor  by  the  stall-fed  beef  of  Aberdeen  and 
the  South-Down  mutton  of  England.  Manufactures 
wore  not  inconsiderable,  and  were  expanding  year  by 
year.*''  The  value  of  exports,  including,  besides  gold, 
twenty-one  articles  of  home  production,  was  estimated 
lor  1870  at  $1,848,803,  and  of  imports  at  $1,005,800, 
leaving  a  balance  of  trade  in  favor  of  the  colony 
amounting  to  $242,994.*'  Labor  was  in  fair  demand, 
at  r;ites  fully  equal  to  those  })re vailing  in  Caliibrnia;*^ 
and  a  thrifty  mechanic  could  save  from  each  day's 
wao'cs  the  price  of  an  acre  of  land. 

"'Ill  1S71  tliere  were  in  various  piirts  of  the  province  14  saw-mills,  11 
il'iiniii:,'  mills,  ;{  brcweriea,  .'1  distilleries,  '2  tanuerius,  2  susli  factiirie:^,  a  sliip- 
Naitl,  ail  iiun-founJcry,  a  soap  factory,  and  a  beet-su^ar  factory.  Jl.  ('.  luforin. 

J 'I-  h'nri.i,:,  ;j;j-4. 

'■  l»iuiii^'  1871,  292  vessels  entered  the  ports  of  ^.  C,  with  an  aj:i;rejrate 
tMiiiia-i;  (if  i;!l,()'JO.     Clearances  luinibored  28."),  tlioii  tonua'^e  bein;,'  l_",l,8li4. 

'"(',i;|ieiitL'rs  were  paid  S3to6ta  day;  niasoiw,  painters,  plastuvi^.  and 
li'ii' li-iuillis,  §;j.oO  to  §4;  coopers,  cabinet-makers,  tinsmiths,  and  wiieol- 
wiiuiii^,  :?!;  common  laborers,  $2..")0  a  day;  aud  farm  laborers.  $20  to  §40  per 
iiiuuih,  with  board. 


i 


iKJ 


(?     .M- 


604 


UNION  AND  CONFEDERATION. 


Not  least  amon^  the  noticeable  features  in  tin; 
records  o?  tlie  colonial  authorities  is  their  kimllv 
ti'eatnient  of  the  natives;  and  in  later  years  t!ie  nuiu- 
ber  and  extent  of  Indian  reserves/"  which  were  selcctnl 
not  because  they  were  uninhabitable  by  white  luuii, 
but  with  a  view  to  the  preservation  of  the  diirnvnt 
races,  on  sites  well  adapted  to  agriculture  and  gi.i/.in.:, 
and  well  su[)plied  with  timber  and  water.  In  l>(]i) 
the  native  population  was  estimated,  as  we  have  seen, 
at  30,000,^"  and  in  1871  it  was  about  the  same  num- 
ber.''' At  the  latter  date  Indians  were  largely  em- 
ploj'^ed  in  the  interior  as  laborers,  herders,  and  laiin- 
liands,  those  who  understood  how  to  treat  them  IkIh;' 
glad,  in  return  for  their  services,  to  feed  and  house 
them,  ]iaying  them  besides  $20  to  $30  per  ni(»iit!i. 
Some  of  them  disj)layed  ability  as  artisans;  sonic  were 
engaged  in  placer  mining  on  the  Thompson  and  Frasir 
rivers,  and  not  a  few  had  farms  and  cattle  of  their  dwii. 

''■"For  location  of  reserves  in  18U2-.3,  sec  B.  C.  fnd.  Land  Qiics/ioii,  "Jd, 'JO- 
30;  for  (Icseriptiou  of  Kaniloop,  Shiishwap,  uos  1  ami  '_',  Ailanis  Ldhv.  nvA 
Lower  I'raser  iiiver  reserves  in  ISOO,  see  Id.,  .'JS-'J,  41-.'),  47,  r)4-7;  foi'slati  i 
of  ISon^iish  reserve  and  list  of  other  reserves  in  18G9,  /(/.,  G4-S,  IC")  (ill;  iVr 
lists,  location,  anil  area  in  1871,  Id.,  9J-0,  104-0;  for  correspondence  rclaiiii,' 
to  reserves  in  187.'i-."),  i/ohc.  Lcjlsl.  Ann.,  1875,  app.  005- SO;  for  Hr/itCoii).  Ex. 
Co'oicv/ eoneerning  reserves  in  187"),  Sesn.  I'ajxr.i,  Bril.  Col.,  1S7I>,  pp.  ■''7-7-. 
lOo-.'i'JS;  for  papei 8  relating  to  reserves  ill  1877, /</.  1877,483-4.  Forims.'^i'U 
on  Xaas  lliver  in  1809,  sec  B.  C.  lud.  Land  Qni'.'itioii,  03.  In  1873-4  .V.VI.OOO 
wa.s  appropriated  by  govt  for  the  expenses  of  reservations.  Id.,  lo4. 

'"'See  p.  7">,  this  vol. 

^'{"liittenden  estimates  the  Indian  population  of  B.  C.  in  1882at  Sj.OOO,  the 
llaidahs  and  Chinisyans  being  among  themo.st  populous  tribes.  Tranl^  in  11. 
('.  and  J  lanl.a,  rj-13.  For  report  on  the  condition  of  the  Kootciuii  Siji.ii! 
Indians  in  1883,  see  Scui.  /'((^icc.f,  B.  ('.,  1884,  ]).  3"2").  The  outnrc;il^s  tluil 
occurred  among  Indians  before  the  gold  discoveries  were  not,  as  we  have  h'H, 
of  a  formidable  nature.  The  more  important  ones  that  occurred  Litci'  iiave 
already  l)een  mentioned.  Sec  p.  4'20-9,  this  vol.  For  Indian  troubles  at  V;iii 
couver  Island  in  1800,  see  Sacr.  Union,  Oct.  4,  I8o0;  for  massacre  of  mimis  l^y 
Indians  at  Nicola  River,  .S'.  F.  Bulletin,  Oct.  5,  1858;  for  Uiurders  by  Iiuiinni 
in  1859,  /(/.,  March  8,  18,59,  Sacr.  Union, 'Sov.  23,  1859;  for  depredatiiiiisainl 
disturbances  in  1870,  S.  F.  Bnlhtin,  Juno  13,  July  13,  Nor.  2.',  '.'3,  MiO;  .V 
F.  Alia,  Juno  1.3,  July  3,  1800;  Sacr.  Union,  June  21,  July  13,  1800;  t'oiuut- 
rages  in  1808,  H.  F.  Alia,  June  28,  1808.  In  1872  there  vas  an  ludi.ii  ".!■ 
bre;di  at  the  Forks,  during  which  a  number  of  white  men  were  massacn  il.  //■. 
July  23,  1872.  In  1879  an  uprising  was  feared  in  the  Kamloops  ilisuitt 
among  the  Nicola  Indians.  For  an  account  of  this  afTair,  see  Briii..h  ( oV 
lii.<t,  Dec.  1.3,  14,  10,  13,  28,  31,  1879.  For  lud.  murders  in  1884,  sec  S.  f. 
C^dl,  Jan.  12,  1884.  Small-pox  among  lud.,  S.  F.  Bulli'tin,  Jan.  22,  Mp: 
I'irtoria  Chronkh',  in  Sacr.  Union,  Jan.  24,  1803;  S.  F.  Timc.<,  isept.  30, 
1^08;  .S".  /'.  Call,  June  28,  ISGS,  Nov.  10,  1870.  In  the  last  of  thesoyciuattto 
thirds  of  au  eutii'o  tribe  were  swept  away. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 

1854-1872. 

XnE  Aki  iiiPELAoo  DE  Haro — San  Jua.v  Island  Occupied  by  ihe  Hud- 
sdv's  Bay  Company — Costoms  Duks  Demaniikd  for  the  United 
SiATKs  — Cdmmissionees  Appointed  —  Theiii  AuorMKNT.s  —  Indian 
TiiiHDLEs — The  Affair  of  the  Hoo— A  Military  Post  Established 

r.V  (iKNERAL    HaUNEY  —  ARRIVAL    01'    I'ltlTISH    MeN-OF-WAH— AnD   OF 

Tin:  U.  S.  Steamer  'Massachusetts'— Fuotest  of  Douolas — IIar- 
m:v's  Reply — Landing  of  U.  S.  Troops— Casey's  Trip  to  Esyui. 
mai.t— Its  Result — A  Compiiomihe  Offered  by  Lord  Lyons — Atti- 
T'liK  of  President  Buchanan — General  Scott  Ordered  to  the 
Tacific  Coast — Negotiations— Harney  Recalled — Arbitration  and 
Dix'isioN. 

SixcE  the  treaty  of  1846  the  people  of  British 
Citluiiibia  and  those  of  the  United  States  had  eacli 
i'OL;ar<lcd  the  group  of  islands  forming  the  Archipelago 
do  1  [aro,  lying  between  the  continent  and  the  .soulii- 
crii  (Mid  of  Vancouver  Island,  as  belonging  to  them, 
acroicHng  to  the  first  articles  of  that  compact,  which 
ie;i(!s  as  follows:  "From  the  point  on  the  49th  paral- 
lel of  north  latitude,  where  the  boundary  laid  down 
in  existing  treaties  and  conventions  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  United  States  terminates,  the  line  of 
Inuiiulary  between  the  territories  of  her  l^ritannic 
Maji'sty  and  those  of  the  United  States  shall  be  con- 
tinued westward  along  the  49th  parallel  of  north  lati- 
tiulo  to  the  middle  of  the  channel  which  separates 
llic  continent  from  Vancouver's  Island;  and  thence 
southerly  through  the  middle  of  said  channel,  and  of 
Fuca  Straits,  to  the  Pacific  Ocean;  provided,  how- 
L'Vcr,  that  the  navigation   of  the  said  channel  and 

(605) 


606 


TUE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY, 


>     t 


sti'aits,  soulli  of  the  49th  parallel  of  north  latituile, 
rc'iiiaiii  free  and  open  to  both  parties." 

A  refiToneo  to  the  map  of  this  region  shows  a  pas- 
sago  about  seven  miles  in  width  between  the  arclii- 
pelago  and  Vancouver  Island,  known  as  the  Canal  dc 
Jlaro.  I>ctwcen  the  islands  ajjpear  numerous  small 
])assagcs,  and  between  the  group  and  the  mainland, 
another  channel  less  than  half  the  width  of  Canal  de 
Haro,  known  as  Rosario  Strait,  lying  some  distance 


m 


x^-v. 


r^ 


llir.h  llaiA 


\) 


SiwJii  Pt.'- 


Whitchorn  Pt.K^  /..TirrW  -^ 

•Ir.ll.r 
.  _      ^      .        ...  y       "     „  " '■"    I.UTilml<v"^ — ?%/ 

r'^^X.  /olis^^,  ^,'h 


i^'- sf%\J ' 

^    j  FIDALQOU  r 


Partridgii  Pt.\ 


Akchipelaoo  de  Habo. 

to  the  east  of  the  point  in  the  middle  of  the  ciKUinel 
at  the  49th  parallel.  The  archipelago  consists  of  San 
Juan,  as  the  Spaniards  had  named  it — Bellevuo,  as 
the  English  called  it — Orcas,  Lopez,  Waldron,  Jilake- 
ley,  Decatur,  Shaw,  and  several  smaller  islands. 
The  largest,  San  Juan,  contains  about  50,000  acres.' 

*liept  of  11.  H.  Crosbie,  in  //.  Ex.  Doc.  77,  xii.  7,  SOtk  Conii.,  Id  .Se^s.; 


TTin 


BEGINNING  OF  THE  QUARREL. 


C07 


About  the  time  that  Fort  Victoria  was  fouiukd, 
;iii(l  while  the  governincnts  (jf  C^reat  Biitain  and  the 
United  States  knew  but  little  of  the  actual  hydroi;- 
mphy  of  the  region,  and  were  dibcussing  the  line  of 
actual  boundary,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  took 
[tossession  of  San  Juan,  by  ])lacing  upon  it  a  few  of 
tlicir  servants  in  charge  of  their  herds.  On  the  otlu-r 
liaiiil,  the  Ore<jon  legislature,  in  1852,  or'mnized 
Wliidbey  Island  and  the  Haro  Archipelago  into  a  dis- 
trict called  Island  county,  which  became,  by  the  divis- 
ion of  Oregon  in  1853,  a  part  of  Washington. 

In  1854  the  collector  of  customs  ibr  Pugut  Sound, 
I.  X.  Ebey,  first  came  in  conflict  with  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  the  latter  having  recently  imported  a 
largo  number  of  s'.eep,  cattle,  horses,  and  hogs,  and 
]ilac(d  them  on  the  island  of  San  Juan,  for  which 
I'ustoms  dues  were  demanded  by  the  collector.  Ebcy 
found  on  the  island  Charles  John  Griffin,  a  clerk  of 
the  company  and  a  colonial  justice  of  the  peace,  who 
(■laiincd  it  as  British  territory,  and  who  at  once  noti- 
licd  (:}overnor  l^ouglas  of  Ebey's  pretensions.  Tiie 
latter  repaired  to  San  Juan  harbor  in  the  company's 
steamer  Otter,  brinu^ing  with  him  the  collector  of 
customs  for  the  port  of  Victoria,  Mr  Sankster,  who, 
i^oing  on  shore,  demanded  Ebey's  business  on  tlie 
island,  of  '.vhich  he  was  bluntly  informed.  Saidvstcr 
then  gave  notice  that  he  should  seize  all  vessels  and 
arrest  all  persons  found  navigating  the  waters  west  of 
liosiirio  Strait  and  north  of  the  middle  of  the  strait 
of  Fuca.  To  this  Ebey  replied  that  he  should  leave 
U[)i)ii  the  island  a  deputy  collector  of  customs,  who 
would  discharge  his  duty,  and  that  he  trusted  no 
persons  would  be  so  rash  as  to  interfere  with  its 
perfoi'mance.  Sankster  then  suggested  tluit  ]']bey 
should  go  on  board  the  Otter  and  confer  with  Gov- 
ernor DouMas,  which  invitation  was  declined.  Sank- 
ster  then  carried  the  British  flag  ashore,  hoistin<jf  it 

Ohjm/.ia  Transcript,  July  IS,  18GS;  Milton's  San  Juan,  14-28;  Sen.  Doc.  29, 
i.,  4("'/i  (Junij.,  2d  Stju-i.,  gooyrapliiual  memoir,  with  maps. 


m 


I 

1 

COS 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


II:  ^   ! 


r 


over  the  quarters  of  tho  company's  servants,  Ebey  at 
tlio  same  time  lliiiufinjL?  to  the  breeze  the  Unitixl  Statt.vs 
revenue  IhiLT  which  he  carried  in  his  boat.  8aiik-(ir 
then  landed  a  boat's  crow  from  the  Otk'r,  and  |»i('- 
pared  to  take  up  his  quarters  on  tho  island,  ^vhil(! 
Governor  Douglas  returned  to  Victoria.  Ebev  tlio 
next  inornin<3'  swore  in  his  deputy,  Henry  Wehhrr, 
in  presence  of  Gritfin  and  Sankster,  and  lel't  (ho 
island,  fully  expecting  that  Webber  would  bo  arrested 
and  taken  to  Victoria.'^  A  writ  was  indeed  served  on 
him,^  but  as  he  refused  to  obey,  tho  colonial  author- 
ities refrained  from  iiushing  tho  matter  further. 

The  same  year  the  jiroperty  on  San  Juan  Island 
was  assessed  by  the  otKcer  whose  duty  it  was  to  np- 
praise  the  property  of  Island  county;  but  tho  collec- 
tion was  not  enforced  until  March  18,  1855,  when  tho 
sheriff' of  Whatcom  etmnty,  Ellis  Barnes — San  Juan 
and  the  adjacent  islands  having  been  attached  by  tho 
legislature  of  1854-5  to  Whatcom — seized  and  sold* 
thirty  or  more  of  the  sheep  belonging  to  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  at  auction.^  These  proceedings  caused 
Governor  Stevens  in  1855  to  address  a  communication 
on  the  subject"  to  the  secretary  of  state,  who  instructed 
him  that  the  territorial  officers  should  abstain  from 
all  acts  on  the  disputed  ground  calculated  to  provoke 

^Ohjmpia  Pimicer  and  Don.,  May  13,  \S'A. 

'Tliu  IJritisli  coloniiii  autlioritica,  call  the  art'liijielago  San  Juan  county. 

*  I  am  iui'a'litiMl  to  lOUvood  Kvaiis  for  a  valuaMo  collection  of  iiiipcrs  on  the 
'Northwest  l>oun<lary  between  (ireat  Dritain  anil  tlie  L'niteil  States,' in  wliicli 
I  find,  p.  ;'i.'!  5,  a  statement  of  these  occuirences.  taken  from  tho  lli'hnwii'i 
Whiij  of  .July  19,  ISOO,  anil  copied  into  liio  Xalioital  littelliije.nccr,  Wasliiii;;- 
ton.L).  C. 

» l''or  this  seizure  the  company  subsequently  presented  a  claim  of  ahoiit 
$1"),000.  Tile  1)111  made  out  hy  (Jriflin  was  for  34  imported  rams,  which  wcro 
seized  and  sold,  estimated  to  he  worth  S;!,?.")©.  'I'lic  renuiinder  was  for  lo-scs 
sustained  in  con>:e(|iience  of  ShcrilF  liarnes'  violent  acts  in  drivinj,'  the  slaip 
into  tho  woods,  and  tho  cost  of  collectin;;  sueli  as  were  not  altogetliir  ln^t. 
The  Anieiican  authorities  state  that  Oritlin  himself  caused  the  sheep  to  lie 
dispersed  in  order  to  evade  a  seizure,  and  that  those  taken  were  a  band  wliicli 
they  foinid  in  a  corral  in  a  remote  part  of  the  island.  The  men  who  accoiii- 
panied  the  slicritf  were  Mr  Cullen,  county  counnissioncr  and  agent  of  the 
I'uget  Sound  Coal  Mining  Company,  E.  C  Fitzliu;4li,  afterward  lieut-eol  of 
volunteers  and  associate  justice,  and  two  others,  who  became  purchaser.s,  at 
low  prices,  of  the  company's  blooded  stock.  S.  l'\  Alia,  July  31,  1S(J3;  JL 
L'r.  Dor.  77,  it,  oC/h  Coikj.^  l.-t  Scs^. 

'See  Wanh.  Jour.  Council,  1S.j4,  191. 


-'■  '  \ 


JOINT  OCCUPATION. 


000 


;s,  El)cy  at 
lti;cl  Stall's 

SdllkstiT 
',  and  |in'- 
and,  uliil(! 

Ebcv  the 

V   Weill  MT, 

d  left  tiio 
bo  arrested 
I  served  on 
lial  autlior- 
■ther. 

Lian  Island 
was  to  a  li- 
the colKx'- 
),  when  the 
-San  Juan 
■hed  bv  tlio 
.1  and  sold* 
lO  Hudson's 
ln<xs  caused 
niunicalioii 
) instructud 
ostain  iVoni 
to  provoku 

Juan  county, 
(jf  piiiKji's  ou  the 
StatL's,'in"liii;!i 
the  i;i'liiiioii4 
eiiccr,  Wiibliiiii,'- 

claim  of  ;il'Oiit 
iins,  which  wtro 
or  was  tor  lo.-sc9 

viii;,'  the  s'.icip 
altogcthti-  liist. 
the  shcop  to  lie 
•re  a  baiu!  whicii 
men  who  accum- 
ul  agent  ot  the 
,-ar(l  licut-iol  of 
o  purchascis,  at 
ily  31,  ItiOli;  11' 


conillcts,  "so  far  as  it  can  be  done  without  imidyinij 
tile  concession  ot'an  o\clusivo  right  over  the  |)reiniscs," 
and  that  the  title  ouj^ht  to  be  settled  before  either 
putty  should  forcibly  exclude  the  other.  He  ])roni- 
iscd,  moreover,  to  notilythe  British  yovernnient,  and 
to  have  the  boundary  established  at  an  early  date.^ 
Drputy  Colle(;tor  Webber  remained  on  San  Juan 
IsliMid  only  about  one  year,  when  fear  of  the  nortlu^rn 
Indians  i'orced  him  to  leave  it.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Oscai-  Olney,  whose  stay  lasted  but  a  lew  months  inr 
the  same  reason,  and  who  was  replaced  by  Paul  K. 
Hubbs.  Each  of  these  Americans  was  compelled  at 
(lillrrent  tim(;s  to  seek  the  protection  of  ]\[r  (jiriffin, 
rkik  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  British 
inai^istrate  on  the  islaua.  This  was  always  cheerfully 
rendered,  but  the  com})any  never  did  anythini^  to  pre- 
vent the  recurrence  of  these  incursions  from  the  nortli 
(na^t,  which  tended  to  frighten  away  American  set- 
tlers. 

The  sheriff  of  Whatcom  county  continued  reifulaily 
to  ini[)()se  taxes  on  the  island,  but  without  ai.«:aiii  en- 
t'oreiiig  their  collection,  until  in  1859  they  amounted 
to  ^'.);jr).  The  customs  inspector  pursued  the  same 
foiii'se,  merely  taking  account  of  the  goods  landed  and 
vessels  arriving.  In  1859  the  Hudson's  Bay  Comi)any 
had  on   San  Juan    Island,  besides   Grillin,  eighteen 


'  MUton's  Flan  Juan  hlaml,  .')G-7.  This  compilation,  made  Ly  Viscount 
.Milton,  anil  published  at  a  time  wlicii  the  boundary  (jucstion  was  alxnit  to  bo 
eulmiitid  to  arbitration,  ia  valuable  as  a  collection  of  documents,  but  as  an 
ar^'Uiiient  is  without  force.  The  ailvantagu  it  claimed  on  the  side  of  (ireat 
lli'iiaiu  \v,i3  in  |iointinj}  out  the  lilundcrsof  American  e.\plorcrs,  who,  by  their 
irruis,  i;ave  weight  to  till'  British  claim.  For  example,  Fremont's  maps  are 
aihliiced  as  proof,  when  FrcMiiont's  ac<ni;iintancG  with  Tugct  Sound  was  no 
^rtater  than  Milton's,  both  being  borrowed  from  other  authorities,  and  thoso 
y  no  means  correct.  According  to  . I ja/o'.fo/i'.s //i.^V.  A'.  IT.  (\i«,^l,  MS.,  ,";i- 
"i  Willus,  in  a  private  letter  to  him  in  ISU,  gave  an  opinion  which  would 
liave  guue  far  in  settling  the  ai'bitration  in  favor  of  (ireat  Ihitain  had  it  been 
put  ia  evidence.  The  people  w  ho  settled  the  country  and  explored  every 
iiwk  and  corner  in  canoes  knew  more  aliout  it  than  the  .so-called  cxidorcrs  at 
thut  time  could  know;  hence  Lord  Milton  had  but  little  to  rest  his  juilgment 
tiiwn.  See  Milton's  .*?«)(  Jitan  W'dlfr  lloniidavii  Qiicxiion,  London,  IhOi).  An 
P.irl;tr  work  than  .Milton's,  ami  lc>s  valuable,  is  Helationsi  beliremi  iho  Uaiti'tl 
'Vri'cs  1111(1  Xorlhiccst  Ufi/hh  A  inirirn,  by  .James  W.  Taylos',  Washington,. 
l!>IJ'-i  a  mere  com)iilation,  without  judgment  or  force. 
lilnT.  lluir.  Col.    U'J 


'I 


f 


ill' 
II''' 

I  ^    i 


.« 


iMO 


THE  SAN  JUAX  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


servants,  tlirce  of  whom  only  were  white,  and  thcso 
wore  naturalized  citizens  of  the  United  States,  Tho 
American  settlers  numbered  twenty-nine,  chiefly  inou 
who  had  drifted  thither  from  the  Fraser  River  minus, 
or,  not  being  able  to  reach  that  district,  had  decideil 
to  take  land  claims  inf:'jad,  the  northern  counties 
of  Washing^ton  receivinfj  about  this  time  considerablo 
accessions  to  their  population  from  the  same  source. 

The  correspondence  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain,  on  the  subject  of  the  north-west  boun- 
dary, had  led,  in  185G-7,  to  the  appointment  of  com- 
missioners by  each  government,  to  examhie  into  or 
furnish  the  data  upon  which  the  line  should  be  drawn 
throu<4li  the  straits  east  of  Vancouver  Island.  Tin; 
coniinissioners  on  the  part  of  Great  Brltam  weiv 
Captain  Provost  and  Captain  Richards  of  the  Royal 
Navy;  on  tlie  part  of  the  United  States,  Archibald 
Campbell,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  John  G.  Parke  and 
George  Clinton  Gardner  of  tho  topographical  engi- 
neers, and  John  F.  Taylor  and  George  P.  Bond  as- 
tronomers. Prevost  left  England  in  JJecember  ISaiJ, 
in  H.  M.  S.  Satellite,  arriving  at  Esqu.imalt  harbor  in 
June  1857,  Richards  following  in  11.  M.  S.  Plumper, 
which  did  not  arrive  for  several  months  later.  Tho 
United  States  couimissioner  had  [)laced  at  his  com- 
mand the  surveying  steamer  Active,  and  the  ln'ii,' 
l\iu)dle)'oy,  and  arrived  at  ^'ictoria  about  the  sam') 
time  \\\t\\  Prevost,  the  first  meeting  taking  place  on 
i)oard  the  Satellite,  June  27th,  when  the  commissioners 
agreed  as  to  their  initial  pr)lnt  of  survey. 

At  a  meeting  which  took  place  in  Semiahmoo  Day* 
in  October,  Provost  stated  that  he  had  verified  the 
general  accuracy  of  the  United  States  coast  survey 
map  of  1854,  and  would  take  this  chart  as  the  ono 

•  There  is  a  inonumeut  of  iron  on  the  north  shore  of  Semiahmoo  Hay  i 
feet  liigh,  4.J  inches  scjuaro  at  tho  top,  and  G  inclioa  square  at  tlio  l«i^e, 
placeil  there  to  mark  tho  bonnthiry  line.  On  tho  njrth  side  are  thu  wouiJ 
'Treaty  of  Washington, '  and  on  tho  soutii  side,  'Juno  Lj,  18l(»,'  Mi>r>:ci 
W^i^h.  Tfi:,  MS.,  xxii.  10.  See  also  li.  Col.  Shtrhcs,  MS.,  •2i;  Coinj.  dloli", 
lSr.5-(),  ii.,  ap.  15-'23;  Or.  Anjii.-;  Nov.  '20,  IS.Vi;   //.  Ex.  Doc,  xiii.  lOU.  ;wA 

(/'oh;/.,  3ll  lSt'.^S, 


rv. 

to,  and  tliosG 
States.  Tlio 
L\  chiefly  mou 

River  mi  lies, 
,  had  decided 
lern  counties 
!  considemljle 
arac  source, 
ed  States  ami 
bh-west  bouii- 
iient  of  coiii- 
niiiie  into  er 
)uld  be  drawn 
Island.  Tin; 
Britain  wen' 
A'  the  Royal 
3S,  Archibald 
Gr.  Parke  and 
aphical  eiini- 

P.  Bond  as- 
ceniber  1S5G, 
lalt  harbor  in 
.  S.  Plumper, 
s  later.  The 
I  at  his  com- 
md  the  bri:; 
)ut  the  saui'i 
ving  place  on 
onnnissioiicrs 

I  i  ah  moo  Bay" 
I  verified  the 
coast  survey 
t  as  the  ono 

Scmiahmoo  r>ay  4 
quarc  at  the  lia<o, 
lide  arc  tUu  wouij 
IJ,  18Ui.'  J/.'W' 
1.,  '1\;  CoiHi.  dlol"; 
'Joe,  xiii.  100,  pth 


A  BOUNDARY  QUESTION. 


611 


upon  which  the  general  line  of  boundary  should  be 
determined,  leaving  the  correct  tracing  of  the  line  to 
1)0  carried  out  by  tlie  surveying  officers.  But  when 
it  came  to  the  discussion  of  the  treaty  of  184G,  Pre- 
vost  argued  that  the  Rosario  channel  would  answ(;r 
the  language  of  that  instrument,  while  Canjpbell  con- 
tended for  the  Canal  de  Haro. 

At  a  meeting  which  took  place  the  27th,  Provost 
fi)rinulated  his  views  as  follows:  "By  a  careful  con- 
sideration of  the  wording  of  the  treaty,  it  would  seem 
distinctly  to  provide  that  the  channel  mentioned  should 
jiossess  three  characteristics:  1st.  It  should  separate 
the  continent  from  Vancouver's  Island;  2d,  It  should 
admit  of  the  boundary  line  being  carried  through  tlie 
middle  of  the  channel  in  a  southerly  direction;  3d. 
It  (-liould  be  a  navigable  channel.  To  these  three 
jieculiar  conditions  the  channel  known  as  Rosario 
Strait  most  entirely  answers."  The  arguments  brought 
icrward  are  too  lengthy  for  even  a  review  in  theao 
pajjfos,  and  are  moreover  immaterial. 

Campbell's  answer  was,  in  substance,  that  the  line 
of  boundary  described  in  the  treaty  began  at  the 
49tl'.  parallel,  in  the  middle  of  the  channel  which  sep- 
arated the  continent  from  Vancouver  Island,  which 
point  was  clearly  west  of  the  Rosario  Strait.  As  to 
the  boundary  line  running  continuously  in  a  southerly 
direction  from  thii  point,  or  any  other,  that  was  im- 
jtossible.  If  it  followed  the  Rosario  Strait  it  deflected 
Well  to  the  east,  and  when  it  came  to  the  strait  of 
Fuca  its  course  was  north  of  west.  The  term  'south- 
ei'ly'  could,  therefore,  be  used  only  In  a  general  sense. 
Rosario  channel  was  not  the  main  channel  that  sepa- 
rated Vancouver  Island  from  the  continent,  but  one 
wliicli  separated  certain  islands  from  certain  other 
islands,  as  did  another  navigable  channel  through  the 
archipelago.  And  as  to  the  navigabdity  of  the  two 
chaimels,  they  were  both  pronounced  good;  but  the 
Canal  de  Haro  was,  according  to  the  latest  surveys, 
"tliu  widest,  deepest,  and  best  channel,"  besides  being 


1^  i 
J,  ■ , 


wip 


612 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


a  much  shorter  communication  between  tlie  ofulf  df 
Georgia  and  the  Pacific  Ocean  than  that  by  the  w.iv 
<jf  llosai'io  Strait. 

This  narrowed  the  discussions  down  to  \vhat  was 
in  tlie  minds  of  the  framers  of  the  treaty  when  it  wa.s 
drawn  u]);  it  being  reasonably  clear,  from  Campbrll'.s 
j)oint  of  view,  that  the  deilcction  of  the  boundary  line 
f'nnn  the  49th  parallel  was  a  concession  intended  t-i 
avoid  cutting  off  the  southern  end  of  Vancouvt  r 
Island,  and  thereby  greatly  injuring  it  as  a  Lrili.-h 
possession,  but  one  that  did  not  give  to  that  govern- 
ment any  I'ight  over  the  archipelago  to  the  east  <!!  il, 
which  belonged  to  the  continent;  and  the  language  of 
the  [)lenipotentiaries  was  quoted  in  sui)port  ui'  i\\U 
position. 

Here  was  ui  fact  the  whole  of  the  argument;  i\\h\ 
although  it  was  long  '!k'awn  out  in  voluminous  conv- 
si)ondence,  it  never  amounted  to  anything  more.  The 
British  colonial  authorities  brought  forward  the  flaim 
of  priority  of  occupation,  the  Hudson's  IJay  Coi'ipaiiy 
having  kept  th«  'r  herd.s  uj)on  it  ever  since  the  i  .--tal/- 
lislnnent  of  Foi%  Victoria  iui  1843;  but  as  the  titaty 
of  184G  abandoned  to  the  United  States  ail  souili  <  t' 
the  49th  paralkl,  except  tlie  southern  portion  of  \  an- 
(;ouver  Island,  it  was  claimed  that  prior  oceujKiucv 
could  not  aff'ect  the  title,  although  prior  occu;  aiimi 
of  an  island  in  the  midst  of  an  archipelago  const  iuilcs 
title  in  internati(^nal  law.  Two  j'cars  wei-e  .^pr.il  i:i 
a  discussion  which  terniitiated  in  nothing,  ils  lan.-t 
noticeable  result  being  that  it  strengtheiird  ihc 
feeling  of  American  ownership  among  tliu  people  el 
Puget  Sound,  and  led  to  a  settlement  of  Ann  i  i'lns 
to  the  number  of  twenty-nine,  as  I  li;i\i  .aid.''  In 
the  mean  time  the  survey  was  conipl -ted  iVoin  tin; 
gulf  of  G^jorgia  to  the  Columbia  Kiver,  aii<l  iii«' 
line  marked  by  stone  monuments  at  a  (h.^iaine  nt 
twenty   n»iles   apart,  a  ti'ail    being   <ut  thron-'     tlio 

*  /■'ii.sv','!  Sauri'iiir^,  ISO-Ol.  F<ir  ii  partiiinlar  ncciniiit  of  tlie  li'iuiidary  .sur- 
vey, 8Ub  //.  iJT.  JJuc.  60,  j-iii.  H3,  40lh  Coity.,  Jd  6tM. 


the  gulf  (.f 
by  the  way 

■>  M'hat  Was 
vhcii  it  was 
Canipln'ir.s 
undar}  lino 
ntendoil  t-i 
\  an'.-oiivri' 
s  a  ]Jrili.-li 
lat  govrni- 
0  cast  (if  ii, 
laiiLiiuc'c  (f 
ort  ui'  this 


iment;  and 

1U)US  fOUV- 

iioro.  Till' 
d  the  claini 
y  Coiu[Kiiiy 
;  the  c>[-a\,- 
tlio  tri'atv 


M 


80Ul  il  ot 

urn  1)1'  \aii- 

ocfU|i:iiii'V 

occu;ia;iuii 

const  il;;li.s 

■0   .--Jkm!    i  1 

;•,  its   ^H^-l: 
lulifd     ;i: 

I       lllM  >|  111'     I'l 

.\lllrl  ii-:l!is 

.ai.l/'     la 

I    I'li'lll    llio 

.   ami    till' 
li.^l.alii'1    "f' 

fllll'^'i      till! 
!  UmiKiiii  y  sur- 


INDIAN  TROUBLES. 


«« 


Iii'avy  timber  for  the  placing  of  iron  monuments  at 
inti'ivals  of  (tne  mile.  During  the  progress  of  the  sur- 
vey the  town  of  Seniiahmoo  on  the  frontier  sprang  up, 
as  also  a  settlement  at  Point  Roberts,  and  in  tiie  niin- 
iiiLj,'  region  of  the  upper  Columbia  American  Town, 
(111  the  head  waters  of  Kettle  River. 

Utifore  proceeding  further  with  the  story  of  the 
San  Juan  difficulty,  it  will  be  necessary  to  refer  to  a 
I'l'W  incidents  in  which  the  affairs  of  Washington  ter- 
litni'v  and  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  are  some- 
what interminolod.  The  invasions  of  northern  In- 
(Hans  were  the  great  drawback  to  the  occupancy  of 
San  Juan,  and  of  all  that  part  of  Washington  border- 
'avj;  on  the  straits.  At  Rellino'ham  Bay  in  1855-6 
H'le  were  but  thirty  white  iidiabitants.  To  protect 
tliemsL'lves,  they  had  erected  a  bloek-liouse  witli 
haslions  inside  of  a  stockade,  being  furnished  froni 
till'  United  States  vessels  in  the  Sound  with  a  howit- 
zti-  and  detachment  of  twelve  men  to  garrison  their 
little  fort.'"  Congress  and  the  military  authorities 
\w\v  more  than  once  memorialized  as  to  the  defence- 
less condition  of  the  lower  coasts  of  Puget  Sound, 
unlil.  in  185G,  General  Wool  amiounced  his  intention 
ol' establishing  a  povst  at  Bellingham  Bay  as  soon  as 
111'  could  spare  the  troops  from  the  field.  Accord- 
iii^^ly.  in  the  sunnner  of  1850,  when  the  war  had  been 
liiuught  to  a  close  west  of  the  Cascades,  Captain 
fjrectrgc  P'ldiett  was  sent  with  a  company  of  the  Dth 
iiilaiitiy  to  garrison  a  po.st  alwut  two  and  a  half  mili'S 
iV'iiii  the  settler's  block-hous<\  and  ]\Iajor  (ir,  O.  Ilaller 
t  I  '  slablisli  a  post  about  the  same'  distance  from  I'ort 
Tiiwnsend,  with  another  io'idantry  company.  'I'lieso 
Were,  however,  mere  specks  (m  the  long  lino  of  ex- 
posed coast,  and  selrlom  were  the  barbarities  of  the 
savage  pirates  of  vhe  nortli  either  prevented  or  ]»un- 
i  li'  d.  The  murder  of  T.  N.  Ebey  in  1857,  to  which 
I  have  referred  in  my  History  <J'  Wasliimjiun,  illus- 

'"  /.Wer'«  Udllmjham  Bay,  MS.,  21  -1. 


11  I*    m 


li  i;.; 


Wh 


G14 


THE  SAX  JUAN  ISLAXD  DIFFICULTY. 


trated  the  powcrlessncss  of  a  handful  of  infantry  to 
deal  with  these  dangerous  foes. 

The  first  official  act  of  McMullin,  who  was  ap- 
pointed governor  of  the  territory  about  this  time, 
was  to  visit  Douglas  at  Victoria,  and  ascertain  whetlicr 
the  latter  would  join  in  an  attempt  to  take  the  guilty 
individuals:  but  Douglas  could  do  nothing  wliich 
might  bring  on  a  war  with  their  tribe  without  (ii>t 
obtaining  the  sanction  of  the  homo  government," 
and  would  not  have  wished  in  any  case  to  involve 
the  company  in  a  war  with  these  sea-kings,  who,  like 
the  barbarous  northmen  of  Europe,  revelled  in  visions 
of  blood.  McMullin  had  neither  an  army  nor  navv 
at  his  command,  and  Ebey's  death,  with  that  of  many 
others,  went  unavenged. 

San  Juan  Island   lay  directly  in  the  route  of  the 
northern  Indians,  who  paid  many  unwelcome  visits  to 
its  shores,  while  on  account  of  the  then  peculiar  po- 
litical situation  of  the  island,  no  troops  could  be  sta- 
tioned there,  nor  any  adequate  defence  of  the  settlers 
be  made.     On   the  29th  of  May  1859,  the  schooner 
Caroline,  Captain  Jones,  fell  in  with  three  large  canoes 
filled  with  northern  Indians,  evidently  bent  upon  mis- 
chief    On   being  hailed  and  questioned  as  to  their 
destination,  they  replied  they  were  going  to  Blunt  or 
Smith  Island,  where  a  light-house  had  been  erected, 
and  where  the  only  residents  were  the  light-koeiur, 
Vail,  and   his  family.     The   captain  of  the  schooner 
immediately  turned  back  and   informed  Vail  of  his 
danger,  urij^ing  him  to  leave  the  i)lace  without  dolav. 
This  he  did,  going  on  board  the  schooner  which  sailel 
for  Port  Townsend.     But  Vail's  deputy,  J.  K.  Apple- 
gate,  chose  to  remain.     He  barricaded  the  doors  ami 
windows  of  Vail's  house,  and  prepared  i'or  dct'cine, 
kn(jwing  that  help  wt)uld  be  sent  from  Port  Townsiml 
at    the   earliest  moment    possible.     Hardly  had    hi-^ 
preparations  been  completed  when  the  Indians  landed, 


^'Olympia  Pioiuer  and  Dnm.,  Oct.  10,  18.'j7. 


.rui 


APrLEGATK  AND  THE  INDIANS. 


615 


1111(1  approached  the  house,  onrlcavoring  to  induce 
Ajiplcgato  to  leave  it,  which  he  declined  to  do. 

In  the  mean  time  the  schooner  had  run  over  to  Port 
Tinvnsend,  and  a  volunteer  company  was  quickly 
jaisod,^^  which,  placing  itself  under  the  command 
of  J^eputy  Sheriff  Van  Valzah,  proceeded  to  Blunt 
inland,  where  they  arrived  the  next  morning,  having 
1)1(11  delayed  by  variable  winds.  The  Indians,  on 
si'i  iiiij  the  schooner  about  to  land,  ran  to  their  canoes 
with  the  intention  of  boarding  her,  but  she  put  of! 
Itolore  the  wind,  and  their  design  was  frustrated. 
TliLii,  through  their  interpreter,  they  challenged  the 
voliniteers  to  fight,  which  the  latter  declined  doing, 
lieiiig  only  t^'v'enty  in  number,  to  eighty  or  ninety  of 
the  natives.  Their  errand  was  simply  to  rescue 
Applcgate  if  possible,  whom  they  had  little  hope  of 
liiuling  alive,  but  who  had  kept  the  Indians  from 
juicing  an  entrance  to  his  lonely  fortress  througlu^ut 
the  nifjht.  A  landin*;  was  effected,  and  the  Indians 
de[)arted,  ostensibly  for  Victoria,  vowing  vengeance 
aj^uinst  Captain  Jones  and  a  half-breed  sailor  who 
hud  lirst  warned  Jones  of  their  desiij^ns.  On  the  fol- 
lowing  day,  however,  as  Applegate  passed  the  tower 
window  in  the  light-house,  he  was  shot  at  by  a  ])arty 
of  these  Indians  in  ambush.  He  returned  their  fire, 
iiiul  wounded  one  of  them,  when  they  finallv  left  the 
island."  Vail  brought  his  family  back  to  their  home, 
but  the  feeling  of  insecurity  was  great,  inasmuch  as 
th(j  Indians  had  declared  they  were  seeking  revenge 
l'(ir  the  hanging  of  three  of  their  tribe  at  Port  Towns- 
end  for  previous  umrders. 

'J'wo  weeks  before  the  afliair  of  Blunt  Island,  a 
iiit'(jting  had  been  called  at  Port  Townsend  to  con- 
sider tlie  best  means  of  preventing  the  northern  In- 
dians, then  on  a  visit  to  Victoria,  from  laudin<x  at  the 
i(jniier  [tlaco;  aud  it  was  resulved  to  gi\e  notice  to 

'^Tlu3  (.••■•nipany  iachideii  three  of  tliu  fuinous  Chaiiman  troupe  uf  i)lay- 
acliirs,  wl)..  orosseii  Cue  plains,  iiiul  weio  the  lirst  regular  theatrical  company 
as  1,11-  noixli  anil  wvttf.  as  tile  Colunilna  and  I'liget  Soiaul. 

'^Letter  <»f  J.  IL  .\j>{ik>gate,  in  oli/inpia  Plouptr  and  Dem.,  .June  17,  lyj'J. 


i      i 


616 


THE  SAX  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


m. 


thom  that  they  would  not  be  perniitted  to  visit  T'nrt 
Townscnd,  coimiiittecs  beiiiif  ai)pointed  to  keep  stiict 
watch,  and  to  use  the  best  means  iu  their  judnnieiit 
for  preventing  their  approach,  while  Major  Ilaller  was 
requested  to  cooperate.'* 

A  crisis  was,  however,  approaching  which  involved 
the  international  as  well  as  tiie  Indian  question.  One 
Lyman  A.  Cutler,  who  had  located  himself  on  San 
Juan  Island  in  April  1859,  and  planted  a  garden,  was 
nmch  annoyed  by  the  predatory  habits  of  a  hog  he- 
longing  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  on  tliu 
15th  of  June  he  shot  and  killed  the  offending  animal. 
He  then  called  Griffin  and  offered  payment  for  it,  but 
tlie  latter  claiming  $100,  Cutler  refused  the  denuuid. 
On  the  following  day  A.  G.  Dallas,  son-in-law  of 
Governor  Douglas,  with  Tolmie  and  Fraser  ot  the 
colonial  council,  arrived  at  the  island  in  the  comp;uiy's 
armed  steamer  Beaver,  when  Dallas  peremptorily 
claimed  the  island  to  be  British  soil,  and  oidered 
Cutler  to  pay  tlie  $100  or  be  taken  to  Victoria  lor 
trial.  Cutler  refused  to  do  either,  threatening  to  kill 
any  who  should  try  to  force  him.^^ 

After  this  encounter  Dallas  returned  with  his  party 
to  Victoria,  when  it  was  determined  to  place  a  magis- 
trate on  the  island,  and  to  arrest  Cutler.  Meanwhile, 
as  will  be  remembered,  the  Pacific  coast  portion  of 
the    Hudson's    Bay   Company's   territory   had   been 

'*One  iCHoIution  of  tlio  meeting  reveals  the  cause  of  their  invasions  as  well 
as  the  sociiil  oonilition  of  tlie  country:  '  That  all  men  having  nortluTn  wdiiiuu 
In!  notilicii  that  if  tlicy  ilo  not,  on  or  before  the  1st  duyof  June,  semi  11k:,s:iiiiu 
out  of  the  country,  that  legal  action  will  he  eoninieuced  against  tlu'ni,  as  1  v 
act  pa.ss(!(l  .lanuaiy 'J.H,  IS.JT.'  From  this  it  appears  that  the  legislatui-  lia^l 
founil  it  necessary  to  interfere  with  the  j  raotice  of  eohaliitiug  Willi  woincu  ui 
the  liiitish  Coluinliia  trihes,  wlierehy  occasion  was  given  to  their  mule  :tw- 
lives  to  viMt  the  Hcttleiiients. 

'  Tli».'«  allair  i-i  diilercnllv  represented  by  Milton,  who  says  that  Dallx-  aii.l 
Oi'itiin  only  lomoiistrated  with  Cutler,  who  threatened  to  shoot  any  oi  er  t  i 
the  company's  stock  whicli  should  interfere  witli  him.  S(ui  Juan,  ■J.>+-.'. 
t)lhei'  lii  itish  writers  say  that  he  threatened  to  shoot  Dallas;  hut  the  Aiiiuri- 
can  authorities  and  the  deposition  ot  Cutler  agree  with  the  ahove  //.  .'.V, 
iJov.  Oo,  ix.  5o,  tliilU  Coiiij.,  Isl  Sens.:  Jioder'x  Uiiiinijlium  Bay,  .\6'>.,  .'ui— I; 
Vrovn-'s  I'nh.  Life  in  Or..  MS.,  08;  J/orsft'.s  »'a-/«.  Tt-r.,  M.S.,  w  l.">-10; 
]>t'aii\i  X,'ltl<-mi-iil.  ■/  Vane.  J.Jt;  M.-i..  11-12;  American  Utate  Fut>^-,  -IJU. 
Cutler  (iieU  at  Souuish  settlement  iu  1677. 


A  MILITARY  POST. 


617 


0  visit  TnTt 
keep  strict 

1"  jU(lL;-|llL'Ilt 

liallur  was 

c'li  involved 

tion.    Olio 

elt'  on  Sail 

pardon,  was 

il     llOl^     1)0- 

Hid  oil  tliu 
ing  animal. 
b  for  it,  but 
le  demand. 
:i-in-la\v  of 
Lser  ol  the 
company's 
runiptorily 
id  ordered 
ictoria  lor 
linj,^  to  kill 

h  his  jiartv 
;o  a  niagis- 
iluanwliilc, 
portion  of 
had    been 


ivasious  as  well 
ortluTii  u  oriiuii 
,  send  lluisaiiK) 
st  them,  as  liy 
i'j,'isliitiiii'  liail 

iVltll  WOllirll  (jf 

ui'ir  niulc  :eu- 

bat  I>alLt-  and 
)t  any  (i:  ■t  of 
Juan,  ■J.<4-J. 
>iit  till!  Aniuri- 
lImjvc  /,'.  .','jr. 
y,  .U«.,  :;;i-t; 
S.,  .V     I.V-IU; 


declared  British  colonics.  In  May  of  this  year  the 
American  settlors  at  San  Juan  petitionetl  General 
Harney,  the  coniniander  of  the  niilitary  depai'tinent 
ol'  Oregon,  to  send  them  a  small  guard  of  twenty 
soldiers  as  a  prf)tecti()n  against  the  northern  Indians, 
\\hi(  h  the  general,  with  the  usual  reluctance  of  mili- 
tary oflicers  to  credit  the  alarms  of  (dtizcns,  withheld. 
In  the  following  Julv,  however,  being  on  a  tour  of 
inspection  of  his  department,  and  having  paid  a  com- 
iilimentarv  visit  to  Douglas,  he  ran  over  to  San  Juar) 
to  see  for  himself  the  condition  of  the  Americans, 
and  to  take  some  notes  concerning  the  value  of  the 
disi)uted  territory  in  a  military  j)oint  of  view,  the 
Jh'itlsh  at  this  time  terming  San  Juan  the  Cronstadt 
(4'  the  Pacific  and  the  key  to  the  gulf  of  Georgia. 
The  settlers,  taking  advantage  of  their  op[)ortunity, 
addressed  another  {)ctitioa  to  Harney,  asking  for  |)ro- 
tcrtion  I'rom  tlu*  natives,  who  a  short  time  before  had 
committed  several  murders,  and  of  whom  they  stood 
in  constant  dread, "^  the  petitioners  taking  occasion  to 
add  that  the  island  was  United  States  territory,  and 
liiat  they  had  a  right  to  claim  a  sufficient  military 
I'oiee  to  prevent  Indian  outrages  and  encourage  set- 
llcuu'nt.  At  the  same  time  the  general  was  inlbrmed 
;is  to  the  atfair  of  the  honf,  anil  that  Dallas  had  come 
in  an  aruiod  vessel  to  take  Cutler  to  Victoria.  Alter 
a  week's  retlection  he  decided  that  if  the  British  au- 
ilmi'ities  could  proceed  to  usurp  sole  jurisdiction  of 
dis])ate(l  territor}',  so  could  he.  Accord'ugly,  on  the 
l^Lli  of  July  he  issued  an  order  to  Captain  Pi(dvett 
h>  transfer  his  comj)any  from  Fort  Beilingham^'  to 
San  Juan  Island,  and  the  steamer  Massachas4'tts  was 

""Tlie  petition  was  signed  by  J-  M.  Ha'.rjraret,  Samuel  McCauIy,  J.  l<j. 
lli:';^ius,  Chai'lea  II.  llulilja,  L.  A.  Catler,  Wiliiaiu  liullcr,  .1.  I).  Wancu,  il. 
\Vi,aituii,  .Ir,  Jnhii  Witty".  \\.  S.  Andrews,  dulin  Huiitir  McKay,  Noil  l^iit, 
Mic.Kiel  1'a.n  is,  Ciuorge  1'cik.ins,  AleximiKir  McUoiuilJ,  rctLT  .loiiiisoii,  A?i^'ii9 
M'lMuald,  Wdlianrsmiih.  Charles  Mc^Kay,  U.  W.  Oalces.  Paul  li.  Iluljbs, 
'  .  .uil  I'aul  Iv.  liuhlis,  Si'.    Milfon'x  *nj  Jitriii  Islnid,  'lTt~. 

'•  Fort  ljcllin,;,diam  was  oBiahlishcd  l^v  Culuuel  Ca.scy  in  iS.'iO,  and  was  tlio 
~'  o;id  estahiwiicd  on  thu  S'^i-.J,  Fort  I'ownseud  being  located  inmiedialely 
a  :.i-  it.  W'.ixk.  Tci:  SkHclie'-,  H-^.,  100-.';  ELdrid<jf's  Sketch,  Ms.,  liSJ;  LUij'a 
o^tint'd,  Ms.,  iii.  49. 


i  I 


M    :' 


Ji  I  .lii 


018 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY, 


^1 


sent  to  roinovc  the  troops  and  government  property. 
IMajor  Ilaller'.s  com})any  was  afterward  ordered  on 
boai'd  the  vessel,  which  was  to  be  employed  whercvtr 
the  services  of  the  men  were  required.  On  the  •dTih 
Pickett  landed  his  command  on  San  Juan,  '^n'mj^ 
thr'oui,di  the  followinj^  fornmla:  "1st.  In  compliaiici! 
with  orders  and  instructions  Ironi  the  conunandliiif 
general,  a  military  post  will  bo  established  on  this 
island,  on  whatever  site  the  commanding  officer  iiuiv 
select;  2(1.  All  the  inhabitants  of  the  island  are  re- 
quested to  report  at  once  to  the  commanding  ollicir 
in  case  of  any  incursion  by  the  northern  Indians,  so  that 
he  niay  take  such  steps  as  he  may  deem  necessai  y  ti) 
]»revent  any  further  occurrence  of  the  same;  3d.  This 
being  United  States  territory,  no  laws  other  than  those 
ol'  tlie  United  States,  nor  courts  except  such  as  an; 
held  by  virtue  of  said  laws,  will  be  recogniztd  nr 
allowed  on  this  island.  By  (jrder  of  Captain  J'iik- 
ett."  This  document  was  signed  by  James  W.  ]u)V- 
syth,  second  lieutenant  in  the  9th  infantry,  and  post 
adjutant. 

It  hap|>ened  that  the  Satellite  brought  from  Wc- 
toria  on  the  same  day  Major  De  Courey,  whom  Pn  - 
vost  was  to  install  as  stii)endiary  magistrate  on  ilic 
island  by  direction  of  ]3ouglas.  No  magistratt;  ui- 
companied  Pickett,  although  it  has  been  so  sditrd 
by  a  colonial  writer,"  Great  surprise  was  felt  by  J)c 
Courey,  whose  connnission  was  found  to  antedate  the 
arrival  of  Pickett  by  one  day.  It  could  not  there- 
fore be  tlenied  that  the  ct)lc>nial  goveinment  hail 
intended  to  do  what  Pickett  had  done — establi>h 
jurisdiction,  notwithstanding  the  agreement  between 
the  respective  powers  to  leirain  from  such  acts. 

These  occurrences  caused  a  profound  sensation  at 

"Doniild  Frasor,  ihciiiIht  of  tlio  cxoontive  council.  On  tho  'JOth,  two 
(lays  iifU'r  tlie  military  ncciiiiutioii,  II.  1!.  Crosliic,  iiiagistrato  of  Wliiilniiii 
coiintv,  visittil  Uio  island  out  of  curiosity,  as  did  many  others,  and  IiikIhi;^ 
au  Knirlisli  lua^'istrato  thcio,  icniaiiu'd  to  l)o  useful  to  tlic  American  residcnta 
ill  case  of  an  ufteiujit  to  aiicst  Cutler,  wliicii  was  expected.  Hept  of  V.vm- 
bio,  in  y/,  Ej:.  Doc.  17,  SOtli  Comj.,  Int  Scss, 


'tt!l!:! 


!,   li 


RKADY  FOli  WAR. 


610 


t  proj)(<rty. 
ordered  on 
(I  wlicrewr 
)ii  the  -jrth 
uan,   n'oiiii^f 
coijipliaticc 
)nuii;uidlii(r 
ed  on  llii.s 
odicer  luuy 
uul  arc  ri- 
ding olliccr 
ans,  sotliat 
eccssary  to 
3;  3d.  this 
■thantiioso 
iucli  as  an; 
ogiii/cd  nr 
itaiii  J'iik- 
DS  W.  For- 
j,  and  post 

(Voni  Vic- 
kvlioni  J?ii- 
'ato  on  the 
fistratc  uc- 

so  stati'd 
I'olt  In-  J)c 
itedatc  the 
not  thrrc- 
MK'iit  hail 
—establish 
it  between 
lets, 
^nsatinii  at 

tlio  'JOth,  two 
!  of  Wliali'uin 
[•s,  ami  liniliiig 
ricuii  rosiilciita 
liept  of  C'rus- 


VIeioria.  Two  war  vessels,  the  Tribune,  a  tliirty-guti 
lri;4ate,  and  the  Plumper,  were  ordered  t(^  join  iho 
S'llr/litc  at  San  Juan,  to  prevent  the  landing  of  more 
I'liited  States  tro(jps,  while  the  Pleiades  wa.s  sent  to 
San  Francisco  with  despatches  for  England.  On  tbe 
oOth  GriiKn  notified  Pickett  that  the  island  was  the 
|)r()|)erty  of  and  in  occupation  by  the  Hudson's  ]]ay 
('(iiiij)any,  and  requested  him  to  leave  it  with  his  men. 
•Slioulil  you  be  unwilling  to  comply  with  my  re- 
quest," he  added,  "I  feel  bound  to  ap[)ly  to  the  civil 
authorities."  Pickett  replied  that  he  did  not  ac- 
knowledge the  right  of  the  Hudson's  Cay  Company; 
that  he  was  on  the  island  by  virtue  of  an  order  from 
liis  g(jvermnent,  and  should  remain  until  recalled  by 
the  same  authority.^'  This  reply  of  Pickett's  was  not 
.stiictly  true,  though  he  may  have  so  construed  the 
Mtuation.  He  was  on  the  island  by  order  of  General 
Ihirney,  his  superior  officer.  Upon  receiving  Griilin's 
notice  to  leave,  Pickett  wrote  to  Colonel  Casey  at 
J'oi't  Steilaeoom,  that  the  attitude  assumed  by  the 
lliKlson's  Pay  Company  was  threatening,  and  re- 
•  jiicsted  him  to  send  the  Massachusetts  at  once  to  San 
-liiaii.  "I  do  not  know,"  he  said,  "  that  any  actual 
inliision  will  take  place,  but  it  is  not  comfortable  to 
lie  lying  within  range  of  a  couple  of  war  steamers. 
The"  Tribune,  a  thirty-gun  frigate,  is  lying  broadside 
to  our  camp,  and  from  present  indications  everything 
leads  me  to  suppose  that  they  will  attempt  to  prevent 
my  carrying  out  my  instructions." 

yh\  the  31st  Pickett  was  reenforced  by  anotlu-r 
I'oiiipany  from  Port  Steilacoom,  the  Massachusetts 
I'otiviiying  them  to  San  Juan,  together  with  camj) 
t'liuipage  and  all  necessary  tools  I'or  constructing 
(lUat'ters,  besides  a  few  hf)witzers.  Prevost  now  has- 
tened to  San  Juan  to  hold  an  interview  with  Camp- 
l)ill,  who  was  absent.  From  Pickett  he  learned, 
howtjver,  that  he  intended  to  obey  orders,  woidd  pre- 
vent the  landing  of  any  inferior  force,  light  any  equal 

'•  Miitoii's  San  Juan  Jdand,  202. 


m 


i 


-i    -1 


620 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


force,  .and  protest  ar^ainstany  .su|)orior  force  of  Tlrit- 
ish  troops  l)cing  placed  on  the  island,  the  proposiiiun 
lia\in;^'  boon  made  of  a  joint  military  occupation  l)V  ;ui 
cijual  number  of  troops  of  l)oth  nations,  and  I'tjecti'il. 
Tlie  captain  could  well  afford  to  assume  this  position, 
Ibr  lie  was  aware  that  the  American  po|)ulati()ii  of 
Victoria,  outnumboi'ino^  five  to  one  the  available  J]iit- 
isli  foi-ce,  and  more  skilled  perhaps  in  the  use  (jf  aims, 
would  rally  to  his  aid,  and  were  indeed  already  in 
connnunication  with  the  island. 

Douglas  now  issued  a  proclamation  protesting,' 
against  the  invasion,  and  declaring  that  the  sover- 
eignty of  tlie  island  was  and  always  had  been  vested 
in  (Jreat  Britain. ^°  Armed  with  this  demand,  on 
the  3d  of  August  Captain  Hornby  of  the  Trihunc 
and  commissioners  Prevost  and  Kichards  sought  a 
second  interview  with  Pickett,  in  which  tliov 
again  urged  the  joint  occupation  of  San  Juan  by  an 
equal  force  of  both  nations,  and  the  establishninit 
of  military  rule  thereon  until  the  boundary  ([Ueslion 
should  be  settled  by  their  respective  goveniiii''iit.s. 
To  this  Pickett  replied  that  he  had  no  autliority  to 
make  such  an  arrangement,  and  suggested  that  ihev 
might  refer  the  matter  to  Governor  Douglas  and 
General  Harney.  He  assured  them  that  any  at  tempt 
to  land  a  British  force  on  the  island  before  an  ar- 
rangement was  made  would  bring  on  a  collision, 
which  it  was  desirable  to  avoid,  and  advised  theia  tn 
remain  in  their  present  position  until  instruction-i 
were  received  from  those  in  authority. 

Innnediatcly  after  this  interview  Pickett  wrote 
to  Adjutant-general  Pleasanton  at  Vancouver,  ot 
all  that  had  taken  place,  and  asked  that  instructions 
bo  sent  him.  The  adjutant  replied  that  Geiieial 
Harney  approved  of  his  course,  and  told  him  to  allow- 
no  joint  occupation.  In  answer  to  Douglas' protest, 
Harney  addressed  a  communication  to  him,  of  which 
the  following  is  part:     "As  the  military  comnuuid'^r 

»»See  Ulympia  Club,  MS.,  9-10. 


I   III 


!   M    i! 


UAIIXEY  AND  DOUGLAS. 


621 


■CO  of  V>ni- 
ir()|)(».sitiuii 
atioii  l)_v  iiii 
1(1  rt'jt'ctcil. 
i.s  posiiiiiii, 
)uI;iti(Mi  (if 
ilal)l(j  JJiit- 
>iO  of  anus, 
already  in 

protest  I  111,' 
the  sovcr- 
leeii  ve.sleil 
emaiid,  on 
10  Trihi.iiu' 
i  sought  a 
licli  tliov 
nan  liv  an 
iblisliuu'iit 
y  c[ue.sli()ii 
/ernini'iils. 
jtliority  ti) 
that  they 
)Uglas  aihl 
ly  ai.ti;iii[)t 
tore  ail  ar- 
\,  collision, 
■d  them  to 
istructioii.s 

cott  wrnto 
>c(juver,  of 
istruetioiis 
t  General 
in  to  allow 
is'  protest, 
,  of  which 
ouunaiid''r 


of  the  department  of  Oreg(jn,  assigned  to  that  coni- 
uiaiiil  by  tlio  orders  of  tho  jircsident  of  the  United 
States,  I  have  the  honor  to  state  for  your  information 
that,  by  such  authority  invested  in  me,  I  havo 
|ila(od  a  military  eonunand  u|)0ii  tho  island  oi'  Sau 
Juan  to  protect  the  American  citizens  residing  on  that 
island  i'rom  tho  insults  and  indignities  which  tho  ]]rit- 
ish  authorities  of  Vancouver  Island  and  the  establish- 
ment t)f  tho  Hudson's  IJay  Company  recently  oll'ered 
tliein,  by  sending  a  IJritish  shi[)  of  war  from  Vaneou- 
vci'  Island  to  convoy  tho  chief  factor  of  the  Hudson's 
jjay  Comj)any  to  San  Juan  for  tho  jjurpose  of  seizing 
and  ibreibly  transporting  him  to  Vancouver  Islam!, 
lo  be  tried  by  British  laws.  I  havo  reported  this 
iitteinptod  outrage  to  my  government,  and  they  will 
iloLibtless  seek  the  proper  redress  from  tho  British 
(roviTumont.  In  tho  mean  time  I  havo  the  honor  to 
iiit'orm  your  Excellency  1  shall  not  permit  a  repetition 
of  that  insult,  and  shall  retain  a  command  on  Sau 
Juan  Island  to  protect  its  citizens,  in  the  name  of  tho 
United  States,  until  I  receive  further  orders  from  my 
j^nnernment."'"* 

To  this  Douglas  replied  that  he  was  glad  to  find 
that  tho  i^eneral  was  acting  under  orders  from  tho 
president,  and  not  by  positive  authority  from  tho 
cabinet;  denying  that  any  British  ship  of  war  had 
been  sent  to  San  Juan  to  seize  an  American  citizen; 
assorting  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  officers 
exercised  no  official  power  or  authority,  but  declaring 
tlioin  as  entirely  distinct  from  the  officers  of  tho 
exeouLivo  government  as  any  other  inhabitant  of  Van- 
couver Island;  alleging  that  no  outrage  had  been  com- 
mitted on  an  American  citizen,  and  no  attempt  had  been 
made  to  arrest  one  and  take  him  to  Victoria  for  trial. '-'- 

"llanicy  committed  an  oversight  in  giving  this  as  the  solo  reason  for 
platiii.;  troops  on  the  island,  but  this  he  afterward  attributed  to  his  iudig- 
lutiiJii  ill  view  of  the  circumatancts  of  the  attempted  arrest  of  Culler.  It 
mailc  Ills  Htateuiunt  differ  from  i'iekett's. 

■'-('idshic  in  Ids  report  in  //.  Ex.  Doc.  77,  5-6,  SGth  Coiirj.,  Ixt  Si.i^^.,  eays 
tliat  Uouglas'  letter  isiucorreet  on  two  (loiuts;  that  although  it  wms  the  Ucmvr 
aiiu  uut  a  mau-of-war  which  brought  Dallas  to  the  island  on  the  occudion  re- 


1      !  I 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


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m  '"""^ 

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U    III  1.6 


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Sciences 
Corporation 


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my 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


^. 


d 


: 


022 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISI.AND  DIFFICULTY. 


Having  made  this  denial  of  Harney's  accusations,  lie 
called  upon  him,  if  not  as  a  matter  of  right,  at  least 
as  a  matter  of  justice  and  humanity,  to  withdraw  tlio 
troops  stationed  on  San  Juan,  their  presence  still 
further  complicating  the  question  of  sovereignty,  and 
being  calculated  to  provoke  a  collision  between  two 
friendly  nations.  But  Harney  replied  as  Pickett  had 
done,  that  the  step  having  been  taken,  he  would  nnw 
await  the  expression  of  the  president's  pleasure  in  tho 
matter."* 

During  the  progress  of  this  correspondence,  Harney 
on  the  7th  of  August  ordered  Casey  to  reenfoico 
Pickett,  and  also  wrote  to  the  naval  officer  in  com- 
mand of  the  Pacific  squadron  a  request  to  send  vessels 
to  Puget  Sound  for  the  protection  of  American  in- 
terests thereabout.  On  the  morning  of  the  9th  Casey 
left  Fort  Steilacoom  with  his  whole  command,  cnn- 
sisting  of  three  companies,  and  with  howitzers  and 
fifty  tons  of  ammunition,  on  board  the  passenger 
steamer  Julia.  He  was  met  by  the  surveying  steamer 
Active,  commanded  by  Captam  Alden,  who  advised 
him  not  to  attempt  to  land  his  troops  on  the  island, 
as  it  would  be  likely  to  bring  on  a  conflict,  the  Trihuw. 
lying  broadside  to  the  landing  with  her  fires  banked. 
Nevertheless  Casey,  somewhat    imprudently  if  not 

furred  ^o,  Mr  Dallas  was  at  that  time,  and  had  Tieen  for  some  titno  previous, 
a  member  of  the  executive  council,  as  was  also  Mr  Donald  Fraser,  v.'ho  aci-oiii- 
paniud  him;  and  tltat  immediately  on  their  return  without  their  ititciiiUci 
prisoner  a  niajjistrate  for  the  island  M-aa  determined  on,  and  Mr  Giiliiu 
directed  to  lodge  a  complaint  against  Cutler,  not  only  on  tho  ground  of  kill- 
ing the  hog,  but  as  a  trespasser  upon  lands  belonging  to  the  company,  of  which 
Dallas  was  a  director.  The  arrival  of  De  Courcy  as  magistnito  soon  aficr 
coutirms  Crosbic's  statement,  as  do  the  alHdavits  of  Paul  K.  llubba  niid  L. 
A.  Cutler,  in  //.  Ex.  Dot:  G<'t,  ix.  S3,  Stilh  Comj.,  lul  Sens.  Sco  also  stutcmeut 
of  Caiitain  Aldcn  concerning  an  American,  R.  W.  Cussans,  who  was  forcid  ta 
al)au(i(in  his  improvements  on  Lopez  Island,  and  who  was  ordered,  after  ]iay- 
iug  for  a  license  to  cut  timber,  to  clear  his  vessel  at  the  Victoria  custoin-huuiie, 
iVrt.  Doc.  29,  i.  87,  SOth  Conr/.,  Sd  Sexn. 

•*  Miltaa'g  San  Juan  Inland,  27.V8.  Harney  was  in  error  concerning 
(bome  minor  matters.  For  instance,  he  says  that  when  Douglas  heard  of  tlia 
tn-ival  of  PickettV  command  on  the  island  he  appointed  a  justice  of  tho  peace 
and  utiier  civil  authorities,  ana  sent  tiiem  over  oa  the  Plumper  to  cxucuto 
British  laws  on  tiiu  island;  when  tho  truth  was,  as  I  have  previously  stated, 
the  magistrate  was  coinmiHsioued  ono  day  before  Pickett's  arrival,  and  cuiiio 
over  in  tiic  commissioner's  steamer,  the  flateUUe,  instead  ot  tho  Plumper,  a» 
Uarney  stales.  Pui/tt  Houtul  tltiald,  Aug.  fi,  12,  and  20,  18J0. 


a:,! 


.TY. 

-ccusations,  lie 
right,  at  least 
withdraw  tlio 
presence  still 
^ereignty,  and 
between  two 
IS  Pickett  had 
he  would  now 
leasuro  in  tho 

lence,  Harney 
to  reenforco 
fficer  in  coni- 
io  send  vessels 
American  in- 
the  9th  Casey 
animand,  con- 
lowitzers  and 
.he  passenger 
eying  steamer 
who  advisetl 
)n  the  isliuitl, 
t,  the  Tvihiinc 
fires  banked, 
lently  if  not 

some  time  previous, 
Fraser,  v*'ho  aci:oiii- 
out  their  iutciidiil 
n,  and  Mr  (Jrilliu 
the  grouud  of  kill- 
company,  of  which 
igistrato  sooa  iittcr 
K.  llubba  ami  L, 
See  also  stiitcnieut 
,  who  was  forctil  to 
ordered,  after  pay- 
toria  custoin-huuse, 

1  error  coiiceruing 
}uglaa  heard  of  tlio 
justice  of  tho  peace 
'lumper  to  exccuto 
I  previously  stutod, 
I  arrival,  aud  came 
oi  tho  Plumpei-,  m 
850. 


ALMOST  A  BATTLK 


623 


impudently,  landed  his  men  under  the  frigate's  guns, 
tliiis  throwing  on  the  British  officers  the  responsi- 
bility of  beginning  hostilities,  though,  as  he  relates, 
"ho  fully  appreciated  the  terrible  consequences  of  a 
hostile  collision  with  his  quasi  enemy,  which  would 
probably  bo  no  less  than  involving  two  great  nations 


m  war, 


"2* 


There  were  on  service  in  Puget  Sound,  according 
to  Harney's  statement,  five  British  vessels  of  war, 
with  IG7  guns  and  2,140  men,  of  whom  GOO  were 
marines,  or  of  the  engineer  corps;  and,  reports  the 
general,  "this  force  has  been  employed  from  the  27th 
day  of  July  until  the  10th  day  of  August — the  day 
on  which  Colonel  Casey  with  reunforcements  reached 
tho  island — in  using  every  means  in  its  power,  except 
opening  fire,  to  intimidate  one  company  of  infantry 
hut  sixty  strong.  The  senior  officer  of  thes*^  British 
ships  of  war  threatening  to  land  an  overpowering  force 
upon  Captain  Pickett,  ho  nobly  replied  that  wMiethor 
they  landed  fifty  or  five  thousand  men  his  conduct 
would  not  be  affected  by  it,  that  ho  would  open  his 
tire,  and  if  compelled,  take  to  tho  woods  fighting."'" 
Tiiis  statement  of  General  Harney's  must  be  taken 
with  due  allowance.  There  is  little  doubt,  however, 
that  Pickett  intended  to  fight,  and  would,  when  joined 
hy  Colonel  Casey's  command,  have  opened  fire  on 
the  British  had  they  landed.  Ho  would  then  have 
retired  to  a  strong  position  in  tho  mountains,  where 
he  could  hold  them  in  check  until  the  arrival  of  further 
rcenforcements. 

Finding  the  aspect  of  affairs  somewhat  serious, 
however,  the  colonel  sent  an  officer  on  board  the 
Tribune^  requesting  that  Captain  Hornby  would  call 
on  him  with  a  view  to  a  conference.  The  captain 
thought  it  would  have  been  in  better  taste  had  the 
colonel  called  on  him;  nevertheless,  he  returned  a 
courteous  answer,  and  after  despatching  his  business, 

"  Caney'H  Rept,  in  H.  Ex.  Doc,  S6th  Cong.,  Jst  Sesit.,  ix.,  no.  65,  p.  30. 
»  Alilton'a  San  Juan  /stand,  '292;   V.  I.  lirUUh  ColonUt. 


!■ 


tj   I 


. .   i      .1 


,  !■: 


OM 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


repaired  to  the  camp,  in  conipaii}'  with  Piovost  and 
Campbell.  Casey  asked  for  the  oflicer  hi_i;Iiest  in 
command,  and  wliere  he  was  to  be  found,  antl  was  it- 
ferred  to  Admiral  Baynes,  then  on  board  the  llag-sliij) 
GaiKjen  at  Esquimalt.  The  next  day,  accompaniid 
by  Captain  Pickett  and  the  American  conuuissioiici, 
the  colonel  steamed  over  to  Estjuimalt  on  board  tlio 
Shuhrich;  and,  per  favor  of  Pickett,  who,  as  he  savs, 
was  courteously  received,  Douglas  bein<^  also  prestiit, 
sent  a  note  to  the  admiral  desiring  his  presence,  with 
a  view  to  a  conference.  The  request  was  declined, 
the  admiral  remarking  that  he  slu)uld  be  most  ha]i]iv 
to  sec  the  colonel  on  board  the  (lag-shij).  "I  was  dt' 
the  opinion,"  writes  Casey,  "that  I  had  carried  <  ti- 
quette  lar  enough  in  going  tvv'enty-five  miles  to  see  a 
gentleman  who  was  disinclined  to  come  a  hunihed 
yards  to  see  me."  Thereupon  he  returned  in  dutlgeoii 
to  San  Juan,  and  in  his  report  a  few  weeks  later  ac- 
cused Hornby  of  lying. ^*  Harney,  when  infoiiiied 
of  Casey's  visit,  disapproved  it,  and  the  colomd  wa^j 
naturally  mortified  at  the  result  of  his  attempted  me- 
diation. 

It  is  admitted  by  British  authorities  that  Doui^las 
had  ordered  a  lantling  of  troops,'^'  but  the  admiral  iv- 
i'used  to  do  anything  that  might  provoke  a  collisidii, 
and  especially  to  take  advantage  of  an  ini'erior  \\)V(v, 
even  withdrawing  his  squadron,  and  keeping,  merely 
f(ir  show  of  occupation,  a  single  vessel  at  a  tini(>  in 
the  harbor  of  San  Juan,^"^  although,  after  the  an'ival 
of  the  Mdssiic/uisctts,  the  Americans  built  a  rcdouitt 
near  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  station.''"'    For  this 

TrtJ«(7/'»  Ri-pt,  in  //.  Ex.  Dor.,  SGlh  Cong.,  1st  Sens.,  ix.,  vo.  G'>,  .Tl,  CA 
Miiodonalil,  AV/7.  Vol.  nwl  Vaiic  /.</.,  '2.")8,  says  tli.it  Hornby,  tlioiiyli  nmlir 
pnmtivo  instructions  from  Douglas  to  dcoluro  wax  (it  onco,  toolt  on  liiniscJ  tlio 
ri'S)i(inHiliility  of  ileliiying  the  execution  of  liis  orders  until  tl)c  arrival  uf  the 
ailniiral,  wiio  wa«  daily  expected. 

"  See  MiUon's  Snn  Juan  (Jnrgtion,  284;  Miuilonald'j  /?.  C.  and  IVnc.  Iii, 
2.VS. 

'"  The  Trihnvf  was  relieved  by  the  SntellUe,  and  the  latter  by  the  I'li  iaden. 
Overliiiiil  Mnulhly,  ii.  '1\\. 

"Tlie  earthworks  extended  on  tlio  west  water-front  ."J.'iO  feet,  on  the  son!  Iv- 
east  100,  ou  the  vatit  100,  and  on  the  uorth-cast  150  feet,  the  uorth  side  \"  »'i 


I    1 


NEGOTIATIONS. 


620 


line  of  conduct,  though  acting  in  disobedience  to  orders, 
Bayncs  was  complimented  by  the  British  govern- 
ment.'" 


•  I'] 


It; 


On  the  day  when  Douglas  issued  his  protest  he 
addressed  a  inessajje  to  the  colonial  legislative  council 
and  assembly  in  extra  sessim,  in  which  he  reiterated 
liis  belief  in  the  right  of  Great  Britain  to  the  archi- 
pelago lying  west  of  Rosario  Strait.  But  owing  to 
the  condition  of  Victoria  at  this  period  of  her  history, 
the  town  being  about  as  much  American  as  English, 
many  Californians  and  Oregonians  having  purchased 
jiroperty  and  entered  into  business  there  during  the 
lieiglit  of  the  Eraser  River  mining  rush,  compara- 
tively little  impression  was  made  by  the  governor's 
proclamations,  the  interest  on  the  British  side  being 
conlined  chiefly  to  official  circles. 

^leanwhile  the  commissioners  could  not  agree,  and 
the  governments  of  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States  were  in  correspondence,  endeavoring  to  come 
to  a  satisfactory  understanding  as  to  their  rights — an 
ini])()s.sibility,  since  both  claimed  exactly  the  same 
thing."'  On  the  24th  of  August,  however,  Lord 
Lyons,  minister  at  Washington,  received  a  despatch 
from  the  foreign  office,  instructing  him  to  olfer  a 
c(»ni})r()mise,  adopting  as  tlie  line  of  water  boundary 
between  Vancouver  Island  and  the  continent  a  passage 
between  Rosario  Strait  and  the  Canal  de  Haro,  run- 
left  open,  witli  the  garrison  grournl  in  its  rear.  Tho  cinbaniiincnt  had  .a  base 
ut  ttti'uty-live  feet,  nml  a  witltii  at  top  of  oiyht  feet.  Inside  of  tlie  redoubt 
Wit  ;  live  gun -platforms  of  eartii,  reaciiing  to  witliin  two  feet  of  tho  level  of 
the  i);ira[)et,  eaeli  twelve  by  eighteen  feet,  two  of  them  being  at  corners  of 
the  R'doubt.  The  parapet  was  seven  feet  above  tho  interior,  and  the  slnpo 
of  tlic  ijiterior  tv-alve  to  fifteen  feet,  the  exterior  slope  being  twenty-five  to 
forty  fi'L't,  with  a  ditcl>  at  the  bottom  from  three  to  live  feet  dot  p.  Morse'H 
ll'".s/i.  Tor.,  MS.,  XV.  44-");  ['.  I.  BrilUh  Cidotnxt.  On  tho  '21st  of  August 
•  iovcinor  ijholson  addressed  a  communication  to  t.cneral  Harney,  in  whicli  ho 
iufuniiL'd  him  that  there  were  less  than  2,000  stands  of  arms  in  Washington, 
and  th.it  there  was  not  a  shot,  shell,  or  cartridge  for  any  of  them.  Suppiica 
Wire  sent  to  I'ort  .Steilacoom,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  governor. 

'"  Milton'x  Sail  Jiian  QiieHtioii,  "284.  This  author  intimates  that  Douglas 
hail  not  at  thi.i  time  the  full  powers  of  a  British  colonial  governor.  Mucdon- 
thl  talics  ii  (lilFerent  view. 

".l/KKi/.t  DrU.  Lr'tin.,  x.  144-5;   V.  I.  liriU^h  Culonint. 
liiur.  Uhit.  Col.    iO 


i^ 


iJ 


lii 


628 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


ning  through  the  middlo  of  the  archipelago,  which 
boundary  would  give  Orcas  and  Lopez  islands,  the 
two  largest  after  San  Juan,  to  the  United  States. 
This  concession  Lord  Lyons  thought  would  fulfil  the 
terms  of  the  treaty,  though  the  channel  was  inferior 
in  sonic  respects  to  the  others;*"  her  Majesty's  gov- 
ernment being  willing  for  the  sake  of  peace  to  re.sin;n 
its  claim  to  three  islands,  though  maintaining  its 
right  to  all.  At  the  moment  this  offer  was  made  the 
intelligence  was  received  at  Washington  of  the  occu- 
pation of  San  Juan  by  an  armed  American  force. 

Harney  first  wrote  to  army  headquarters  on  tlic 
subject  on  the  19th  of  Jul}',  but  for  some  reason  his 
letter  was  delayed,  and  does  not  appear  to  have 
reached  the  commander-in-chief  until  the  1st  of  Sep- 
tember, the  latter  sending  it  to  the  president;  but 
the  newspapers  got  hold  of  the  information,  and  in 
this  way  Lord  Lyons  and  other  statesmen  obtained  a 
knowledge  of  it,  when  there  was  profound  agitation 
in  diplomatic  circles. 

President  Buchanan  directed  Acting  Secretary  of 
War  Drinkard,  on  the  3d,  to  say  to  General  Hariicv 
that  although  he  believed  the  Canal  de  Haro  to  be 
the  true  boundary  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
United  States,  yet  that  he  had  not  anticipated  so  de- 
cisive a  step  being  taken  without  instructions;  that  it 
was  not  customary  to  disturb  the  status  of  territory 
in  dispute  between  friendly  nations  while  the  question 
was  pending  before  a  joint  commission ;  but  if  the 
gene/al  had  good  reason  to  believe  that  the  cobjiiial 
authorities  of  Great  Britain  were  about  to  do  so  by 
assuming  jurisdiction  over  the  disputed  territory,  he 
was  right  to  anticipate  their  action,  and  the  president 
would  wait  for  further  details  before  expressing  ar)y 
opinion. 

Upon  the  5th  Lord  Lyons  held  an  interview  with 

*'  Thia  third  middle  passage  was  used  by  steamers  daring  the  Fra«er  River 
gold  excitement,  and  surveyed  by  the  Active,  after  which  it  was  iianiud,  but 
Capt.  Ricliards  renamed  it  Plumper  Pass,  and  aa  such  it  was  offered  to  the 
United  .States  oa  a  boundary— a  narrow  channel  between  islands. 


iterview  with 


SCOTT  IN  Pt/OET  SOUND. 


627 


Mr  Cass,  when  he  vas  informed  of  the  contents  of 
Harney's  despatch.  On  this  occasion  Secretary  Cass 
notHied  Lyons  that  while  the  actual  status  should 
bo  maintained,  no  orders  had  been  sent  to  withdraw 
the  United  States  troops,  but  that  they  were  to  con- 
fine themselves  to  the  protection  of  American  citizens. 
Lyons  understood  this  to  mean  that  Harney  was  "by 
IK)  means  to  take  possession  of  San  Juan,  or  set  up  any 
jurisdiction  there" — a  construction  which  Cass  took 
pains  to  disavow  before  the  London  mail  left  the  coun- 
try. In  the  mean  time  further  despatches  had  been 
sent  to  Washinjvton,  with  full  explanations  of  the 
orij^in  of  the  difficulty,  the  depositions  of  citizens,  the 
orders  of  Harney,  and  the  proclamations  and  corre- 
spondence of  Douglas.  So  warlike  did  all  these  indi- 
cations appear,  that  the  president  felt  constrained  to 
order  General  Scott  to  proceed  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
and  inquire  more  particularly  into  the  causes  of  Har- 
ney's action.  The  adjustment  of  affairs  was  left  to 
him,  the  instructions  of  the  secretary  of  war  being 
merely  to  preserve  peace  and  prevent  collisions  until 
the  title  to  the  Island  could  be  determined  between 
the  two  governments;  it  being  suggested  that  during 
tlie  intervening  period  a  joint  occupancy  might  be 
permitted,  in  which  American  citizens  .should  be 
jilaccd  on  an  equal  footing  with  British  subjects. 

After  an  interview  with  Harney ''and  Pickett  at 
Vancouver,  Scott  proceeded  to  Puget  Sound  in  the 
mail  steamer  Northerner,  and  took  up  headquarters  on 
board  the  Massachusetts,  addressing  a  letter  on  the 
25th  to  Governor  Douglas,  and  proposing  as  a  tempo- 
rary arrangement  that  separate  portions  of  the  island 
should  be  occupied  by  an  equal  number  of  troops  of 
eaeh  nation,  not  to  exceed  one  hundred,  for  the  pro- 
tection of  their  respective  countrymen  in  person  and 
property.     But  Douglas,  who,  notwithstanding   his 

"  It  was  said  that  when  Harney  expressed  a  hope  to  Scott  that  matters 
might  bo  allowed  to  remain  as  they  were,  Scott  testily  replied,  '  We  both  have 
our  Kupcriors.'  He  then  proceeded  to  show  Harney  that  he  was  his  superior. 
EvaiM^N.  W,  Boundary,  20. 


'•!  ! 

■      i  ^ 

.  I-   ' , 

.  ;    »■ 

'If.  ■  1  1 

.i  * 
:j   1 

.^!ii 

.  ■     jl  !    i. 

li 

1. 
1 

.^'i 

iillf 

M'i 

l.j 

i!^ 

f'' 

,.  i 

"i 

1 1 


I  1 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


disavowal  of  any  collusion  between  the  Hudson's  D.iv 
Company  and  the  colonial  authorities,  intoiulod  that 
the  Ibrnier  should  own  San  Juan,  and  who  did  not 
really  desire  the  home  government  to  become  too 
much  concerned  in  the  military  value  of  tiie  Islainl, 
disapproved  of  a  joint  occupation,  and  expressed  his 
desire  to  have  the  order  of  civil  magistracy  restored, 
remarking,  as  to  the  protection  of  the  inhabitants,  that 
"the  principal  protection  that  may  be  required  isiVotii 
dissensions  among  themselves,  and  not  against  hostile 
Indians,  from  whom  I  do  not  apprehend  there  is  tin; 
sli<i:htest  danger  of  molestation;"  and  further  reiniii<Iiil 
tlio  jjenoral  that  the  sole  reason  furnislied  in  llariicx '.; 
correspondence  with  himself  for  placing  troops  on  tlif 
island  had  been  that  he  wislied  to  protect  citizens  of 
the  United  States  from  the  indignities  offered  Iht m 
by  the  British  authorities,  of  which  they  .stood  in  no 
danger.**  His  final  argument  for  not  accepting  Sn  di's 
proposition  was  that  the  general  was  an  accnulit  ■  1 
agent  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  win  ii  - 
as  he  did  not  occupy  that  position  toward  the  gov i  iii- 
ment  of  Great  Britain. 

To  this  Scott  replied  that  his  government  liad  not 
authorized  him  to  evacuate  San  Juan;  and  to  him  it 
was  apparent  that  if  a  magistracy  could  be  legally 
established  on  neutral  territory,  it  could  not  be  nuulo 
subject  to  the  orders  of  any  military  officer,  nor  eve  i 
to  the  direct  control  of  the  president,  and  therel'o.v  it 
would  not  bo  discreet  at  this  juncture  to  intrust  -  ui'a 
an  officer  with  matters  affecting  the  peace  of  nut  ions. 
"Besides,"  he  continued,  "I  have  adopted  the  ini- 
pression  of  my  countrymen  generally  on  this  froiilicr, 
that  the  few  citizens  settled  on  San  Juan  Islaiul, 
though  like  all  other  American  pioneers,  brave,  an  I 
possessed  of  effective  weapons  for  defence  and  utuuk. 
do  in  reality  stand  in  need  of  troops  for  protection,  not 
only  against  predatory  bands  of  Indians  coming  iVoui 
foreign  parts,  but  also  from  such  bands  residing  within 

»•  Milton's  San  Juan,  327-9;  //.  Ex.  Doc  66,  ix.  66-7,  SGlh  Cony.,  Id  Sett. 


Ifllwl 


I' 


SCOTT  AND  DOUGLAS. 


639 


our  own  limits;"  and  further  that  he  had  just  come 
fi'Din  Bullinj^ham  Bay,  where  an  attack  had  been  'iiade 
duriiiyf  the  summer,  and  again  threatened,  a  detaeh- 
niciii  having  been  recently  sent  from  San  Juan  to  the 
town  of  Whatcom. 

Thus  showing  Douglas  that  he  entertained  Ameri- 
can and  not  English  sentiments,  with  his  reasons 
tliLrefor,  Scott  submitted  a  [>roject  for  temporary 
yettlcment,  which  he  requested  his  Excellency  to  con- 
sider, declaring  that  he  could  see  no  other  principle 
wlitreupon  a  present  adjustment  could  be  made. 

The  reply  of  Douglas  was  that  ho  could  not  con- 
sent to  a  joint  military  occupation  without  the  sanc- 
tion of  his  government;^'  that  he  was  authorized  to 
maintain  but  not  to  make  treaties,  and  that  he  did 
not  think  it  advisable  to  anticipate  the  action  of  Great 
Britain;  that  protection  against  all  ordinary  danger 
to  residents  on  the  island  could  be  fully  attained 
without  mihtary  occupation.  Moreover,  tiie  expedi- 
ency of  affording  protection  to  persons  settling  on 
(lis]»uted  territory  might  be  questioned;  on  that  sub- 
ject his  instructions  left  him  in  no  doubt  with  refcr- 
enee  to  his  colony;  "protection  could  not  bo  afforded 
to  persons  who,  by  wandering  beyond  the  precincts  of 
tlio  settlements  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  tribunals, 
voluntarily  expose  themselves  to  the  violence  or 
treachery  of  the  native  tribes." 

Whether  this  was  an  order  of  the  home  govern- 
ment, the  governor  did  not  say;  but  it  reminds  one 
forcibly  of  the  accusations  brought  by  the  early  Ore- 
f,fon  settlers  against  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and 
the  remark  made  by  some  of  them,  that  it  was  fortu- 
nate fur  the  first  immigrations  that  AIcLoughlin  and 
not  Douoflas  was  in  command. 

Douglas  denied  that  the  colonial  authorities  had 
committed  any  act  in  violation  of  existing  treaty  stij)- 
ulations,  or  had  been  guilty  of  discourtesy  toward  the 

'-"'I'licre  were  some  Hudson '8  Bay  Company  men  who  agreed  with  Scott. 
See  Hi-collediom,  MS.,  30. 


1    M 


".  i 


j  i 


H 


1 


630 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


United  States  government,  but  said  tliat  they  had 
exhibited  a  degree  of  forbearance  which  cntitlod 
them  to  every  confidence;  and  again  ho  urged  tlio 
withdrawal  of  the  trooj>8  from  tho  island,  when  liu 
promised  that  the  naval  force  in  the  harbor  should  bo 
removed,  at  the  same  time  assuring  Scott  that  tbeio 
was  no  intention  on  his  part  to  dislodge  by  force  tho 
troops  in  possession,  without  orders  from  tho  home 
government. 

This  assurance  Scott  accepted.  Being  persuaded, 
he  said,  that  the  cordial  relations  existing  between 
the  two  governments  precluded  the  probability  nf 
war,  he  would  at  once  order  the  number  of  troops  on 
the  island  to  bo  reduced  to  one  company  of  infaiitrv, 
and  enclosed  such  an  order  to  Douglas  on  tlio  5th  ot 
November.  It  was  his  first  intention  to  leave  Pickett 
in  command;  but  fearing  lest  there  might  be  a  preju- 
dice against  this  reckless  officer,  in  whose  honor  tliu 
fort  on  San  Juan  was  named,  another  company  under 
Captain  Hunt  was  substituted,  and  Pickett  was  .sent 
to  Fort  Bellingham;  not  that  Hunt  was  less  fearless, 
but  that  he  was  possessed  of  more  prudence  and  coui- 
tesy,  and  had  not  given  cause  of  offence.  On  tlio 
departure  of  Scott,  however,  Pickett  was  at  once  re- 
instated by  General  Harney. 

The  withdrawal  of  the  United  States  forces,  except 
one  company,  could  not  be  complained  of,  especially 
as  the  governor  was  invited  to  place  a  company  on 
the  island,  Douglas  replying  that  he  should  tako 
pleasure  in  reporting  this  action  to  the  home  gover"- 
ment,  which,  he  doubted  not,  would  accept  it  as  proof 
of  a  desire  of  the  United  States  to  restore  the  former 
status  of  the  islands;  and  expressing  a  hope  that  llio 
commander-in-chief  would  direct  his  officers  to  ab- 
stain from  all  acts  provocative  of  conflicts,  or  from 
attempts  to  exclude  British  subjects  by  force,  or  in 
any  manner  interfere  with  them;'**  and  on  his  part  lie 

•'This  caution  arose  from  the  arrest  of  William  Moore,  a  British  siiljject, 
for  selling  liquor  on  the  isiland,  which  wua  forbidden.     Moore,  aftur  bviiig 


TWW 


•Y. 

lat  they  liad 
lich  entitled 
10  urjjfed  tho 
,nd,  when  lio 
jor  shoul(J  bo 
.t  that  theio 
by  force  tlio 
m  the  hutue 

^  persuaded, 
ing  betweon 
robability  of 
of  troops  on 
■  of  infantry, 
n  the  5tli  ot 
eave  Piokitt 
t  be  a  proju- 
e  honor  tho 
mpany  under 
:ott  was  sent 
less  fearless, 
ice  and  coiir- 
ce.  On  tlio 
3  at  once  re- 

brces,  except 
of,  especiully 
company  on 
should  tako 
ome  gover"- 
pt  it  as  proof 
e  the  former 
ope  that  tho 
icers  to  ah- 
icts,  or  from 
force,  or  in 
1  his  pa  it  lie 

B  Britisli  siibjeot, 
loore,  after  being 


GENERAL  HARNEY. 

would  enjoin  upon  the  British  authorities  the  same 
abstinence  from  exclusive  jurisdiction. 

Scott  replied  that  he  should  direct  the  American 
oflieer  in  command  not  to  permit  the  territorial  func- 
tionaries to  interfere  with  any  British  subject  on  the 
ishuid  while  it  was  in  dispute;  but  should  add  the 
further  instruction,  that  if  a  British  subject  disturbed 
the  peace,  or  sold  strong  liquor  to  American  soldiers 
without  leave  from  their  commander,  that  officer 
must  represent  the  case  to  tho  nearest  British  author- 
ity, asking  for  the  removal  of  the  offender;  and  if 
he  should  return  to  the  island  without  pern)ission,  the 
officer  must  expel  him  without  further  ceremony." 

Tins  ended  the  correspondence  between  Scott  and 
Douglas.  By  withdrawing  the  main  force  and  the 
batteries  from  Fort  Pickett,  the  former  had  left 
(jreat  Britain  to  take  the  initiative  in  any  future  hos- 
tilities, but  without  yielding  any  rights  or  nsaking 
any  binding  concessions.  Scott  was  made  aware,  be- 
fore leaving  Washington,  that  the  British  government 
would  demand  the  removal  of  Harney  from  the  Ore- 
gon department;  and  the  president,  reluctant  to  re- 
lieve from  his  command  a  popular  officer,  though  one 
whose  excessive  zeal  in  the  interests  of  the  people  and 
the  government  had  almost  involved  the  country  in  a 
war,  had  suggested  reuniting  the  departments  of  Cal- 
ifornia and  Oregon,  whereby  Harney  would,  without 
prejudice  to  his  standing,  be  forced  to  take  a  com- 
mand in  some  other  part  of  the  United  States  terri- 
tory. But  Harney,  not  at  first  perceiving  the  motive 
of  the  commander-in-chief,  placed  before  him  strong 
ari,ainients  against  throwing  the  two  departments  into 

put  to  work  in  the  trenches  for  half  a  day,  was  tried  before  Justice  Crosbie 
and  tinutl,  according  to  his  deposition,  $75.  II.  Ex.  Doc.,  ix.,  no.  Co,  pp. 
(ii-l,  SGlh  Colli/.,  Id  Sets.  Thu  case  fully  illustrated  tlie  trouble  that  would 
arise  from  a  divided  jurisdiction. 

'■.SV».  Doc.  10,  Ij,  v.,  SCth  Cong.,  1st  Sess.;  II.  Er..  Doc.,  Xi-l^—Mess. 
anil  Dor.  ]il  i. — 36th  Coiitj.,  Ixt  .SVss.;  Id.,}il  it.,  3!)-90,  577;  llowse  Jour., 
144.5,  SOlhCoiifj.,  iKl  Sean.;  Sen.  Jour.,  lOliO,  36th  Cony.,  let  Seas.;  U.  Ex. 
Doc.  2'J,  8-10,'22-9,  37-03,  Sutk  Comj.,  2d  Sess. 


i 


•!  ! 


"t 


1 


t  I  i 


632 


THK  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


one,  and  cited  tho  condition  of  the  country  when  the 
lieadquartcra  were  at  San  Francisco. 

At  longtli,  justas  ho  was  taking  his  departure  from 
tho  Columbia,  3cott  gave  Harney  his  true  reason  r(jr 
making  tho  suggestion,  and  left  with  him  an  order  to 
repair  to  St  Louis  and  assume  command  of  the  du- 
partment  of  tho  west,  placing  Wright  in  connnand  of 
the  department  of  Oregon,  but  giving  him  leave  to 
decline  or  accept  the  order  as  he  should  elect.  lli>r- 
ney,  however,  did  not  wish  to  go  to  St  Louis  just  at 
that  time.  Ho  had  begun  the  erection  of  a  residence 
about  one  mile  cast  from  Vancouv»;r,  then  nearly  com- 
pleted,"'' and  did  not  find  it  convenient,  had  it  been 
otherwise  agreeable,  to  leave  the  territory.  Neitlitr 
did  he  believe  that  his  action  with  regard  to  San 
Juan  would  embarrass  the  president.  That,  at  all 
events,  was  the  opinion  expressed  in  reply  to  the 
commander-in-chief's  suggestion,  written  on  the  spur 
of  the  moment. 

Two  days  later  I  find  him  entertaining  the  idea. 
In  a  long  communication  to  the  adjutant-general,  in 
which  he  recommends  the  continuance  of  the  Oregon 
department,  he  concludes  by  saying  that,  although  ln' 
would  not  make  a  formal  application  to  be  relieved 
from  his  c(mimand  lest  it  should  derange  any  coiirso 
already  '  eided  upon,  he  would  esteem  it  a  favor  if 
the  president  would  at  his  earliest  convenience  allow 
him  to  return  to  the  east  and  to  his  family,  from 
which  he  had  been  for  five  years  separated.  He  was 
not  recalled  until  the  following  summer,  althoui^h 
Scott,  vexed  on  account  of  some  private  official  mis- 
understandings, used  his  influence  against  him.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  legislatures  of  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington, on  being  informed  of  the  contemplated  chaii-^i; 
in  their  military  department,  memorialized  congress 

••This  structiiro  went  by  the  name  of  Dunclaa  Castle.  It  was  beautifully 
situated  ill  a  plateau  overlooking  the  Columbia,  and  surrounded  by  a  t,'ruve 
of  stately  fir-trees.  Harney  wished  to  sell  it  for  an  arsenal,  but  tho  title  to 
the  land  was  unsettled.  It  came  later  into  the  possession  of  J.  E.  Wyclie, 
and  was  afterward  again  sold. 


POPULAR  FEIiLINO. 


6A3 


agiiinut  it,  and  prayed  to  luivo  Harney  retained  in 
fduiniaiid;  and  8eott,  whose  visit  had  been  reeeived 
with  del'erenee,  he;:^an  to  bo  severely  criticised,  wiiich 
was  nothiniLf  new  lor  iiinu^ 

Not  until  March  did  Admiral  Baynes  disembark 
oil  the  disputed  island  a  company  of  niaiines  ecjual  in 
iiuniber  to  the  I'orce  of  Captain  Hunt,  under  the  com- 
uiand  of  Captain  Ceorgo  Bazalgette,  his  instructions 
IkiMg  the  same  as  those  given  to  tho  fVmeri.an  cap- 
tain. The  respective  commanders  oln<  rved  tho  ut- 
most courtesy  toward  each  other,  as  they  had  been 
instructed  to  do.  In  the  mean  ^Miie  the  Amo''ican 
|M>[»ulation  of  San  Juan  was  i  ablcd,  farm  ^  were 
'  ituned,  and  maimfactures  started. 

Nor  did  the  Fourth-of-July  spirit  die  out;  but  in 
Xovcniber  a  public  meeting  was  hek!  to  express  tho 
SLiitinients  of  tho  settlers  with  regard  lo  the  sover- 
eignty of  this  bit  of  insular  territory.  At  01yn5j)ia 
the  democratic  portion  of  the  legislature,  at  a  meeting 
held  for  the  purpose,  nominated  Harney  as  their 
th(»ice  for  i)resident  in  18G0.  It  was  quite  clear  that, 
whatever  the  government  might  do,  the  people  in- 
tended to  sustain  Harney. 

The  American  aspect  of  the  case  descends  now  to  a 
disgraceful  quarrel  between  two  of  its  officers,  a  posi- 
tion in  which  they  are  too  often  found  in  the  history 
of  the  nation.  Nor  will  it  be  of  any  import  to  this 
history  to  follow  a  private  quarrel  between  Scott  and 


'*  According  to  tlic  Orerjou  Statesman  of  January  21,  1800,  the  intervention 
of  tliL'  comiimndcr-in-cliicf  liail  done  tnorc  harm  than  good.  When  ho  arrived, 
8;iiil  that  journal,  the  San  Juan  question  was  practically  settled.  There  was 
111!  occasion  for  iiini  to  iutcrfc're.  The  British  licet  iiad  retired  to  I'^snuiiualt 
liiirUor,  except  the  tinti-Uiti-,  which  still  lay  in  tiio  harbor  of  S;in  Juan.  Tho 
.\incricaiia  had  pc-iceulih;  pos-session,  and  exercised  civil  and  military  juris- 
liu'lion.  Hut  instead  of  letting  matters  remain  as  they  were,  he  ordereil  off 
I'icliett,  oU'ered  joint  occupancy,  and  recommended  the  recall  of  Harney  ami 
the  aljulition  of  the  Oregon  dep»-tment.  Nor  were  the  Oregon  and  I'uget 
Sound  papers  tho  only  journals  to  ,  -estiou  the  wisdom  of  the  cominander-in- 
cliief  in  sacrilieing  Pickett  and  Hiirney,  whom  the  government  and  himself 
indorsed,  by  leaving  a  military  foree  on  the  i.-land,  and  by  abolishing  Uritisli 
civil  jurisdiction,  but  the  western  press  in  gene-  1  lamented  tho  necessity, 
Kal  or  imaginary,  of  the  iuiplieil  censure.  See  Nntional  /ntellijencer,  July  '28, 
ISOO;  Evaiu'  iV.   IK,  Uouiidary,  'i'i;   V,  I.  lirUinh  (Joloitiitl, 


I'. 


634 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


Harney,  except  so  far  as  it  affects  the  question  under 
consideration.  On  the  10th  of  April,  18G0,  Harney 
sent  a  despatch  to  Pickett  from  Fort  Vancouver, 
wherein  he  informs  him:  1st.  That  Scott  left  no  in- 
structions with  him  to  grant  a  military  occupation 
of  San  Juan  Island  by  British  troops;  nor  had  any 
authority  been  delegated  by  the  government  to  Scott 
to  offer  or  accept  such  occupation;  nor  was  the  oiler 
made  by  him  accepted  by  Governor  Douglas,  or  any 
such  arrangement  subsequently  made,  so  far  as  he, 
Harney,  was  informed;  2d.  The  British  authorities 
had  simply  submitted  an  assurance  that  no  attempt 
would  be  made  by  them  to  dislodge  the  American 
troops,  in  view  of  which  they  were  permitted  to  land 
troops  for  a  purpose  similar  to  that  of  the  commander 
of  the  department,  to  protect  the  British  residents; 
3d.  Under  the  organic  act  of  congress  for  the  estab- 
lishment  of  Washington  territory,  the  legislature  of 
1854  had  passed  an  act  including  the  island  of  San 
Juan  in  Whatcom  county,  which  act  on  being  sub- 
mitted to  congress  was  not  disapproved,  and  was  there- 
fore the  law  of  the  land,  and  being  such,  Pickett  would 
be  expected  to  regard  the  civil  jurisdiction  of  Washint^- 
ton,  any  attempt  to  ignore  which  would  be  followed 
by  deplorable  results.  In  the  event  of  British  in- 
terests being  involved,  Pickett  was  required  to  notify 
Ca})tain  Bazalgette,  who  would  propose  some  arrange- 
ment satisfactory  to  his  instructions,  as  well  as  those 
of  the  civil  officer,  no  action  in  any  case  to  be  taken 
until  it  had  been  referred  to  the  British  admiral  and 
the  governor  of  Washington. 

No  sooner  had  the  reappointment  of  Pickett  hvcn 
made  known  in  Washington  city  than  the  British 
minister  called  the  attention  of  Secretary  Cass  to 
the  event,  expressing  his  confidence  that  the  United 
States  government  would  not  lose  anytime  in  provid- 
ing against  the  deplorable  consequences  likely  to  follow. 
Lord  Lyons,  as  well  as  General  Scott,  endeavored  to 


T-™ 


ARBITRATION. 


OSS 


arouse  the  govcrninciit  against  Harney,*"  and  tlio 
SLLictary  of  war  was  dirocted  to  recall  him  at  once. 
A( conlingly  Harney  went  to  Washington,  Hunt  was 
unkred  back  to  San  Juan,*'  and  Colonel  Wright  was 
pliiced  in  connnand  of  the  department  of  Oregon. 

The  reprimand  which  General  Harney  received 
from  the  secretary  of  war  was  a  mild  one.  The  sec- 
retary disapproved  of  violating  the  order  of  General 
Scott;  but  while  expressing  his  disapprobation,  he  en- 
tertained no  doubt  of  the  proper  intentions  of  Genei-al 
Harney,  "and  from  his  known  high  character  and 
(Hstinguished  services,  he  was  not  disposed  to  be  severe 
ill  his  condemnation." 

There  remains  little  that  need  be  told  of  the  history 
of  San  Juan.  Unable  to  settle  the  boundary,  the 
IJiitish  government  authorized  Lord  Lyons,  on  the 
10th  t)f  December,  18G0,  to  propose  arbitration  by 
('lie  of  three  European  powers;  namely,  Bclgiunij, 
])vnv  ark,  or  the  Swiss  republic;  but  for  the  time 
this  proposal  led  to  no  result.  Then  came  the  civil 
war  in  the  United  States,  when  the  cabinet  had 
oii()U<ifh  to  do  to  manajj^e  its  domestic  affairs,  and  the 
Sail  Juan  question  was  suffered  to  be  forgotten. 

It  vv-as  not  until  18G8  that  Adams,  minister  to  Eng- 
land, was  notified  by  Secretary  Seward  that  among 
other  important  questions  to  be  negotiated  the  San 
Juan  boundary  should  be  included.  Li  18G9  Adams' 
hucce.ssor,  Reverdy  Johnson,  was  instructed  to  give 
his  attention  to  the  adjustment  of  this  question,  aci-ept- 
iii;4'  the  proposal  made  ten  years  before  that  it  shoidil 
l)e  seltled  by  arbitration;  and  on  the  17th  of  October 
a  jirotocol  was  signed  by  Stanley  and  Jolmson,  agree- 
ing' that  the   question   should    bo  referred   to   some 

•'Soritt  wrote:  'If  this  docs  not  load  to  a  collision  of  arms,  it  will  ni^tun 
1)0  iliii<  to  the  foi'boiirance  of  tlio  Ijritisli  autlioritica.'  Milton's  Swi  Jniui,  '.]')\. 

"  I'itkolt  w;w  a  southerner,  and  when  the  eivil  war  lnokc  out  joined  llio 
cnnfvilovacy  uml  was  made  a  general.  He  oonimunded  a  division  under  Long- 
Kticet  at  (iettysburg.  lie,  like  most  of  tho  soutliern  olUccrs  wlio  rl•si^ned 
fi'uiii  the  United  States  army,  died  in  a  few  years  after  the  close  uf  thu  war. 


.1        S 


1 


I 


636 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY, 


■ii 


friendly  sovereign  or  state,  and  that  within  tlirco 
months  alter  the  ratification  of  any  treaty  .^iviii" 
eifec't  to  the  agreement  tlie  referee  should  he  selected, 
the  naturalization  treaty  heing  mentioned  as  the  one 
that  Must  he  iirst  disposed  of.  On  the  10th  of  Xo- 
vemher,  the  claims  questions  having  been  referred  to 
lour  connniasioners,  two  chosen  by  each  govcrnuu'Kt, 
it  was  al;  ()  agreed  that  the  boundary  question  should 
be  determined  by  the  president  of  the  federal  council 
of  the  Swiss  republic  on  the  conclusion  of  the  ti'caty 
above  named. 

When  the  first  proposition  was  nuidc  in  18(58  to 
accept  arbitration  as  a  means  of  disposing  of  the 
question,  the  ofiicials  of  Washington  territory  sent  a 
remonstrance  to  congress,  entreatini'  the  senate  to  con- 
sent  to  no  protocol  nor  convention  admitting  a  doubt 
of  the  ri^ht  of  the  United  States  to  the  line  of  the 
Canal  de  JIaro,  or  a  possible  surrender  of  the  Haro 
archipelago." 

]\Ir  Seward,  however,  not  being  satisfied  with  the 
claims  convention,  wrote  Johnson  to  allow  the  natural- 

*-Tlio  rcmDuatranco  was  signcil  by  Marshall  F.  Moore  governor,  Hiizanl 
Stevens  collector,  S.  1).  Howe  assessor  internal  revenue,  Joseph  Ciisliman 
reciiver  ol'  the  same,  E.  Marsh  register  of  the  land-ofliee,  J.  E.  W'yelie  I'.  .S. 
(listriet  juil^c,  Leander  Holmes  U.  S.  attorney,  S.  Garfield  surveyor-general, 
I'liilip  I  >.  Moore  eoUeetor  of  internal  revenue,  E.  L.  Smith  territorial  Kecrt- 
(ary.  T.  M.  Heed  eliief  elerk  in  land-olliee,  Charles  A.  White  surveyor,  C. 
JI.  Hale  ex-.uiperintendcnt  Indian  atl'airs,  \V.  W.  Miller  the  same,  l].  (iii-lc- 
ling  late  acting  surveyor-general,  Benjamin  ILirned  territorial  tieasurer,  ('. 
S.  King  Indian  agent,  Levi  .Slielton  territorial  lihrarian,  William  Huntiiutiiii 
U.  S.  maislud,  15.  F.  Demiisoii  U.  S.  district  judge,  O.  IJ.  MeFadden  ex-L'.S. 
chief  justice,  Frank  Clark,  H.  G.  Steiner,  Hhvood  Evans.  U.  S.  Si'ii.  Mi-«\ 
J>ir..  'JT,  .Jf/Zt  Coiiii.,  lid  S(>is.  In  reply  to  a  letter  from  the  jjresidcnt  of  the 
Northern  I'aciiie  railroad,  George  (Jibbs  wrote  a  letter,  afterward  publislicil 
in  pamphlet fonu,  on  the  protocol  of  1800,  in  which  he  reviewed  tlie  a.'ict- 
incut  ill  iU(  friendly  spirit.  He  declared  the  president  of  the  Swiss  eonfedcia- 
tion  a  myth,  which,  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  sovereign,  he  really  was;  said 
that  En.;laii.!  meant  that  iSan  J  uan  Island  and  Point  Roberts  were  to  be  given 
up  lor  the  naturalization  treaty;  hoped  that  to  avoid  a  war  the  U.  S.  woiiM 
adci[it  the  middle  or  I'resideut's  passage,  as  the  Aetive-Phunper  ehauncl  was 
now  called;  and  declared  that  if  Englaml  was  to  lose  her  possessions  on  the 
Pacilic,  as  she  must  eventually,  she  wished  to  make  the  U.  S.  pay  the  hiu'lic>t 
price  for  the  acipiisition,  a  price  that,  would  bo  enhanced  by  the  posiiessioii  of 
Saii.Iuaii  and  Point  Uoberts,  for  which  she  was  striving.  lie  eoucludcd  liy 
saying  th.it  it  would  never  do  to  leave  Puget  Sound  entirely  under  Ijiuisli 
guns,  as  the  eominainl  of  the  Sound  involved  that  of  the  Columbia  Pivcr. 
nihil/  Still  Jiirtii  Tratij.  Point  Roberts  is  a  neck  of  land  extending  belo'ff 
the  4'Jtli  parallel,  directly  south  of  the  mouth  of  Fruscr  River. 


TREATY  OP  WASHINGTON. 


637 


ization  and  San  Juan  questions  to  remain  in  protocol 
uiiK'ss  Great  Britain  agreed  to  amend  the  former,  and 
the  reference  to  arbitration  was  rescinded  by  this 
action.  An  amended  convention  was  then  ac{!ri)ted 
l)y  Great  Britain  and  forwarded  to  the  United  States, 
hut  rejected  by  the  senate,  which  rejection  rendered 
nugatory  a  second  agreement  to  submit  the  boundary 
(|U('stion  to  the  arbitration  of  the  president  of  tlie 
,S\vis8  confederation. 

Thus  this  question  was  suffered  to  drift  along  until, 
in  1871,  England  sent  five  commissioners  to  Wash- 
ington city  to  negotiate  a  treaty,  which  was  concluded 
May  8th  of  that  year,  and  is  known  as  the  treaty  of 
Wasjiington,  the  thirty-fourth  article  of  which  is  in 
tilt;  following  language:  "Whereas,  it  was  stipulated 
Iiy  article  I  of  the  treaty  concluded  at  W^asliington 
(Ml  the  ir)tli  of  June,  184G,  between  trie  United  States 
luid  her  Britannic  Majesty,  that  the  line  of  boundary 
between  the  territories  of  the  United  States  and  thoso 
of  her  ]3ritannic  Majesty,  from  the  point  on  the  49tii 
parallel  of  north  latitude  up  to  which  it  had  been 
already  ascertained,  should  be  continued  westward 
along  the  said  parallel  of  north  latitude  "to  the  mid- 
dle of  the  channel  which  separates  the  continent  from 
Vancouver's  Island,  and  thence  southerly  through  the 
middle  of  said  channel  and  of  Fuca  Straits  to  the 
Pacilic  Ocean;'  and  whereas,  the  commissioners  ap- 
])oiiited  by  the  two  high  contracting  parties  to  deter- 
r.iiiie  the  portion  of  the  boundary  which  runs  southerly 
tlirough  the  middle  of  tlie  channel  aforesaid  were 
unable  to  agree  upon  the  same;  and  whereas,  the  gov- 
iTiniieiit  of  her  Britannic  Majesty  claims  that  such 
lioundary  line  should,  under  the  terms  of  the  treaty 
above  recited,  be  run  throu'j:h  Rosario  Sti-aits,  and 
the  government  of  the  United  States  claims  that  it 
should  be  run  through  the  Canal  de  llaro — it  is  agreed 
that  the  respective  claims  oi  the  government  of  the 
United  States  and  the  government  of  her  liritannic 
Majesty  shall    be  submitted  to  the  arbitration  and 


ii; 


i 


,  I 

H  '■ 

1 

1 

i; 

_ 

1 

!•' 

III 

i 

f 

f 
';        i 

11 

:;.i 

i 

i 

l! 


Mi 


;    I 
»    I 


638 


THE  SAN  JUAN  ISLAND  DIFFICULTY. 


award  of  his  Majosty  the  emperor  of  Gerinany,  who, 
having  regard  to  the  above-mentioned  article  of  tlio 
said  treaty,  shall  deeide  thereupon,  fi  Uy  and  with- 
out appeal,  which  of  those  claims  is  in  the  most  accord- 
ance with  the  true  interpretation  of  the  treaty  of  Juno 
15,  1846."" 

Emperor  William  of  Germany  accepted  the  office 
of  arbitrator,  both  governments  presenting  a  carefully 
prepared  case,  with  documents  and  maps,  Gcorgo 
Bancroft,  the  American  minister  to  Germany,  and 
!Mr  Petro,  thn  British  charge  d'affairs,  having  the  re- 
sponsibility ot  laying  before  him  all  the  arguments  on 
either  side.  Present  in  Berlin,  and  laboring  for  the 
acceptance  of  his  views,  was  Captain,  now  Admiral 
Prevost,  the  British  commissioner  of  1859.  Tht; 
award  was  not  made  until  October  21,  1872,  when  it 
was  given  to  the  United  States.  There  are  some  on 
both  sides  of  the  line  who  hold  to  the  opinion  that 
the  decision  was  wrong;  others  believe  it  right;  still 
others  say  that  it  is  a  matter  of  small  moment  to 
which  of  the  great  powers  this  little  patch  of  earth 
belongs.  Great  as  was  the  disappointment  of  the 
people  of  British  Columbia,  the  award  was  most 
courteously  accepted,  and  within  a  few  weeks  orders 
were  given  by  the  imperial  government  for  its  tronps 
to  evacuate  San  Juan.  The  greatest  good  feeling  had 
all  along  existed  between  the  officers  and  soklieiv, 
and  three  hearty  cheers  were  given  by  the  Amerie.uis 
on  the  departure  of  the  royal  marines;  none  the  '<  ■« 
hearty,  because  on  this  occasion  the  Yankees  <•  i.i 
well  afford  to  cheer." 

*'  Trfot;/  of  WaHhiiigton  Papers,  v.  250;  Cushing'a  Treaty  of  IVdnhiii'jlon, 
app.,  2,')7-74;  Ex.  Doe.  1,  pi  1,  4^d  Cong.,  3d  Sesa.;  Foreign  ltdat'fiii.<,  i, 
XXI'. -ri.,  JfSd  Cong.,  IstSeiH. 

**PiigH  Sound  Despatch,  Dec.  .'),  1S72;  Butler's  Wild  North  Lmi^l.^W- 
Tlie  cost  to  Kiiglaiid  of  occupying  San  Juxn  was  between  twelve  and  tlinticii 
thousand  dollars  a  year,  besides  the  pay  of  otiiceraand  men.  llans(uil'.-<  Pari. 
Dib.,  cxcix.  I2;{8.  The  cost  to  the  United  .States  was  that  of  kfcpiiiu'  up:' 
iiost  where  it  wiis  needed  to  watch  the  northern  Indians.  See  incnioriiil  ni  tlie 
Washington  legislature  in  Wmth.  Stat.,  18G7-8,  183-5,  asking  relief  fur  isuac 
E.  Fliggius,  a  'persecuted'  settler,  ancl  that  Captain  Grey  bo  punishul  fur 
abuses  of  power.     Also  correspondence  of  Acting  Gov.  McGill  with  thn  sl'o,  of 


fl  ! 


,TY. 

crinany,  wlio, 
article  of  the 
lly  and  with- 
e  most  accord- 
treaty  of  Juno 

ted  the  office 
ing  a  carefully 
naps,  George 
jrennany,  and 
laving  the  w- 

arguuieiitsdii 
joring  for  the 

now  Admiral 
f  1859.  The 
1872,  when  it 
G  are  some  on 

opinion  that 

it  right;  still 
11  moment  to 
atch  of  earth 
tment  of  the 
ird    was  nu^st 

weeks  orders 

for  its  troops 
)d  feeling  Iiad 
and  soldicrv, 
he  Americans 

none  the  ''  -« 
''ankoes  c  i.'i 


eaty  of  Wmlonytm, 
ireiijn  Rdathiii.<,  i-, 

Novth  LnwK'M\. 
bwelve  and  tliiit.cii 
n.  llaiiKdiil  !i  I'lirl. 
at  cf  ki'C|iiML,'  lip  ;i 
5ee  inoinoriiil  nl  tlie 
:inf{  relief  for  I  suae 
ly  bo  piiiiislnd  fiir 
Uill  with  tbo  800,  of 


END  OP  THE  CONTROVERSY. 


639 


state,  in  Evans'  X.  W.  Boundary,  .39,  and  the  decision  of  Judge  Fitzhugli  on 
|i.  4(1,  also  the  opinion  of  Judge  B.  F.  Dennisun  in  tlio  J'ort  Towuxeml  MexHaije, 
(Jet.  I  and  8,  1808.  The  uward,  which  removed  all  tlic  disabilities  coiuiilainud 
(if,  lift  the  tJnited  States  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  nation  without 
a  liuiindary  dispute  with  Great  Britain,  and  consequently  in  a  condition  to 
oiitgiow,  on  both  sides,  many  prejudices  and  imaginary  causes  of  diirerenec. 
SoiiiC  years  before  t\w  emperor's  decision  was  rendered  the  Hudson's  Bay  and 
l'iii.'L't  .Sound  Agricultural  companies  brought  forward  claims  against  the  U. 
S.  for  loss  of  territory.  They  were  finally  disallowed,  on  the  ground  that  it 
had  iiecn  decided  by  the  emperor  of  Germany  that  the  islands  rightfully  be- 
ionu'oil  to  the  U.  S.,  although  the  commissioners  appointed  under  the  treaty 
i,f  IsO:!  had  awarded  S4rK),000  to  the  H.  B.  Co.  and  ^I'OO.OOO  to  the  I'liget 
Soiiiul  Co.  Claims  were  also  brought  forward  by  British  residents  of  San 
Juan,  and  Hazard  8tevcns  was  appointed  commissioner  for  the  purpose  of 
iiK|uiring  into  and  settling  them.  After  visiting  the  island  and  making  an 
investigation,  he  reported  to  the  president  that  no  claims  existed  which  the 
government  was  bound  to  recognize.  Stevens,  Saji  Juan  Chiimn,  M.S.  Mr 
iStevfiis  remarks  that  the  manner  in  which  the  demands  of  the  two  companies 
wen:  presented  by  the  British  minister  at  Washington,  and  investigated  by 
order  of  congress,  forms  a  curious  episode  in  this  protracted  dispute.  In  1SS4 
.Mr  Stevens  was  practising  law  in  Boston.  The  evidence  for  the  companies 
and  fur  the  U.  S.,  with  tlie  memorials  and  arguments  of  claimants,  the  argu- 
inints  of  counsel  for  the  U.  S.,  the  opinions  and  award  of  tlie  commissioners, 
and  the  opinions  of  the  press,  were  published  in  five  volumes  and  parts,  under 
tlic  general  title  of  Claims  of  the  IIikIhoh's  Bay  and  Puijct  Sound  Ai/ricultural 
Co/iipiinics,  Montreal,  1808,  Washington,  18G7,  1808. 

In  thus  presenting  an  account  of  the  San  Juan  difficulty,  I  have  stated  the 
faL'ts  as  1  have  found  them,  making  little  comment  thereon.  Hundreds  of 
opinions  and  versions  have  been  published  in  newspapers,  books,  and  maga- 
zines, as,  for  example,  that  of  William  John  Macdonald,  though  by  no  means 
a  leliulile  writer,  but  an  employi^  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  who,  with  a 
party  of  I'rench  Canadians,  was  stationed  at  San  Juan  two  or  tliree  years  be- 
fore tiie  dispute  occurred,  and  afterward  became  a  citizen  of  Victoria.  He 
states  that  the  Americans  never  considered  the  island  as  any  portion  of  their 
territory  until  about  the  year  18.">3.  Captain  Alden,  of  the  surveying  steamer 
Acliir,  found  deeper  water  in  the  Canal  de  Uaro  than  in  the  llosario  channel, 
and  claimed  the  former  as,  under  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  '  the  channel  which 
Separates  Vancouver's  Island  from  the  mainland.'  After  negotiations  and  sur- 
veys extending  over  two  years,  Capt.  Prevost  being  sent  from  England  in  the 
Sal'llile,  to  protect  British  interests,  and,  if  possible,  to  arrange  matters,  the 
eonnnissioncrs  appointed  by  both  nations  failed  to  agree.  In  I8.')9  Gan.  Har- 
ney came  from  Oregon  in  the  sloop  of  war  Decatur,  with  about  150  men. 
Anelioring  in  Griffin  Bay,  ho  threw  up  rough  earthworks  on  the  high  land 
above  the  harbc  and  planted  some  cannon.  Sir  .Tames  Douglas  went  over  in 
a  slii|)  of  war  to  remonstrate,  and  requested  Harney  to  remove  his  troops, 
which  the  latter  declined  to  do.  The  people  of  Victoriiv  were  sorely  annoyed 
at  tlic  aggressiveness  of  the  Americans,  and  .".s  there  were  at  this  time,  in  the 
har'ior  of  Victoria,  nine  vessels  of  war,  recently  arrived  from  China,  all  were 
in  favor  of  resorting  to  arms.  At  the  in'.cance  of  Admiral  Baynes,  however, 
aeuiincil  was  held  and  milder  measurrj  prevailed.  Harney,  who,  it  was  be- 
lieved, acted  under  the  advice  of  C<  aimissioner  Campbell,  was  severely  cen- 
sured for  his  conduct.  Brit.  Vol.  Sketches,  MS.,  24-0. 


■!    i 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 

1871-1874. 

The  Tide  ok  WESTWARD-Bonuo  Migration — Reasons  foii  and  ac.unst 
TUE  Railway  Pkoject — The  Bill  Caruied  in  the  Commons— Reso- 
lution Passed  by  the  Canadian  Parliament — Policy  of  the  Bmtisii 
and  Canadian  (Joveknments — Preliminary  Sckvevs— The  Iliiiit 
Allan  Con'I'Ract — A  Modest  Demand — The  Contract  Annollku— 
Change  of  Administration — James  D.  Edgar's  Negotiations— Their 
Failure  and  its  Cause — Mackenzie's  Railway  Scheme — Oiuectiu.ns 
TO  Ilia  Project. 

The  project  for  intcroceanic  communication  between 
the  British  possessions  on  the  Atlantic  and  Pafific 
was  one  mooted  lonj;  before  the  confederation  uave  it 
definite  form.  It  was  the  dream  of  Mackenzie  and 
his  fellow-explorers,  who  set  forth  for  the  great  north- 
west in  their  bark  canoes,  and  whose  journeys  ante- 
date by  nearly  half  a  century  the  existence  of  rail- 
ways in  this  quarter.  Not  until  1837 — the  year  of 
the  Canadian  rebellion — were  the  first  sixteen  miles 
of  railroad  constructed  in  Canada,  the  line  being  in 
operation  only  some  ten  years  later  than  the  first  one 
completed  in  the  United  States,  and  about  seven 
years  later  than  the  first  one  completed  in  Ennl.iml. 
At  that  date  the  greater  portion  of  British  North 
America  was  as  yet  a  wilderness,  a  few  trails  through 
the  forest  between  lakes  Huron  and  Ontario  being 
then  the  jjrand  trunk  roads  of  Canada. 

Until  the  gold  discovery  in  California,  the  idea  was 
perhaps  never  conceived  that  England's  domain  in 
d\ii   north-west  would   form  one  with  her  Canadian 

(040) 


IFf 


FOU    AND    AOMNST 

Commons— Rtso- 

CV  OF  TItE  Dl:iTlsu 
k'EYS  — TlIK     lluiiU 

iiACT  Anndllku— 
OTiATioN'8— Their 

IKME — OajECTIllNj 


ition  between 

and  Pacific 

ation  gave  it 

lekenzio  and 

great  nortli- 

uniey.s  anto- 

ence  of  ruil- 

the  year  of 

ixteen  miles 

iiio  being  in 

the  first  (»no 

about  sew'n 

ill  Eiiglaiul. 

iti.sh  North 

ail.-s  through 

itario  being 

Lhe  idea  was 

domain  in 

r  Canadian 

(MO) 


EAST  AND  WEST. 


641 


possessions;  but  after  that  event  another  condition 
of  affairs  prevailed.  The  stream  of  immigration  that 
flowed  steadily  westward  through  the  British  posses- 
sions, finding  itself  barred  by  Lake  Huron  and  the 
mountainous  region  to  the  north,  passed  onward  into 
Miehi<;tui  and  the  western  states,  there  bein<x  absorbed 
in  the  tide  of  American  travel.  It  now  became  cvi- 
ilent  that  the  surplus  population  of  Canada  West  was 
destined  to  overflow  into  the  United  States;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  Vancouver  Island  and  the  mainland 
were  in  dan<jfer  of  fallini;  into  the  hands  of  foreijjners. 
Then  it  was  that  Great  Britian  first  realized  the  im- 
portance of  her  possessions  on  the  Pacific. 

ir  England  ninv  proposed  to  maintain  her  influence 
on  the  western  continent,  she  must  not  delay  much 
longer,  as  it  seemed,  the  task  of  establishing  overland 
conmiuiiication  between  Canada  and  the  Pacific,*  this 
hoing  the  only  means  by  which  her  power  could  be 
conf^olidated,  and  the  principal  reason  for  establish- 
ing^ c(donies  on  the  western  shores  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company's  territory.  Such,  at  least,  were  the 
views  derived  from  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the 
great  northern  interior,  as  well  as  of  the  Pacific  coast, 
and  entertained  by  the  advanced  intelligence  and 
statesmanship  of  the  mother  country.  By  Canada, 
however,  these  views  were  not  shared,  until  the  facts 
disclosed  during  the  confederation  movement  brou'jjht 
home  to  her  the  need  of  a  western  outlet;  until  it  was 
shown  that  several  hundred  thousands  of  her  citizens 
iiad  within  a  few  years  been  absorbed  by  the  union. 
"Canada,"  write  her  Majesty's  emigration  commis- 
sioners in  their  report  for  1871,  "cannot  at  present 
id)sorl)  more  than  30,000  or  40,000  emigrants  a  year, 
and  the  excess  beyond  that  number  can  obtain  employ- 
ment only  in  the  labor  market  of  the  United  States."' 

'In  Filvfi'rnl(l''n  V.  I.,  126-8,  it  is  recommended  that  a  ciiain  of  posts  bo 
cstaliiisluMl  l)y  tlie  [ludson's  IJay  Co.  a  lliousand  miles  in  Itiigth,  iildiij;  the 
I'liiiks  iif  tht!  Sasliatohcwan  River,  ami  thfuce  weatwurd,  iiud  tliut  a  iiiyiiway 
^K  ii|i.i]cil  for  tratHo  between  the  two  oceans. 

'  \\  ilaon,  Vuiiada  ami  the  Can.  I'ac.  liaUway,  12,  states  that  between 
Uiar.  Bmr.  Cul.    41 


'    V' 


^  i ' 


r  J 

1 

1 

642 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


It  \vas  not  until  the  discovory  of  the  Frasor  llivcr 
gokl-iields  in  1858  that  the  project  for  a  railroad  be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  Pacitic,  and  tlic  idea  of  a 
united  British  American  empire,  first  took  delinitu 
shape.  The  Grand  Trunk  railway,  completed  ahoiit 
that  date  to  Sarnia,  was  extended  in  imaij:inatioii  tn 
New  Westminster.  Sarnia  was  to  compete  with  ])iil'- 
falo,  ^Montreal  with  New  York,^  and  Boston  looked 
on  and  said  :  "While  congress  is  postponing  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Pacific  railway  bill  from  May  to  De- 
cember, and  from  December  till  INIay,  Great  Britain 
has  her  railway  to  the  Pacific  already  commciKcd. 
...Let  any  one  who  doubts  the  joint  ability  (if 
the  Canadian  and  English  governments  to  accompli.sli 
so  great  an  enterprise  take  down  the  map  and  look  at 
the  line  of  the  Grand  Trunk,  already  connecting  the 
Atlantic  with  the  lakes,  and  then  look  at  the  compar- 
atively short  distance  from  Lake  Superior  to  Yau- 
couver  Island."* 

For  so  important  a  stake  as  the  control  of  inter- 
oceanic  commerce,  it  was  of  course  supposed  that 
Great  Britain  would  play  boldly;  nor  did  her  govern- 
ment remain  an  idle  spectator  of  the  events  that  were 
transpiring  in  the  north-west.  "I  hope,"  said  her 
Majesty,  in  her  speech  from  the  throne  in  1858,  "that 
this  new  colony  in  the  Pacific  may  be  but  one  stcj)  in 
the  career  of  steady  progress  by  which  my  dominions 
in  North  America  may  be  ultimately  peopled  in  an 
unbroken  chain  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  by  a 
loyal  and  industrious  population."^ 

Will  the  line  of  the  Pacific  railroad  traverse  British 
Columbia?  was  now  among  the  absorbing  questions  of 


lS60an(l  1870  Canada  did  not  absorb  any  population,  basing  liis  statement 
on  tiie  figures  given  in  tiie  Canadian  Year-Book  for  187.1,  where  the  increase 
of  iiopulatiou  in  the  jirovinco  of  Quebec  between  1861  and  1871  is  given  iit  7.- 
per  cent,  and  in  Ontario  at  10.09  per  cent,  against  28.00  and  57.0  per  iiiit  re- 
spectively for  the  previous  decade.  In  the  former  province  the  increase  for 
lSOI-71  was  below  tiie  natural  rate. 

*  Le,  Journal  tie.  V Empire,  Paris,  1858. 

*  liofilon  L'v.  Transcript,  June  5,  1858. 

*  Iiroum'n  E^aay.  Brit.  Col.,  fi4. 


in 


m 


I  ■ 


SLOW  PROGRESS. 


643 


Fraser  Ilivcr 
a  railroad  hc- 
/lio  idua  of  ii 
took  definitu 
ipletcd  alxnit 
pagination  to 
etc  with  ]5ui'- 
oston  looked 
ning  the  t-on- 
1  May  to  J3c- 
jireat  Britain 
conmicnccd. 
it  ability  of 
to  accoiiii)li,s]i 
p  and  lo(jk  at 
)nncctin<j:  th(3 
b  the  comiiar- 
rior  to  Ynw- 

rol  of  inter- 
ipposed  that 
1  her  goveni- 
;its  that  were 
)e,"  said  her 
1  1858,  "that 
t  one  stej)  ill 
ly  dominions 
eopled  in  an 
Pacific  by  a 

verse  British 
questions  of 


ing  his  statement 
.■here  the  incixMso 
871  isgivcnat  7.- 
:1  57.0  per  cent  re- 
3  the  increase  for 


tJR  day,  and  one  of  grave  import  to  the  newly  created 
rolonies  and  to  the  conmiercial  world.  But,  save  that 
;ui  cngineer.s'  camp  was  established  at  New  Westmin- 
Aw  in  charge  of  Colonel  Moody,  to  whom  important 
interests  were  afterward  confided,  little  was  acconi- 
jilished;  for  at  this  date  the  project  seemed  almost 
impracticable.  No  suitable  pass  had  as  yet  been  dis- 
covered;" no  column  of  emigrants,  brinsrinn:  wajjons 
and  herds  from  the  Canadian  settlements,  had  pene- 
trated the  forest  and  snow-clad  mountains,  which,  a 
t'tw  degrees  to  the  south,  presented  to  the  early  set- 
tles of  Oregon  no  insuperable  difficulty.  Moreover, 
the  country  was  far  too  remote  from  Canada  for  the 
dominion  government  to  construct  a  road  in  advance 
(if  emigration.  Says  Pahiser,  in  his  report  to  the  sec- 
retary of  state  for  the  colonies,  in  1850,  after  the  fail- 
ure of  his  effort  to  find  a  practicable  route  to  the 
Fraser:  "The  manner  in  which  natural  obstacles  have 
isolated  the  country  from  all  other  British  possessions 
in  the  east  is  a  matter  of  considerable  weight;  indeed, 
it  is  the  obstacle  of  the  country,  and  one,  1  fear,  almost 
beyond  the  remedies  of  art."^  Tiien,  for  a  time,  the 
project  was  forgotten. 
In   18G8-9,  however,  British  Columbia  was  yield- 

^  The  Kootenai  pass,  discovered  by  Capt.  Blakiston,  some  forty  miles  north 
of  tlio  boundary,  was  5,900  feet  above  the  sea-level,  and  for  seven  and  a  half 
miles  after  entering  it,  the  rise  woubl  be  one  in  180.  Thence  a  cutting  of 
some  three  and  a  half  miles  would  load  to  a  tunnel  5  miles  in  length,  at  a, 
j;iailient  of  one  in  130.  The  lino  would  then  skiit  the  base  of  the  mountains 
until  it  reached  a  second  ridge,  with  an  elevation  of  5,100  feet,  a  few  miles 
frum  wiiich  there  was  !i  grudient  of  about  one  in  1)5.  For  extracts  from  the 
captain's  report,  see  Macdoiiald's  B.  C.  and  I'.  I..  2,'?7-43. 

'  /(/..  '24'J.  The  Papers  /'(•/aliuf  to  the  Ex/jloration  hy  the  Expedition  nm/er 
Copiain  /'alliser  of  that  portion  of  JJrilish  North  America  which  liei  beticeen 
t/i'-  Xarlherii  lirnnch  of  the  Hirer  iSanLdt(  heira.ji  and  the  Fnmlierof  the  United 
SinliK,  ami  lii-tweeii  the  Ited  (tarr  and  the  Rocki/  Moniitain.i,  and  thence  to  the 
I'fii  ,jic  (Mean  (London,  1S5S),  form  merely  a  preliminary  report,  consisting 
mainly  of  copies  of  letters  to  the  secretary  of  state,  though  contiiining  several 
gedliigical  reports  and  maps  of  the  country  near  Winnipeg,  compiled  and  ar- 
ruiiLred  by  \)r  Hector  in  systematic  furin.  In  the  Farther  Papers  (London, 
iMi(i),  the  title  being  otherwise  the  s'  me,  are  recorded  the  results  of  his  expe- 
ilition.  Ill  addition  to  copies  of  uiTicial  (lespatches  are  reports  on  special  sub- 
jects, relating  to  physical  features,  natural  productions,  climate,  the  aborigines, 
Indian  missions  and  settlements,  the  fur  trade,  means  of  transport,  mail  and 
tili-:i  aph  routes,  and  other  matters.  Following  the  title-page  is  a  map,  show- 
ing the  routes  taken  by  Palliser  and  Hector. 


I'  I 


OM 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


ing  a  largo  amount  of  gold;  and  it  was  at  the  fornirr 
date,  and  partly  duo  to  the  efforts  of  Viscount  Mil- 
ton in  the  two  liouses  of  pailiament,  after  liis  explo- 
ration of  the  Yellowhead,  Thompson,  and  Fncxr 
route,  that  the  subject  of  transcontinental  coniinuni- 
oation  was  revived.  At  this  juncture  Alfred  Wail- 
dington  presented  in  tlic  commons  a  petition  in  I'uvor 
of  a  Canadian  Pacific  railway,  urging  in  an  elabor;it(; 
argument"  that  British  Columbia  was  the  key  to  tli.> 
commerce  of  the  Pacific,  the  possession  of  wliich  was 
coveted  by  the  United  States;"  but  as  yet  little  inter- 
est was  awakened  in  the  mother  country. 

In  the  Canada  Official  Gazette  of  Septemlx'r  ilS, 
18G9,  appeared  the  first  notice  of  the  existence  of 
such  an  incorporation  as  the  Canadian  Pacific  Rail- 
way Con)pany,  setting  forth  that  application  would 
be  made  at  the  next  session  of  the  Canadian  pail  la- 
ment for  a  charter  to  build  a  railway  from  Canada  to 
the  British  Columbia  boundary.  In  the  Montmd 
Gazette  was  published  the  prospectus  of  the  promoters, 
containing  twent^^-nine  paragraphs,  and  svithout  si'j^- 
nature.'"  If  we  can  believe  Waddington,  this  jilaa 
originated  with  Mr  Burpee,  a  Canathan  engineer  of 
his  acquaintance,  and  was  compiled  from  his  own  iiotrs, 
without  further  object  tlian  to  bring  the  matter 
before  the  attention  of  the  public.  Burpee's  schi'iiu! 
proposed  to  raise  a  capital  of  £20,000,000,  to  l)e  ex- 
pended mainly  on  the  building  of  a  road  from  JMiniie- 
sota,  over  the  plains  of  the  Saskatchewan,  to  tlio 
eastern  end  of  the  Yellowhead  pass.  Through  Wad- 
dington's  influence  at  Ottawa,  whither  he  repaiied, 
in  1870,  b}'  the  advice  of  his  parliamentary  friends  in 
London,  great  prominence  was  given  to  the  proposi- 
tion for  a  railway  in  connection  with  the  negotiation 


•The  text  of  which  is  given  in  the  Brit.  Colonist,  Aug.  15,  18fiS. 

'Ilia  views  were  not  sliared  by  Charles  Wentworth  Pilke,  who  reiiiniks, 
'In  .ill  history,  there  is  nothing  stranger  than  the  narrowness  of  mind  iliat  Ii:i9 
led  us  to  see  in  C.inada  a  piece  of  England,  and  in  America  a  hostile  country.' 
iirerilir  lirilaiii,  i.  (]'. 

'H'opicd  in  tiie  Colonist  of  Nov.  28,  18G9. 


..r 


i: 


IN  PARLIAMENT. 


640 


oftlio  terms  of  union  between  British  Columbia  and 
C;iiiadu;  and  tlie  Canadian  Pacific  railway  henccfurth 
jiiul  a  history  apart,  and  one  involving  the  action  of 
tin-'  two  governments. 

When  the  subject  of  the  confederation  was  dis- 
(uissud  in  the  dominion  parliament,  the  terms  relating 
t(t  the  construction  of  the  i-ailway  seemed  to  most 
disinterested  persons  almost  impossible  of  fulfilment, 
and  many  of  the  strongest  friends  of  the  government 
\\(  10  opposed  to  them.  In  the  commons,  where  the 
Macdonald  ministry,  then  in  power,  had  usually  a 
iii.ijority  of  three  to  one,  the  measure  was  passed 
uiih  ditiiculty,  one  motion  against  it  being  lost  oidy 
l)V  ten  votes,"  It  is  almost  certain  that  the  govern- 
iiinit  would  have  been  defeated  had  not  the  preniier  '^ 
jiiomised  to  introduce  a  resolution  modifying  the  ob- 
ji'ctionable  features,  though  one  altogether  inconsist- 
ent with  the  intent  of  the  address  ad(jpted  by  the 
iuiuse  ten  lays  before.  It  was  couched  in  the  I'ollow- 
\u<j;  phrase:  "  That  the  railway  referred  to  in  the  ad- 
tliLs.s  to  her  Majesty  concerning  the  union  of  British 
C'tikunbia  with  Canada,  adopted  by  this  house  on  Sat- 
urday, the  1st  April  instant,  should  be  constructed 
and  worked  by  private  enterprise,  and  not  by  the 
doaiinion  government;  and  that  the  j)ublic  aid  to 
1)C  given  to  secure  that  undertaking  should  consist 
of  such  liberal  grants  of  land,  and  such  subsidy  in 
money,  or  other  aid,  not  increasing  the  present  rate  t)f 
taxation,  as  the  parliament  of  Canada  shall  hereafter 
determine."  ^^ 

If  the  construction  of  the  railway  was  to  await 
private  enterprise,  it  seems  only  just  that  it  should 
have  been  so  stated,  not  only  in  the  address,  but  in 
the  resolutions  that  were  afterward  made  binding  on 
tliL'  province  and  the    dominion  as  terms   of  union. 

"  The  numbers  vere  75  to  8o.  Eighteen  of  the  regular  ministerial  sup- 
poi tii's  voted  against  it,  and  many  declined  to  vote.  Macheiuie'$  Van,  Pac. 
It.  //.,  MS.,  3;  Jour.  Commonn,  1871,  IGl. 

'^  Sir  George  Cartier,  then  acting  premier. 

''hi.,  3-4;  Jour.  Commons,  1871,  '264. 


•!i  1! 


i\ 


i  i 


\\     •    \ 


'  1 


640 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


Considering  the  great  difficulties  of  the  task,  the  oor- 
tuinty  of  its  enormous  expense,  tiie  I'aet  that  by  many 
BJvihul  engineers  it  was  considered  ahnost  impossi- 
ble at  any  cost,  that  most  of  the  route  lay  tliroii^li  h 
wilderness,  that  the  San  Franeis(!o  of  British  Colum- 
bia was  tlieji  but  a  villaire,  while  the  entire  nliilo 
population  of  the  colony  was  less  than  that  of  a  third- 
rate  town,  and  tliat  transcontinental  traffic  was  already 
in  the  hands  of  the  Central  and  Union  Paciiic,  it  was 
extremely  improbable  that  private  individuals,  pos- 
sessing sufficient  enterprise  and  capital,  would  coiiitj 
forward  at  this  juncture.  It  is  certain,  moreover, 
that  when  British  Columbia  merged  her  individuality 
in  the  dominion,  her  peoj)le  believed  that  the  terms 
were  made  in  good  faith,  and  that  the  road  would  ho 
begun  and  completed  within  the  specitied  time.  Wiien, 
therefore,  as  will  be  mentioned  later,  the  province  in- 
sisted on  the  contract,  she  repudiated  the  resohili'Mi 
which  the  dominion  legislature  had  passed  in  order  to 
protect  Canada  from  unreasonable  demands,  and  it' 
necessary,  to  avoid  the  literal  fulfilment  of  its  obliga- 
tions." 

Other  events  besides  the  confederation  brought  tho 
matter  prominently  before  the  minds  of  the  jjeopK'. 
It  was  generally  understood,  when  the  railway  agree- 
ment was  concluded  at  Ottawa,  that  Mr  (Jamph^ll 
went  to  England  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  what 
assistance  would  be  given  to  the  enterprise  by  thi' 
home  government.^"  On  the  American  side  of  the 
line  the  Northern  Pacific  railway  i)r()ject  took  shape 
Mmultaneously  with  the  Canadian  Pacific,  the  pei>|>li; 
Minnesota  and  the  western  states  being  liilly 
a  ikened,  in  1870,  to  tho  advantage  of  an  entei'prise 
tlu  ')  promised  to  free  thenj,  whether  at  the  hands  of 

'*For  a  year  or  two  later  it  appears  to  have  been  an  open  question  vIk  tlirr 
the  line  could  bo  constnicted.  In  his  report,  dated  Ottawa,  Jan.  '2i>,  1^71, 
however,  the  chief  engineer  says:  'The  practicabihty  of  establishiiiji  r:iilw:;y 
ooniniunication  across  the  continent,  wholly  within  the  limits  of  the  iluimu- 
ion,  is  no  longer  a  matter  of  doubt.'  Pa/ier^  rd.  Mission  De  Cosmos,  'Si. 

^^OUawa  vVjifw,  (piotcd  in  Cotonist,  .'Vug.  10,  1870. 


n  ""' 


ENGLISH  POLICY. 


ut 


task,  the  oor- 
-liat  by  ni.iiiv 
lost  iiiiposNi- 
iiy  through  ;i 
•itisli  Coliiiii- 
ciitiro  wliilo 
at  of  a  tliitd- 
i  was  aliva<lv 
'acifie,  it  was 
viduals,  pus- 
would    (.'OIIKj 

1,  in()ref)vtr, 
individuality 
it  the  tcniis 
ad  would  In; 
iino.  Whcii, 
proviuci;  iii- 

0  rcsoluliiin 
J  ill  order  to 
aiids,  and  if 
>f'  its  obliga- 

brought  the 
the  ])ui)|ilc'. 
ilway  ayrce- 
[r  Cauiphell 
aiiiinu;'  what 
•rise  by  tin.' 
side  ol'  tlic 
took  shape 
,  tlie  jiL!(ii)l(j 
buing    I'ully 

1  outerpriso 
le  hands  of 


|iiestion  wlicthrr 
I,  Jan.  'Jli,  b7l, 
blisliin,!,'  r,;ihv;;y 
ts  (if  the  ilipuuu- 
Jonmoit,  U';i. 


St   Tiouis  or  DuKith,  from    tlio    monopoly  held   by 

Chi. 'ago. '« 

Tho  English  government,  to  which  appeal  was 
finally  taken,  decided,  as  will  presently  appear,  in 
I'avor  of  the  province,  and  it  was  probabl}'  due  to  the 
skill  of  her  statesniei  that,  during  the  controversy 
which  ensued,  ]:}ritish  Columbia  did  not  sever  her 
(•(tnnection  with  the  dominion.  The  policy  of  the 
^(■(•r•('tary  for  the  colonies  was  somewhat  in  contrast 
with  that  of  Canadian  statesmen,  though  doubtless 
tiitie  were  seltish  motives  which  caused  England  to 
iavor  the  construction  of  the  road. 

The  British  empire,  of  which  the  Canadian  Pacific 
lailway  would  bo  one  of  the  main  lines  of  intcrcom- 
uiiniication,  contained  at  this  time   8,500,000  s(|uare 
miles,  and  239,000,000  people  in  Europe,  Asia,  Amer- 
ica, and  Australia.     Though   British  America  con- 
tained   but  5,000,000   iidiauitants,  Great  Britain  on 
the  one  side  had  32,000,000,  while  India  and  Austra 
lasia  on  the  other  had  nearly  200,000,000.    It  was  one 
(if  the  problems  which  the  future  alone  could  solve, 
w  hut  her  this  great  commercial  empire  could  be  main- 
tained  in   its  integrity,  and  especially  whether  the 
boundary  line  of  the  49th  parallel,  and  of  the  laki^s, 
coidd  be  held  ajjainst  the  United   States  with  their 
:ili,000,OO0,  and  their  bond  of  union  already  estab- 
lished  by  a  railway.     Moreover,   the    population  of 
Ihitish  Columbia,  with  an  area  of  233,000  square 
miles,    was   comparatively  far    more   insignificant  in 
relation  to  Canada  than  was  Canada  herself  to  the 
mother  country.     When,  some  few  years  later,   Mr 
Iloseoe  was  taken  to  task  in  the  dominion  jiarliament 
for  demanding  on  behalf  of  the  province,  ai'ter  it  had 
refused  a  fair  money  equivalent,''  the  fulfilment  of  the 
oii.;inal  contract,  he  denounced  in  no  measured  phrase 
thu  sordid  policy  which   would  lose   to  Canada  her 

^'^  .V!ii>impolU  Tribune,  Jan.  14,  1870. 

"Tliu  sum  of  §7J0,000,  as  will  be  mentioned  later. 


I 


I 


i 


84S 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


frontage  on  the  Pacific,  the  only  thing  that  could 
ever  make  of  the  dominion  a  nation.'^ 

When  British  Columbia  was  admitted  into  the  con- 
federation slie  did  not  ask  a  dole  of  money,  nor  was 
she  in  need  of  it.  In  the  Fraser-Thompson  district 
there  were  estimated  as  fit  for  agriculture  GO, 000 
square  miles,  in  the  upper  Columbia  district  50,000, 
and  on  Vancouver  Island  16,000  square  miles,  their 
value  depending,  of  course,  on  means  of  communica- 
tion, being  not  less  than  $2.50  to  $5  per  acre.  Lands 
along  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  railway  aver- 
aged, in  1872,  seven  dollars  an  acre;  in  0,hio,  where 
wheat  was  worth  ninety  cents  a  bushel,  $40  an  acre; 
unimproved  lands  in  Indiana,  where  wheat  was  worth 
forty  cents,  $7.50  per  acre;^^  the  difference  in  the  cost 
of  forwardhigj  beinjif  the  main  difference  in  their  value. 

The  interest  of  the  Canadians  in  the  proposed 
transcontinental  railroad  was  mainly  directed  to  the 
construction  of  the  eastern  end,  known  as  the  inter- 
colonial road,  whereby  the  ocean  voyage  was  reduced 
to  a  hundred  hours,  while  avoiding  the  dangers  of  the 
thousand  miles  of  fog  and  storm-girt  coast  between 
Newfoundland  and  New  York.  By  those  holdini,' 
liberal  and  patriotic  views  of  the  destinies  of  the  em- 
pire, however,  there  was  manifested  a  lively  interest 
in  the  success  of  the  scheme;  and  it  was  argued  that 
there  must  have  been  serious  apprehension  of  a  diver- 
sion of  the  trade  of  the  east  from  the  hands  of  the 
English  through  the  opening  of  the  Union  and  Cen- 
tral Pacific  railways,  or  there  would  not  have  been  sd 
much  haste  to  insure  the  completion  of  the  Canadian 
road.  2" 

England  meanwhile  supported,  though  in  a  some- 
what equivocal  matmer,  an  enterprise  which  promised 
to  complete  the  chain  of  her  American  possess! (ins. 
In   the   British   house  of  commons,  on  the   24tli  of 

"For  copy  of  Rnscoo's  speech,  see  Brit.  Colonist,  May  2S,  187G. 
"Cniiila  Yfar-liook,  I87.S. 

'"Mdiitreal  corrt'spoiKleiice  of  the  New  York  World,  on  the  intercolonial 
and  Ciinadiau  I'acilic  roads,  tjuotod  iu  Lirit.  Colonial,  Any.  19,  1873. 


ig  that  could 


PRELIMINARY  SURVEYS. 


G49 


Juno,  1873,  Mr  Hui^osen  explained,  on  the  second 
loading  of  the  Canadian  loan  guarantee  bill,  that  the 
.siiui  of  £2,500,000,  which  it  was  then  proposed  to 
laise,  was  to  be  appropriated  f  jr  the  construction  of 
tlu'  Canadian  Paciiic,  Sir  Charles  Dilke  denounced 
this  guarantee  as  in  the  nature  of  a  bribe  to  Canada, 
lor  the  concessions  she  had  made  in  reijard  to  the  fish- 
dies,  in  order  that  the  provisions  of  tlie  treaty  of 
"Washington  nii^ht  be  executed;  and  declared  that 
the  railroad  was  nothing  more  than  a  gigantic  parlia- 
mentary job.  To  this  Gladstone  replied  that  the 
guarantee  had  no  connection  with  the  treaty  of  Wash- 
ington, the  action  on  this  bill  having  been  purposely 
(iLlayed  until  after  that  treaty  was  disposed  of,  and 
its  object  being,  not  to  give  Canada  a  certain  amount 
of  hush-money,  but  to  recognize  her  just  demands 
•vfainst  Eusfland  on  account  of  the  Fenian  raids  on 
licr  territory.  Canada  had  suffered  on  England's  ac- 
count, and  desired  thus  to  cancel  the  debt.'^' 

The  time  for  commencing  the  construction  of  the 
railway  expired  on  the  1st  of  July,  1873;  but  at  that 
(late  nt>ne  t>f  the  surveys  were  approaching  comple- 
tion on  any  portion  of  the  line,  and  in  British  Colum- 
hia  only  such  exploratory  surveys  had  been  made  as 
wore  reiiuired  to  determine  the  direction  in  which  in- 
strumental surveys  should  be  carried  on.  Between 
ls7l  anil  1S78  the  dominion  government  expended 
some  $3,250,000  for  explorations  and  surveys  before 
the  chief  engineer  finally  decided  that  the  route 
throuLxh  British  Columbia  should  be  along  the  val- 

■'' London  tclogram,  in  Coloniat,  July  0,  LST.*?.  When  tliis  matter  was  ar- 
rauu'i^ii,  more  than  a  year  before,  the  Timi's  liail  connnented  npon  the  matter 
i;i  I  iiiuietiim  with  the  dceision  on  the  San  Juan  (juestiun,  and  the  (,':uuuliun 
I'.i  ilii;  railway  scheme.  ' 'I'iiis,' said  tlie  Thiirn,  'is  the  Caiia<lian  ih(!ani,  to 
Willi  h  it  will  he  remembered  wo  aro  so  far  committed  that,  as  an  induee- 
mi  lit  to  the  Canadian  ministers  to  press  the  aeeeptanee  of  the  treaty  of 
Wiisliliigton  upon  the  Canadian  parliament,  we  undertook  to  guiiranteu  a  loan 
of  two  miilions  and  a  hali,  to  be  expended  on  the  railway  which  is  to  make 
tlir  ilieam  come  true.  We  heartily  wish  wo  were  free  fi'om  rJl  complicity  in 
MJiiit  we  cannot  but  regard  as  a  very  wild  uiidertakiiij;;  and  we  espouially  re- 
gi'i't  the  way  in  which  wo  wore  brought  into  connection  with  it.' 


^11-1 

■  1-          -I,'     i 

i 

.     I  I 


"  '■ 


1 

■ 
i 

m 


I 


G50 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


leys  of  the  Thompson  and  Fraser  rivers,''  and  its 
terminus  on  Burrard  Inlet.^ 

It  was  now  the  prevailing  sentiment  among  the  peo- 
ple t)f  British  Columbia  that  if  Canada  w^-S  unwiliintj 
or  unable  to  bind  together  by  means  of  a  transconti- 
nental railroad  her  vast  possessions  west  of  the  great 
lakes,  she  had  better  at  once  abandon  all  idea  of  em- 
pire, since  no  weaker  bond  would  suffice  to  hold  it  to- 

''''  F/fminr/'s  Jicpt  Can.  Pac.  Railway,  1879,  17.  It  woiilJ  accrr,  tliat  Mr 
Fleiiiiiii^  was  somewhat  tardy  in  arriving  at  this  concluf  ion.  In  liis  icprnt 
for  187  I,  p.  II,  lie  states  that  in  order  to  aequiro  .a  correcG  Lnowledgo  of  tlw 
physical  characteristics  of  the  entire  territory  in  line  of  'oute,  and  to  olitaiu 
such  information  concerning  its  engineering  features  as  ''ii'y  a  personal  exam- 
inatiou  could  fiirnisli,  he  started,  early  in  July  187-,  in  jharge  of  an  cNpior- 
ing  expedition,  across  the  continent.  On  Sept.  loth  he  reaclied  Yeliowliiml 
I'ass,  and  thence  following  the  Fraser  from  its  Yellowhead  source  to  Tutu 
Jauno  Cache,  crossed  to  the  Canoe  River,  and  the  Albreda;  and  from  tliat 
point  followed  the  north  Thompson  to  Kamloop.  Touching,  on  his  way,  i;5 
Lytton,  Yale,  and  New  Westminster,  and  examining  Huriard  and  Bute  inlets, 
Harclay  Sound,  Seymour  Narrows,  Dent,  and  Arran  Rapids,  and  other  inter- 
mediate  points,  he  arrived  at  Victoria  on  the  llth  of  October,  'thus  coinplet- 
ing  a  recomioissance  which  altogether  extended  over  5,300  miles.'  /'((/uti 
?•(/.  .l/i.sN("/»  Di'  C'ligmo'i,  '23.  The  journey  and  rcconnoissanco,  thus  lueum- 
plished  in  about  '.tO  days,  over  a  most  ditlJcult  country,  were  at  least  swilter 
tlian  the  conclusions  at  which  he  arrived;  but  why  some  live  or  six  years 
were  needed  to  arrive  at  these  conclusions,  the  chief  engineer  docs  not  s'.atc. 
lie  was  certainly  not  stinted  for  means  wherewitli  to  employ  a  corps  of  coin- 
potent  assistants. 

"The  chief  engineer  states  that,  being  required  to  give  his  views  as  tou 
terminus  on  the  I'acilic,  lie  .submitted  that  it  would  bo  desirable  lirst  tn  oIj- 
tain  complete  information  concerning  a  northern  route,  by  way  of  IVaeo  or 
I'ine  River.  The  government,  however,  desired  that  construction  ."ilimiM 
eomiiiciice  iinimdiatcly  in  Rritish  Columbia,  and  as  no  further  postponriiu'iic 
could  be  allowed,  he  recommended  the  aliove  line  of  route.  In  the  siainc  re- 
j)ort  he  admits  that  the  choice  of  Burrard  Inlet  as  a  terminus  had  imt  L'iv.ii 
satisfaction  to  the  people  of  liritish  Columbia.  In  a  report  of  the  luivy 
council  of  Canada,  dated  June  0,  1S73,  it  was  ordered,  as  we  shall  see  1 1'.er, 
that  I'Jsquiniiilt  should  be  the  terminus,  though  tlio  alignment  on  the  main- 
land had  ncjt  then  been  determined.  J'njirr.i  rcl.  Mifsioii  ]>(>  (.'otunon,  "J.  In 
the  same  report  it  was  recommended  that  a  lino  of  railway  be  locatnl  In- 
twceii  lvsf|'.iiinalt  and  Seymour  Narrows,  V.  I.  Sens.  Papcif),  It.  C,  ISSl.  In 
1S7.")  an  exploration  was  made  of  the  I'caco  River  pass  and  valley,  iu  cIi.iil:u 
of  Mr  Selwyn,  with  I'rofcssor  Alacoun  as  botanist,  and  A.  Webster  a-i  l' ■"■ 
logical  assi.staiit,  in  connection  with  the  choice  of  a  route  for  the  Canaiii-in 
I'acilic.  The  jtarty  left  Quesiiel,  on  the  Fraser  River,  on  the  ."ith  of  .Jiinc  ii- 
turning  on  the  '_'Uili  of  October,  after  a  journey  of  1,700  miles,  cxtenilin',' 
over  three  and  a  half  degrees  of  latitude,  and  7  of  louyituile.  The  ri -uLs 
will  bo  fciiind  ill  tlio  progress  report  for  i87.'<-0.  During  the  same  siimuHr. 
Ceorge  .M.  Dawson  exaniincd  the  district  between  the  llomathco  Riv<r  ami 
Fort  (ieorgc.  OP  the  west  side  of  the  Fraser.  la  1870  Mr.  Dawson  wasa  :aiii 
in  charge  of  suiveys  in  British  Columbia,  the  results  of  his  investigatiouMn- 
eiipyin.;  about  110  paL,'cs  of  tho  progress  report  for  1870-7.  The  region  e\ain- 
inc'd  l.iy  cliiclly  in  tlio  basins  of  tho  I'llackwater  ami  Nechaco  rivers,  .uiii 
inchidi  il  large  tracts  of  densely  wooded  plateau. 


SURVEYS  AND  LANDS. 


051 


^ers,"  and  its 


o pco- 


iiong  tlio 
A'^B  un^villlI)^r 
a  transconti- 
;  of  tlio  great 
1  idea  of  om- 
to  hold  it  to- 

I'l'J  aecir.  that  Mr 
ion.  Ill  luH  lepoit 
Unowleilyo  of  tlio 
mte,  and  to  olitaiii 
!y  a  personal  exam- 
ai'ge  of  ail  i:x]ilor- 
ached  Yellowiiiail 
cad  source  to  Tutu 
da;  and  from  that 
inj:;,  on  hia  vay,  i;t 
I'd  and  Bute  inlets, 
s,  and  other  iuter- 
ler,  'thus  coiiiiilot- 

00  miles.'  I'ii/iiri 
ianco,  thus  iicci  mi- 
re at  least  swittur 

five  or  six  years 
eer  does  not  slate. 
oy  a  corps  of  com. 

Ilia  views  as  to  a 
liraldo  lirst  tu  uh- 
■  way  of  I'eaco  or 
)nstructioii  sliouM 
her  postiioinini'iic 
In  the  same  ic- 
IU3  had  imt  ^^iwii 
.■port  of  the  piivy 
ve  shall  see  later, 
lent  on  the  main- 
Dfl  (  'oamns,  7.  Ill 
vay  1)0  loeatril  he- 
■■<,'/l.C.,\HS\.    In 

1  valley,  in  ehirijo 
Welister  a.-i  ;.';•()• 
for  the  Caiiailian 

10  .")th  of  Jiiiic,  ic- 
miles,  exteiiilni',' 
ide.  The  rrsul.s 
lie  same  siiiiim;  r, 
latliei)  Kiver  ami 
Dawson  wasiuaiii 
investijjalioiisDi.'- 
The  rej,'ione\.ini- 
.'chaeo  river.s,  aiiJ 


gcthcr.  They  had  no  desire  to  insist  too  strictly,  as 
(iKV  declared,  on  the  limit  as  to  time;  nor  did  they 
exjiect  the  dominion  to  impoverish  itself  in  order  to 
build  the  road;  but  as  the  construction  of  the  inter- 
colonial road  from  Halifax  to  Quebec  was  one  of  the 
ttiMis  under  which  the  Atlantic  provinces  joined  the 
confederation,  so  the  building  of  an  interoceanic  rail- 
way was  a  condition,  and  the  main  condition,  under 
wliich  the  Pacific  province  became  one  with  the  do- 
minion."^* 

Although,  apart  from  surveys,  little  had  as  yet  been 
(lone  toward  the  fulfilment  of  the  contract,  on  the 
'2Gth  of  April,  1872,  a  bill  was  introduced  in  parliament 
1)V  Sir  G.  E.  Cartier,  in  which  it  was  proposed  to  grant 
;rtsubsidy  of  $30,000,000,  together  with  50,000,000 
acres  of  land,  for  the  construction  of  a  railway  from 
Lake  Nipissing  to  the  Pacific  coast.  The  government 
was  authorized  to  make  contracts  with  a  single  com- 
pany for  the  construction  of  the  entire  line,  provided 
that  such  company  possessed  a  capital  of  $10,000,000, 
ol'  which  ten  per  cent  must  be  deposited  with  the  re- 
CL'iver-general.  As  it  might  not  bo  possible  to  come 
to  terms  with  a  single  company,  an  agreement  couUl 
bo  made  with  amalgamated  conipaiiies,  and,  failing 
either  arrangement,  a  charter  might  be  granted  to 
other  capitalists  by  order  in  council,  under  the  general 
ir.lh'oad  act.  It  was  desiral>le,  howe\er,  that  the 
road  should  be  constructed  and  worked  by  a  single 
(•oi|)oration.  The  land  grant  was  to  be  made  in  alter- 
nate   blocks,  twenty  miles  in  depth,  the   remaining 

•"  On  the  other  hand,  the  orcrrn  of  (he  opposition  partj*  in  the  doniiiiion 
parliament  spoke  in  1S7-  of  the  (Jaiiadiiin  I'aeilio  railway  project  as  'an  insane 
e.iiilraet  with  a  haudfiil  of  people  in  l>,-ili>h  ('(ilniiilii.i.'  Diil.  Coliii;isl,  Apr. 
I'-',  Is?-.  Cartwright,  the  liiiai.slc,-  of  linaiiee  luider  .Mackciizie'.-i  adliiiiii.stra- 
tioii,  on  the  overthrow  of  Macilon  :M's  adiiiiiii-tia'.iiin,  declared  in  hid  s|i(M'eh 
ttt  liiinville  that  '  coiifederatii)ii  v.in  llie  mere  iluldi  I;  vanity  of  liaviii;;  to  i:iy 
that  tliej-  had  exleiided  the  d  ;i;ii;ii  ):i  from  oe^'aii  to  ocean.'  Speakin;;  of  tlie 
I'ac'li"  railway  projeet,  he  said:   'If  ever  a  hody  of  men  were  lespoii.-nlilr  for 


:iy  proje 
uilli'tiiiL!  a  L'leat  evil  on  {\u: 


iintr 


It  v.\n  tlui 


'oveniiiien 


u- 


III 


IsTI,  the  task  of  coii:-;i  iietiie'  tlic 


r 


th 


le  way  tor  their  own  dviwniiiU.  am!  alao  eair-','il  gre.it  mi^eiir 


leilie  railwav, 
I 


■I" 
t  whieli  fni'i 

;aid  w 


mil  tliei 


if  ami 


'M 


Ui: 


l"->-  to  the  people  of  the  u  holu  <loiiiuiion.'  Slaudurd,  Oct.  ','.o,  IbTO. 


i) 


^'.k 


6r-2 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


blocks  being  reserved  by  government."  As  to  the 
money  grant,  it  was  anticipated  that  most  of  itwouKi 
be  reimbursed  by  sales  of  land.  The  imperial  guar- 
antee on  a  loan  of  £2,500,000,  of  which  notiiication 
had  already  been  received,  would  reduce  somewhat 
the  rate  of  interest  on  the  sums  to  be  borrowed ;  aiul 
it  was  believed  that,  without  increasing  her  taxati'ni, 
Canaila  could  pay  that  interest,  and  establish  a  sink- 
ing fund  which  would  cancel  the  entire  debt  within 
thirty  or  forty  years. 

Alexander  Mackenzie  replied  to  Sir  G.  E.  Cartier's 
speech,  characterizing  the  bill  as  one  which  gave  to 
the  government  power  to  do  whatever  it  pleased  as  to 
the  construction  of  the  railway.  It  was  notorious,  liu 
said,  that  there  were  already  two  rings,  between  which 
there  was  the  utmost  hostility,  each  striving  to  obtain 
the  charter,  and  each  largely  composed  of  members  of 
the  dominion  parliament.  The  bill  was  then  read  u 
lirst  time  without  further  discussion,  and  after  bcin,;' 
passed  to  a  second  and  third  reading,  was  approved 
by  the  cabinet.  News  of  this  jneasure  was  immediately 
telegraphed  to  Victoria,  and  an  application  for  the 
charter  was  at  once  made  by  a  political  clique,,'""  which, 
as  was  understood,  was  about  to  combine  with  the 
party  represented  by  Sir  Hugh  Allan,  then  reputed 
one  of  the  richest  men  in  thedominion,  and  who,  with 
his  associates,  Abbott,  Foster,  and  Brydges,  anived 
at  Ottawa  in  December  1873.  About  the  same  time 
John  Carling  and  Major  Walker  made  their  a|)p('ai- 
ance  at  the  capital  as  the  leading  representatives  ot' 
the  rival  company.^''     Thus  there  was  no  dilHculty  in 

"Every  alternate  block  of  that  size  along  the  lino  of  route,  then  cstiinat 'il 
at  about  'J, 700  miles,  would  give  only  .S4,ri(i0,000  acres.  It  was  iiropu-td  lu 
furnish  the  rciiiaimler  from  government  lauds  iu  other  parts  of  the  dumiiiion. 
As  the  reaih  r  will  remember,  acconliug  to  the  terms  of  the  union  tlic  laml 
grant  in  1>.  i'.  territory  was  to  be  '20  miles  in  deptli.  The  main  iiiovi:>ioii.s  uf 
the  bill,  as  explained  by  Sir  G.  E.  Cartier,  will  bo  found  in  the  Jiril.  ('(,luiiisl, 
May  10,  IS72. 

"^  I)o  Cosmos,  Powell,  Robertson,  Walkem,  Drake,  Raymnr,  Walluci',  and 
Thompson. 

»'  /(/.,  Jan.  1 ,  l^Iay  28,  29,  1873.  Tho  first  was  known  as  the  Mondvai  ur 
Quebec  cfiuip.iiiy,  ami  the  si'cond  as  tlio  'I'orontoor  Ontario  company,  from  tlio 
fact  of  their  leaders  beiii;,'  from  Montreal  and  Toronto  respectively. 


A  COMPANY  FORMED, 


633 


forming  an  association  in  command  of  the  requisite 
amount  of  capital.  It  was  the  policy  of  tlio  cabinet, 
liowover,  to  select  the  most  responsible  and  best  qual- 
ified men  from  either  party,  and  before  the  close  of 
the  year  the  charter  was  granted  to  an  association 
i-oiiiposed  of  members  of  both  companies,  together 
with  some  of  the  wealthiest  residents  of  British  Co- 
liiiuhia. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  Allan  and  his  colleagues  met  at 
Ottawa  and  elected  as  directors  the  charter  members."^ 
A  synopsis  of  the  articles  of  agreement  of  tlie  Pacific 
Kailway  Construction  Company  was  published  in  the 
Cohmid  of  May  14,  1873,  giving  a  list  of  the  names 
(if  its  members,  among  whom  were  Sir  Hugh  Allan, 
Saudford  Fleming,  J.  H.  Helmcken,  and  Sir  Joim 
Macdonald.  Allan's  prospectus  appeared  immedi- 
atcly  afterward  iu  the  newspapers  of  the  dominion, 
stating  the  work  proposed  to  bo  accomplished,  and 
the  moneys  needed  for  the  purpose. 

Proceeding  to  London,  Sir  Hugh  attempted  to  raise 
the  sum  of  $108,000,000  in  behalf  of  his  venture— a 
railway  to  be  built  through  an  almost  uninhabited  and 
unoxiilored  country,  with  a  subsidy  of  *^30,000,000.'''' 
But  capital  is  conservative,  and  especially  English 
capital.  Attempting,  therefore,  to  forge  in  England 
hi.s  financial  chain,  Sir  Hugh  met  with  little  encour- 
aj^enient.  That  money  invested  in  a  wilderness,  though 
for  the  most  part  a  fertile  wilderness,  would,  merely 
through  the  construction  of  a  railroad,  yield  within 
the  span  of  a  generation,  or  even  of  two  generations, 


■        f 
i 


!  ' 


h 


mur,  Wull;u!(',  ami 


"Brit.  Coloni.it,  March  19,  1873.  Four  of  the  dircctora  were  to  retire  at 
tilt  ciicl  of  the  (irst  and  sticoiid  years,  live  at  the  end  of  tlic  thii-d,  and  bo  on 
duiiii','  succeeding  years. 

-'■•Ahout  tiiia  date  the  Northern  Pac.  railway  failure  occurred,  vliile  for  the 
iiurtlKin  colonization  roail  §4.000,000  was  aslicd,  and  for  oUier  roads  .S7,0.)(),- 
<'0».  LaMinerve,  in  lirit.  Coto„i.it,  May  14,  187;i.  On  tiio  --'Ttli  of  October, 
iN'i"),  tlic  Xortliern  Pacific  mnde  application  to  the  N.  Y.  stock  excliuii^^o  to 
li<  .':5JO,000,000  8econd-niort;,'ago  lioiuls,  its  statement  for  the  previous  iiionth 
t-liiiwiii;,' as  gross  earnings  SI, -2."), 000.  a;,'ainst  operating  expenses  and  taxes 
niii'iiinlinj;  toS.")G0,000,  or  Sl()f)r),000 1 'f  netearnini^s.  At  that  tlato  the  coinnio.i 
sIikU  was  (pioted  at  about  $20,  piefcrred  at  53,  and  (irat-niortgaye  bouda  at 
WX  S.  F.  IhdLetin,  Oct.  27,  1885. 


^iT; 


!  t  ) , 


T  ¥T 


IL 


. 


11': 


I' 


';  ■ 


654 


TIIK  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


a  fair  return  on  the  outlay,  was  a  proposition  tlmt 
iouiid  little  favor  in  Great  Britain.  Said  the  earl 
of  Dufferin,  adJrcssinsjf  an  audictico  at  Victoria  Sdnu; 
three  vears  later,  and  alludin<jf  of  course  to  the  terms  of 
the  union:  "When  the  bargain  was  made,  everything 
in  Canada  was  prosperous,  and  it  was  supposed  that  ;i 
Canadian  Pacific  railway  could  be  easily  constructed. 
But  ignorance  of  the  route  was  not  taken  into  cou.sid- 
eration;  and  obliging  herself  to  commence  the  woilc 
in  two  years  and  finish  it  in  ten  years,  Canada  assunic;! 
a  physical  impossibility,  as  the  surveying  alone  would 
require  several  years."'*' 

Thus  the  contract  made  with  Sir  Hugh  Allan  and 
his  ct)n)j)any  in  187;;.  fell  through,  and  was  formally 
annulled,  the  )?1,000,000  of  cash  deposited  as  security 
being  of  course  returned. 

Meanwhile  an  election  had  been  held,  and  one  at 
which  the  main  point  at  issue  was  the  railway  schciiic. 
The  American  road,  it  was  said,  had  cost  $200,000,000, 
and  the  Canadian  Pacific  would  cost  §J300,000,000, 1'o 
heed  being  j)aid  to  the  fact  that  the  cost  of  the  fornier 
was  computed  in  greenbacks,  and  at  a  time  wlica 
greenbacks  were  worth  only  fifty  to  seventy  per  cent 
of  their  face  value  in  gold.  Moreover,  early  in  lS7'i 
it  became  known  that  Sir  Hugh  had  obtained  the  con- 
tract by  advancing  a  large  sum  of  money  in  order  to 
carry  the  elections,  and  a  formal  charge  was  broii;j;lit 
against  the   ministry   in   the   dominion  parliament." 

'"Victoria  telegram,  in  S.  F.  Alia,  Sept.  2:?,  187G. 

^K)[(irLrnzir\i  Mem.  Can.  Pac.  J'ailway,  MS.,  5;  Brit.  ColonUf,  Awi.  7, 
1873.  Ij.  S.  Huntington  of  Montreal,  on  tlie  2cl  of  April,  1873,  made  lliuinl- 
lowing  specific  charges  in  the  doniiuion  parliament:  That  he  \v.".s  crcchbly 
informed,  and  believed  he  coidd  prove,  that  in  anticipation  of  the  legislation  nf 
last  session  in  regard  to  the  Pacific  railway,  au  agreement  was  made  between 
Sir  Hugh  Allan  and  other  Canadian  promoters,  and  G.  W.  MeMuUen,  acUiig 
on  the  part  of  United  States  capitalists,  whereby  the  latter  agreed  to  fuiiiiali 
nil  the  fun<ls  necessary  for  tlie  construction  of  the  contemplated  railway,  ami 
to  give  the  fornier  a  certain  percentage  of  interest  in  consideration  ot  their 
position  giving  the  company  the  character  of  a  Canadian  com[iany  with  Hugh 
Allan  at  its  head;  that  the  Macdonald  government  were  aware  such  negoti- 
ations were  pending;  and  thatsubsequently  thereto  an  understanding  was  eonio 
to  between  the  government,  Hugh  Allan,  and  Abbott,  ono  of  the  mcml)e^^  of 
tlu'  house  of  connuons,  that  Allan  and  his  friends  should  advance  a  large  turn 
of  money  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  the  election  of  miuistera  and  their  sup- 


mmf^ 


RAILWAY. 

5  a  propositif)!!  (lint 
:ain.  Said  tho  viu] 
CO  at  Victoria  siniic 
ourso  totlie  terms  of 
as  made,  everytliiii<r 
was  supposed  tliut  ;i 
2  easily  constructed. 
)t  taken  into  cousid- 
:ommonce  the  woilc 
ars,  Canada  assumed 
rvcying  alone  would 

lir  Hugh  Allan  and 
,  and  was  formally 
epos i ted  as  security 

&n  held,  and  ono  at 
the  railway  scheme. 
:Ico.st  $200,000,000, 
'st  $300,000,000,  lu, 
e  cost  of  the  former 
d  at  a  time  when 

o  seventy  per  cent 
jovcr,  early  in  187;i 
d  obtained  the  cuw- 

money  in  order  ti) 
iharge  was  broui^Iit 
inion  parliament. '' 

70. 

,  5;  Brit.  ColouUt,  Au,'.  7, 
f  April,  1873,  mailo  llicinl- 
;ut:  That  lie  was  crediljly 
;ipation  of  tho  legislation  df 
•cement  was  matle  bL'twxtii 
il  O.  W.  Mo.Mullcn,  actin- 
he  latter  agreed  to  fiiiiiisii 
contemplated  railway,  iiiid 
t  in  consideration  of  tlicir 
iadiancom[iany  with  lliii|li 
t  were  awaro  such  ncgoii- 
in  understanding  was  come 
3tt,  ono  of  tho  nicmlier-i  (if 
lould  advance  a  large  sum 
if  ministers  and  their  .sup- 


MORIi  WRAXGLINO. 


655 


An  extra  session  was  called  for  October,  in  order  to 
de;d  with  this  charge,  and  during  the  debate  on  a 
mot  ion  of  want  of  confidence,  moved  by  Alexander 
Mackenzie,  Sir  John  Macdonald  resigned,  the  for- 
mer being  called  upon  to  form  an  administration.  In 
July  1873  the  executive  council  of  British  Colum- 
bia, Joseph  W.  Trutch  being  then  governor  of  the 
piovince,^'  formally  called  the  attention  of  the  domin- 
ion government  to  the  non-fullilment  of  the  terms  of 
union  so  far  as  they  related  to  the  commencement  of 
a  railroad.^^     Thus  the  new  ministry  soon  found  itself 

porters  at  the  ensuing  election,  and  that  Allan  and  his  friends  should  receive 
lliu  contract  tor  constructing  the  railway;  that  Allan  did  advance  such 
iiioncy;  and  that  part  of  tho  moneys  so  expended  by  him  in  connection  with 
the  ohtaining  of  the  act  of  incorporation  and  charter  were  paid  by  U.  S. 
o:i])italists  under  the  agreement  with  him.  Royal  CommiKHun  Uept  Par. 
Kaihrui/,  3-G.  Sir  John  Macdonald  moved  the  appointment  of  a  committco 
lit  live  to  investigate  the  charges,  which  was  agreed  to;  but  before  further 
liroi.'ross  had  been  made,  the  gov. -gen..  Lord  IXili'erin,  by  tlie  advice  of  the  in- 
ciil|iated  ministry,  suddenly  prorogued  the  parliament,  without  obtaining  its 
cunscnt  to  the  discharge  of  tiio  committee.  In  lieu  tiicrcof.  ho  a|)p()intcd  a. 
royal  connnission  to  make  the  investigation.  Macdonald  acknowledged  re- 
ceiving §4,"<,000  from  Hugh  Allan  to  control  the  elections;  but  claimed  tiiat 
it  waaau  independent  transaction.  It  was  .shown  tliat  Allan  had  advanced  as 
ninc'.i  a.s  §100,000,  and  it  was  presumed  that  those  who  took  the  money  and 
used  it  for  political  purposes  well  knew  that  it  was  given  in  the  expectation 
aiul  with  the  understanding  that  the  raiiw;iy  scheme  would  receive  the  .sup- 
jKirt  of  the  ministry;  the  consetiuoncc  being  that  everything  in  connection 
with  the  project  was  tainted  with  suspicion,  even  though  it  did  nut  appear 
tii:it  tho  interests  of  the  country  had  been  really  sacriliced.  London  Tinus, 
.Sept.  1!),  1S7."3.  Uuntington's  charges  were  founded  upon  the  contents 
of  a  p.tckage  of  letters  left  by  Hugh  Allan  with  Mr  Starncs  for  safediceping 
alter  his  disagreement  with  McMuUen  and  the  American  capitalists,  being 
tlie  correspondence  between  them  on  the  subject  of  the  railway.  A  rumor  of 
tlieir  existence  got  abroad,  and  the  party  in  opposition  to  Macdonald'sailmin- 
istiation  became  aware  of  their  contents  through  tlio  instrumentality  of  the 
ilisu|ipoiuted  ex-partners  of  Allan's  company. 

■'-Trutch,  a  native  of  England,  and  a  civil  engineer  by  profession,  emigrated 
to  C;d.  at  an  early  day,  and  obtaining  a  contract  for  surveying  lands  in  Or., 
soon  afterward  removed  thither,  where  ho  married  a  sister  of  the  sur.-gen. 
.Vljout  the  year  1858  he  arrived  in  Victoria,  where,  on  the  departure  of  ('ol 
Moudy,  he  was  appointed  acting  chief  commissioner  of  lands  and  works,  being 
elected,  before  the  confederation,  a  member  of  the  legislative  council.  He 
was  accounted  a  shrewd  politician,  not  ovcr-truthfnl  of  f^pcnch,  au  able  ruler, 
and  one  having  always  at  heart  the  interests  of  tho  province,  tluiugii  never 
forgetting  those  of  Joseph  W.  Trutch.  J)n  6'o.swos  ijoi'l.  MS.,  '21--;  U'L'i/ 
UrU.  Vol.,  Feb.  15,  1871;  Drit.  Col.,  May  23,  1870.  In  his  Ilrili-^/i  Culimi 
hid  tvnl  the  Canadinn  Pacific  liailioay,  Sjieech  by  and  Complim'iitnri/  Dinin  r 
to  the  lion.  Mr  Trutch  at  the  liiissell  Honae,  Ottawa,  April  10,  IS71,  Montreal 
Ui71,  is  clearly  brought  out  the  then  condition  of  tho  railroad  ipiestion,  its 
conipletion  within  tho  specified  time  being  insisted  upon  as  a  fundamental 
Condition  of  the  confederation. 

^^'The  coniniitteu  regret  that  the  construction  of  tho  railway  has  not 


*  f  j;  ■ 


M 


C56 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


hampered  with  this  lonjif-vcxcd  question,  aiivl  in  tlio 
lioj^e  oi'  ai'riving  at  some  agrecincnt  with  the  proviiico, 
sent  to  A'ietoria,  as  a  special  agent,  James  D.  Edgur, 
a  Toronto  barrister.®^ 

lleaehiny^  the  capital  in  the  spring  of  1874,  Edgar 
addressed  a  letter  to  G.  A.  Walkeni,  attorncy-geneial, 
wherein  he  states  that  the  scheme  originally  adopted 
had,  for  a  variety  of  reasons,  proved  almost  imjnac- 
ticablu,  and  that  it  was  now  the  aim  of  the  cabinet  to 
devise  a  more  feasible  idan.  The  main  difficulty  was 
the  stijiulation  as  to  time,  and  in  requesting  an  ex- 
tension of  time,  the  government  asked  only  foi'  a 
reasonable  concession.  The  cnjjinecrlng  difficulties 
were  so  n)uch  greater  than  had  been  expected,  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  build  the  road  within  theilates 
specilicd  without  wasteful  expenditure  and  fmaneial 
embarrassment.  In  order  to  make  amends  for  this 
disappointment,  the  dominion  cabinet  proposed  to 
begin  at  once  the  line  between  Esquimalt  and  Na- 
naimo,  completing  that  portion  in  the  shortest  possible 
time.  As  to  the  mainland,  it  was  useless  to  begin 
construction  before  even  the  entire  route  had  been 
finally  selected;  but  the  government  would  immedi- 

bccn  cdiiiiiioiiccil,  anil  therefore  strongly  protest  against  the  breacli  by  tiio 
(loiiiinion  govt  of  a  conilition  of  tlie  tonus  so  hi.i^hly  important  t;)  the 
province'  Order  in  council,  in  .SV.w.  Papers,  Brit.  Vol.,  18S1,  1 4G.  To  this 
minute,  f(jr\v;irde(l  by  the  licut-gov.  to  tlic  secretary  of  state,  M  J.  L:iiii:Lviii, 
uniler-scvrctary,  merely  replied  that  the  despatch  and  its  enclosures  avou!i1  bo 
at  once  laid  before  the  gov. -gen.  In  Nov.  a  second  minute  was  forwardeil, 
couclied  in  somewhat  pei'cmptory  phrase.  Taking  into  consideration  Ihatuo 
reply  was  made  to  tlio  former  protest;  tliat  the  dominion  parliament  bail 
been  prorogued  wiLboiit  making  any  provision  for  theconstiuction  of  tiif  lail- 
way;  tliat  llie  legislature  of  D.  C.  was  convened  for  tlie  18th  of  Dec. ;  and  that 
the  non  rullilnicnt  01  the  terms  of  union  iiad  caused  much  anxiety  and  ilis- 
couragcment  throughout  the  province — the  eonmiittee  of  council  advised  the 
licut-gov.  to  ask  for  a  decided  expression  of  tiie  policy  of  the  dominion  govt. 
The  answer  was,  that  tlic  cabinet  was  giving  its  most  earnest  consideratiim 
to  the  project  for  the  construction  of  tlie  Pacific  railway,  an  outline  of  x.  hidi 
was  given  in  tlie  speech  delivered  by  Mr  Mackenzie  at  Sarnia  on  the  "-'.Vih  of 
Nov.,  a  Hclieme  which  tliey  believe  will  bo  acceptable  to  the  whole  dominion, 
includin  ;  15.  C,  and  that  they  hope  to  bo  able,  within  a  short  time,  I  >  'Oai- 
municale  more  definitely  w'itli  that  province  on  the  sutjjoct.  /(/.,  1S8I,  IV.'. 
lleic  v.-e  liavo  probably  the  inception  of  the  Pacific  railway  bill,  of  whiili 
more  pnscnlly. 

^'  In  one  of  his  letters  of  introduction,  Mackenzie  states  that  ho  would  liave 
sent  n,  member  of  the  cabinet  but  for  the  near  approach  of  the  meeting  of  j'ar- 
liuineut. 


IliHl 


f:'^ 


WALKEM  AND  EDGAR. 


657 


atcly  open  a  wagon-road  along  the  portion  that  hiy 
within  the  province,  and  construct  a  telegraph  line, 
placing  British  Columbia  in  direct  coniniunication 
with  Canada.  Although  the  terms  of  the  union  con- 
tained no  provision  for  the  amount  of  expenditure 
(luring  any  special  period,  or  on  any  particular  portion 
of  the  line,  and  although  the  length  falling  within 
the  province  was  not  estimated  at  more  than  one  fifth 
of  the  entire  length,  the  dominion  government  pro 
posed,  as  soon  as  the  surveys  were  completed,  a  mini- 
mum expenditure  of  $1,500,000  a  3'ear  on  the  work 
of  construction  within  the  province,  thus  securing  its 
progress  without  intermission. 

Walkem  replied  that  he  would  submit  Edgar's  pro- 
posals to  the  local  administration,  but  could  not  advise 
the  lieutenant-governor  in  council  to  treat  them  as 
official  until  he  was  assured  that  the  former  was  spe- 
cially accredited  as  agent  of  the  general  government. 
At  this  letter  the  barrister  took  offence,  freely  ex- 
pressing his  disgust,  and  requesting  that  the  proposals 
of  tlie  dominion  government  should  receive  the  con- 
sideiation  to  which  they  were  entitled.  The  answer 
of  the  attorney -general  was  again  somewhat  insulting, 
though  covered  with  a  thin  lacquer  of  professional 
coui'tesy.  He  had  received  but  one  letter  from  Mr 
Mackenzie,  he  said — and  that  not  an  official  one — 
wherein  Mr  Edgar's  mission  was  expressly  stated  to 
1)0  ior  the  purpose  of  holding  personal  interviews  with 
the  members  of  the  executive  council,  in  order  that 
the  ])olicy  of  the  provincial  government  might  be 
ascertained  without  a  tedious  correspondence.  He 
must  be  pardoned,  therefore,  when  he  considered  it 
his  duty  to  ask  for  Mr  Edgar's  official  authority. . 
This  information  he  had  not  yet  received.  In  his 
further  efforts  to  negotiate  with  the  executive,  Edgar 
fared  even  worse.  His  letter  of  introduction  to  the 
lieutenant-governor,  couched  in  somewhat  ambigu- 
ous jVnrase  for  the  credentials  of  a  plenipotentiary,^" 

'^It  reads  as  follows:  Feb.  21,  1874.  Sir:  The  bearer  is  James  D.  Edgar,  . 
Hht.  Bull.  Coi,.    12 


'fl 


658 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


1 
i 


.11 


.1 


was  not  even  delivered,  as  the  executive  council 
objected  to  any  coninmnication  bein<^  made  except 
throuj^h  themselves.^*  Nevertheless  he  sent  a  hrief 
note  to  the  chief  magistrate,  enclosing  a  copy  of  his 
communication  to  the  attorney-general,  though  it  docs 
not  appear  that  any  notice  was  taken  either  of  liis 
missive  or  of  its  enclosure.  On  the  contrary,  the 
executive  council,  by  advice  of  the  attorney-general, 
on  the  day  when  the  latter  received  a  curt  reply  fiom 
the  barrister,  reconnnendccl  his  Excellency  to  ascertain 
by  telegraph  whether  Edgar  was  empowered  to  ir'^o- 
tiate  with  the  provincial  government,  and  whether 
his  propositions  would,  if  accepted,  be  considered  bind- 
ing by  the  dominion  government.  Mackenzie's  answer 
was  brief  and  somewhat  emphatic:  "I  refer  ministry 
to  my  letter  by  Mr  Edgar,  which  sufficiently  indi- 
cated his  mission,  and  which  they  recognized.  ]Ie  is 
now  recalled,  and  I  await  his  return  and  reports." 
Three  days  later,  on  the  21st  of  May,  1874,  the  attor- 
ney-general sent  word  to  the  premier  of  the  dominion: 
"Will  you  kindly  answer  governor's  telegram  fully? 
Do  Mr  Edgar's  propositions  to  change  railway  terms 
bind  your  government?"  On  the  8th  of  June  Trutoli 
was  informed  that  the  proposals  were  withdrawn; 
whereupon  the  latter  at  once  appealed  to  the  home 
government,^'  complaining  of  a  breach  in  the  terms 
of  the  union,  a  petition  being  also  forv/arded  to  her 
Majesty. 

Thus  through  a  want  of  precision  in  the  negotia- 


Esq.,  barrister,  Toronto,  who  visits  Columbia  aa  the  agent  of  the  dominion 
government  to  consult  with  your  government  with  reierence  to  tiie  late  a;;i- 
tation  concerning  an  extension  of  time  for  the  construction  of  the  I'acitic 
railway  beyond  that  promised  in  the  ternia  of  union.  Mr  Edgar  will  ex- 
plain to  your  Excellency  our  anxiety  to  do  everything  in  our  jjowcr  to  incit 
the  views  of  your  i)eople.  He  v.il'.  be  (jl  id  to  receive  your  suggestions  cou- 
cerning  matters  which  may  require  attention.     I  am,  etc.,  A.  ^lackeii/io. 

'"  In  a  despatch  to  Trutch,  dated  Ottawa,  Mar.  24,  1875,  Macken/.i(^  states 
that  if  he  had  known  this  to  be  the  ease  he  would  liave  directed  Edgar  to  de- 
liver the  letter  notwithstamline  the  objection. 

*'  Copies  of  tlie  petition  ana  of  all  the  correspondence,  including  Kdgar's 

Erivate  instructions  from  the  premier,  his  communication  to  the  atty-gcii.,  ami 
is  report  to  the  sec.  of  state  for  Canada,  will  be  found  in  the  Railway  jhipem, 
In  Sm».  Papers,  B.  C,  1881,  155-79. 


II '  m 


AY. 

icutivo  couiioil 
;  made  except 
10  sont  a  hrief 
J  a  copy  of  his 
though  it  (l()ci( 
1  either  of  liis 

contrary,  tlio 
toriiGy-gonoral, 
Hirt  reply  from 
icy  to  ascertain 
wered  to  iicl^o- 
,  and  whetliLT 
Dnsidered  hiiul- 
kenzie's  answer 

refer  ministry 
ifficiently  iiuli- 
[jnized.     He  is 

and  reports," 
874,  the  attor- 
■  the  dominion: 
elegram  fully? 

railway  terms 
f  June  Triitch 
:e  withdrawn; 

to  the  homo 
1  in  the  terms 
warded  to  her 


n  the  negoHa- 

cnt  of  the  cloiiiinion 
rciice  to  the  late  aa- 
iction  of  the  I'iicllic 
Mr  Edgar  will  cn- 
n  our  power  to  meet 
roxir  suggestions  cou- 
2.,  A.  Mackeii/ie. 
75,  Mackenzie  states 
lirected  Ed;,'ar  to  de- 

;e,  including  Edgar's 
totheatty-gcn.,  and 
the  Railway  l\qms, 


PACIFIC  RAILWAY  BILL. 


650 


ll 


tions  with  the  provincial  executive,  through  want  of 
statesmanship  on  one  side,  and  through  want  of  for- 
bearance on  both  sides,  a  serious  rujituro  was  threat- 
ened between  the  province  and  the  dominion.  The 
])e(ij)le  of  British  Columbia — now  .sorely  discontent — 
were  not  to  blame  ^  their  hopes  and  their  ambition 
had  been  unduly  excited  by  j^romises  which  it  was 
almost  impossible  to  fulfil.  Nor  was  their  discontent 
(liininished  by  the  passage,  late  in  the  session  of 
1874,  of  the  Pacific  Railway  bill.  According  to  this 
project,  introduced  by  Mackenzie,  the  line  was  to  be 
divided  into  four  sections:  first,  from  Lake  Nipissing 
to  tlio  western  end  of  Lake  Superior;  seconil,  from 
Lake  Superior  to  Red  River,  in  Manitoba;  third, 
from  Red  River  to  some  point  between  Fort  Edmon- 
ton and  the  foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  fourth, 
from  the  western  terminus  of  the  third  section  to 
some  point  in  British  Columbia.  The  government 
was  to  be  at  liberty  to  divide  any  of  these  sections 
into  subsections,  and  niisrht  at  its  discretion  construct 
the  line,  or  any  part  of  it,  as  a  public  work.  Con- 
tractors were  to  receive  a  subsidy  of  $10,000  per  mile, 
together  with  20,000  acres  of  land,  of  fair  average 
(juality  and  in  alternate  sections,  for  each  mile  con- 
tracted for,  and  also  a  guarantee  of  four  per  cent 
interest  for  twenty-five  years,  on  such  sum  as  might 
bo  stipulated  in  the  contract.  The  contractors  were 
to  own  and  run  their  sections,  subject  to  such  regula- 
tions as  to  rates  of  fare  and  freight,  accommodation, 
and  number  and  description  of  trains,  as  mij^ht  be  made 
from  time  to  time  by  the  governor  in  council.  The 
^'overnment  reserved  the  right  to  sell  two  thirds  of 
all  t'le  land  grants  at  such  prices  as  might  be  agreed 
upon  by  the  contractors,  the  proceeds  to  be  paid  over 
to  the  latter,  and  also  the  right  to  purchase  the  rail- 
way, or  any  portion  of  it,  for  a  sum  not  exceeding  the 
actual  cost,  with  ten  per  cent  added,  the  subsidies  in 
land  and  money  being  first  deducted  from  the  amount." 

"  WilsorCa  Canada  and  The  dm.  Pac.  Railway,  13-14. 


'    '        il 


liil 


060 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


To  this  measure  there  were  several  weiglity  objco- 
tions.  First  of  all,  it  was  I'rained  in  such  a  maiiin  r 
that  detached  sections  of  the  road  might  be  built  and 
operated  by  several  companies,  and  those  interspersed 
with  other  sections  owned  by  the  dominion.  It  was 
a  moral  certainty  that  if  responsible  parties  could  ho 
found  to  accept  contracts  they  would  take  only  thoso 
which  would  give  them  the  best  sections,  leaving  llic 
remainder  to  the  government.  No  transcontinental 
railway  in  America,  whether  built  or  in  conten)])la- 
tion,  would  lay  open  to  settlement  so  vast  an  extent 
of  agricultural  land  as  the  Canadian  Pacific,  and  the 
more  valuable  sections  should  have  been  so  distributed 
as  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  inferior  portions. 
Second,  the  condition  whereby  governmont  retained 
the  right  to  sell  two  thirds  of  the  land  grants,  at  siuh 
prices  as  might  bo  agreed  upon,  was  one  that  lew  busi- 
ness men  would  entertain,  for  the  dominion  would 
possess  as  much  land  along  the  line  of  route  as  the 
contractors,  and  could  force  the  latter  to  accept  its 
own  terms.  Then  the  clause  depriving  contractors  of 
the  privilege  of  determining  rates  of  fare  and  frcii^ht 
was  most  objectionable,  for  on  this  matter,  even  it' 
traffic  were  abundant,  the  profits  would  mainly  de- 
pend. Finally,  the  power  reserved  by  government  to 
buy  up  any  or  all  of  the  sections,  at  ten  per  cent 
above  thoir  cost,  was  a  stipulation  not  likely  to  find 
favor  with  capitalists.  Under  such  an  agreement,  a 
portion  of  the  line  might  be  worked,  for  instance,  lor 
a  term  of  twenty  years,  by  a  company  of  stockhold- 
ers; and  if,  at  the  end  of  that  period,  their  section 
had  developed  into  a  paying  property,  they  might  bo 
called  upon  at  any  time  to  surrender  it,  receiving 
back  barely  their  purchase  money,  with  one  half  of 
one  per  cent  a  year  added  by  way  of  interest,  and 
losing  perhaps,  meanwhile,  several  millions  in  work- 
ing expenses.®" 

'•  IVU.wii'k  Cavnda  and  Can.  Pac.  Railvoay,  passim.    Mackenzie's  project 
was  vigorously  attacked  in  British  Columbia  iu  counection  with  puliiicul 

idbUcb. 


T 


m  ill 


1 1 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 

1874-1885. 

TriK  CAKNAnvoN  Terms— Their  Acceptance — Defeat  of  the  Esqhimalt 
AND  Na.vai'.hi  Railway  Bill— The  Provincial  Lkoislatore's  Petition 
TO  UEU  Maje.sty— Rejoindeu  of  the  Dominion  Go^'ERNMEN^ — Visit  of 
TiiK  Eaul  of  Dufferin — His  Speech  at  Victoria — Tiiheats  of  Se- 
ci;.s.si(iN — A  Second  Petition  to  the  Qdeen — Proposed  Annexation 
to  the  United  States — One  Moiie  Petition — Contract  with  the 
Syndicate — Enoinekrino  Difficdlties — Port  Moodv — Keasons  for 
ITS  Selection  as  the  Terminus— Completion  of  the  Line— A  Costly 
Undertaking — Tub  Road  Built  as  a  National  Highway. 

On  the  1 1th  of  June,  1874,  the  secretary  of  state  for 
the  colonies  was  informed  by  telegram  that  a  delegate 
was  about  to  proceed  to  London  for  the  purpose  of 
laying  before  the  home  government  the  complaints  of 
the  provincial  legislature  as  to  the  breach  in  the  terms 
of  union.  Exactly  one  week  later  a  confidential  mes- 
sage from  the  banking  firm  of  Faulkner,  Bell,  &  Co. 
was  received  by  Governor  Trutch,  stating  that  the 
earl  of  Carnarvon  had  consented  to  arbitrate,  and  that 
both  parties  had  concurred.  In  a  despatch  to  the 
governor-general,  bearing  the  same  date,  the  earl  re- 
marked that  it  was  neither  his  wish  nor  any  part  of 
hiis  duty  to  interfere  'in  the  controversy.  It  seemed 
to  be  one  which  the  dominion  government  and  legisla- 
ture should  bring  to  a  satisfactory  conclusion,  and  her 
Majesty's  government  was  reluctant  to  take  any  action 
which  might  imply  a  doubt  whether  the  former  would 
ckal  with  the  province  in  a  fair  and  liberal  spirit.  He 
tendered  his  services  only  because  he  was  resolved 

(OUl) 


1)1 


i      ! 


662 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


that  no  means  should  be  spared  to  bring  about  a  speedy 
and  amicable  settlement  of  a  question  which  could  not, 
without  disadvantage  to  both  parties,  remain  the  sub- 
ject of  a  prolonged  and  acrimonious  discussion.* 

After  some  correspondence  on  both  sides,  Earl 
Dufferin  forwarding  for  consideration  a  report  of  the 
privy  council,  in  which  it  was  made  to  appear  that  tlio 
government  of  British  Columbia  had  no  just  or  rea- 
sonable ground  of  complaint,  while  on  the  other  hand, 
the  attorney-general  for  the  province  argued  his  case 
with  considerable  acumen,  on  the  17th  of  November, 
1874,  the  decision  was  rendered.  Only  in  two  mate- 
rial points  did  it  differ  from  the  terms  proposed  by 
Mr  Edgar:  first,  the  minimum  expenditure  within  tlio 
province  after  the  completion  of  the  surveys  was  to 
be  32,000,000  instead  of  $1,500,000  a  year;  second, 
the  limit  of  time  for  the  completion  of  the  road  "from 
the  Pacific  seaboard  to  a  point  at  the  western  end  of 
Lake  Superior,  at  which  it  will  fall  into  connection 
with  the  existing  lines  of  railway  through  a  portion  of 
the  United  States,  and  also  with  the  navigation  on 
Canadian  waters,"  was  altered  to  the  31st  of  Decoui- 
bcr,  1890.  To  construct  thus  early  the  remainder  of 
the  line  north  of  Lake  Superior,  extending  to  the  Ca- 
nadian lines  then  in  operation,  ought  not,  as  the  carl 
considered,  to  be  required.  He  hoped,  however,  that 
at  no  very  distant  day  a  continuous  line  of  road  would 
be  built  througjhout  the  lenj^th  of  the  dominion.^ 
The  earl's  decision,  or  as  it  was  afterward  known,  the 
Carnarvon  terms,  was  accepted  by  both  parties,  though 
witli  a  reservation  on  the  side  of  Canada,  providing,' 
that,  in  accordance  with  the  resolution  passed  by  the 
dominion  parliament  in  April  1871,  the  line  should  bo 
built  without  increase  in  the  rate  of  taxation.' 

'For  copy  of  despatch,  see  Sens.  Pa  pern,  B.  C,  1881,  182-3. 

'/(/.,  '210-11;  Mackenzie's  Mem.  Can.  Pac.  lln'dmay,  MS.,  5-G. 

'In  a  miniilo  of  council  dated  March  13,  187C,  wo  read:  'It  must  bcl»>nio 
in  mind  that  every  step  in  the  negotiation  was  necessarily  predicated  iipmi 
and  sul)j(  ct  to  the  conditions  of  tlio  resolution  of  tho  house  of  coniiiions  ]iii>->til 
in  1871,  contcinporani'ously  with  tho  adopvion  of  tlio  terms  of  union  \\  iili  M- 
O.  subsci^ucatly  enacted  in  the  C  1'.  railway  act  of  ISTii,  and  aubaui(ULiii!y 


.n.'pt  nil 


THE  QUESTION  REOPENED. 


6G3 


bout  a  speedy 
ich  could  not, 
iiain  the  sub- 
ission.* 
I  sides,  Earl 
•eport  of  tho 
ipear  that  tlio 
)  just  or  rea- 
e  other  hand, 
^ued  his  case 
f  November, 
in  two  mate- 
proposed  by 
re  within  the 
rveys  was  to 
^ear;  second, 
le  road  "from 
estern  end  of 

0  connection 
li  a  portion  <jf 
avigation  on 
it  of  Deceui- 
remaindcr  of 
\iX  to  the  Ca- 
;,  as  the  earl 
owever,  that 
f  road  would 

dominion.^ 

1  known,  the 
rties,  though 
la,  providill^' 
issed  by  the 

le  should  be 
iion.' 

2-3. 

o-c. 

'It  must  belHinie 
'  inedicatcd  upon 
f  coiiiiiiona]iiisit'il 
of  union  \\  iili  H. 
md  BubscqULUlly 


The  portion  of  Mr  Edgar's  proposal  relating  to  the 
construction  of  a  railway  from  Esquinialt  to  Nanainio 
was  also  embodied  in  the  Carnarvon  terms.  When, 
liowover,  the  premier  introduced  a  bill  for  this  pur- 
pose in  the  dominion  parliament,  the  measure,  though 
carried  in  the  commons,  was  defeated  in  the  senate 
by  a  majority  of  two,*  among  those  who  voted  against 
it  being  several  members  of  the  premier's  party.  The 
building  of  this  road,  it  was  argued,  was  merely  in- 
tended as  compensation  for  delay,  and  was  altogether 
apart  from  the  terms  of  union,  in  which  there  was  no 
obliixation  to  extend  the  line  to  Vancouver  Island. 
Thus  the  entire  question,  which  had  been  considered 
as  practically  settled,  was  reopened  for  discussion,  and 
the  negotiations  which  ensued  served  but  to  widen 
the  breach  between  the  two  governments. 

Early  in  1876  a  despatch  was  forwarded  by  Gover- 
nor Trutcli  to  the  "Secretary  of  state  for  Canada,  en- 
closing a  copy  of  a  petition  to  her  Majesty,  in  which 
it  was  complained  that  the  dominion  government  had 
almost  entirely  disregarded  the  terms  of  the  Carnar- 
von settlement.  They  had  neither  commenced  the 
buildinof  of  the  railroad  on  the  island  nor  on  the  main- 
land,  nor  of  the  wagon-road  or  engmeenng  trad 
intended  to  facilitate  railroad  work;  nor  had  the  agree- 
ment relating  to  the  construction  of  the  provincial 
section  of  the  transconiaiental  telegraph  lino  been 
carried  out.  It  was  claimed  that  British  Columbia 
bad  fulfilled  all  the  conditions  of  her  agreement  with 
Canada,  while,  through  the  repeated  violations  by  the 
dominion  of  the  railway  terms,  all  classes  of  the  pop- 
ulation of  the  province  had  suffered  loss.     Distrust 

rci'iiacted,  after  rv  large  addition  had  been  made  to  the  rate  of  tuxation,  in  the 
('.  !'.  lailway  act  of  1S7-1— that  the  public  aid  to  bogivcMi  tosociirc  tlioacconi- 
rlisiinicnt  of  tiio  undertaking  shouM  consist  of  sucii  liberal  grants  nf  land  and 
Eiuh  subsidy  in  moiiey  or  other  aid.  not  increasing  the  thru  cxiiting  rate  of 
taxation,  as  tlie  ijarlianient  of  Canadfi,  bIiouUI  thereafter  dLtcrniine.  This  do- 
t'Tiiiination  not  to  involve  the  country  in  a  h'lpclcsj  bunk'n  /f  debt  is  sus- 
taiiR-d  by  publi';  o])ini()ii  everywhere  throughout  the  dornini.jii,  i.ud  must  of 
liocisxity  euntroi  the  action  of  the  government.' 

*Tiio  vote  was  2[i  to  21.  Papers  rel.  Alisnion  Dc  Cosmos,  74. 


H'^- 


M 


:l  ! 


664 


THL  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


liad  been  created;  trade  and  commerce  liad  been  un- 
settled ;  the  progress  of  the  country  had  been  checked, 
and  the  confident  anticipations  of  commercial  and 
political  advantage  to  be  derived  fro;  the  construc- 
tion of  the  line  had  given  place  to  a  feeling  of  depas- 
sion.  The  petitioners  therefore  submitted  that  the 
conditions  of  the  settlement  effected  tlirough  the  in- 
tervention of  the  secretary  of  state  for  the  colonies 
should  be  carried  out  in  letter  and  in  spirit." 

In  a  report  of  a  committee  of  the  privy  council  of 
Canada,  dated  the  13th  of  March,  niaifiy  i  --'iistver 
to  these  allegations,  is  a  review  of  the  \vh  -le  itro- 
versy  as  it  then  stood.  The  western  tom^inus  of 
the  road,  urged  the  dominion,  was  a  question  that  did 
not  enter  into  the  agreement  between  Canada  and 
British  Columbia,  but  one  to  bo  determined  by  the 
governor-general  in  council.  The  first  action  taken 
in  this  matter  was  in  June  1873,  when,  most  injudi- 
ciously in  the  opinion  of  the  committee,  an  order  in 
council  was  passed  selecting  Esquimalt  as  the  tor- 
minus.  If  this  decision  had  not  been  reversed,  the 
government  would  have  been  compelled  to  construct 
thence  more  than  a  hundred  and  sixty  miles  of  rail- 
way to  some  point  opposite  Bute  Inlet,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $7, 500,000,  while  the  bridging  of  the  Narrow 
— the  latter  a  most  gigantic  undertaking — would  c 
quire  a  further  outlay  of  more  than  §20,000,000.  '1  ■ 
Mackenzie  administration  had  from  the  first  doc^in-.J 
to  adopt  this  portion  of  the  policy  of  its  prede-jossoi's. 
They  had  offered,  however,  as  compensation  for  delay, 
a  cash  bonus  of  §7i)0,000,  or  about  $75  per  capita  df 
the  white  population  of  the  province;  but  this  ollor 
had  been  refused.*     So  far  from  the  province  having 

»<9cM.  Papers,  B.  C,  18S1,  .•?29-31. 

•As  to  this  matter  there  was  some  rnisunderstandina  on  the  part  *  o 
govcriinieut  of  IJ.  C.  In  a  report  of  the  privy  counoil  dated  Sept.  '20  i 
and  referring  mainly  to  the  constrnction  of  tho  Esipiiniult  and  Naniiiii  >  '■ 
way,  it  iareconimendod  that  the  people  of  li.  C  should  construct  this  line  t' 
selves,  or  undertake  such  other  local  public  works  as  they  think  best,  and  lii  » 
the  coniiienaation  granted  by  Canada 'for  any  delays  which  may  take  ;  !:i  o 
in  tho  eoustruotiuu  of  tho  I'aciflc  railway  bIiouKI  be  in  the  form  of  a  c.i.  li 


I! 


\^ 


lad  been  nn- 
»een  checked, 
mercial  and 
ho  construc- 
ig  of  depi-c's- 
.ed  that  the 
ough  the  i  li- 
the colonies 
it.» 

y  council  of 
y  I"  -nisvver 
Iv'le       .tro- 
tonrinus  of 
ion  that  did 
Canada  and 
ined  by  the 
iction  taken 
most  injudi- 
an  order  in 
as   the  tor- 
eversed,  the 
to  construe  t 
liles  of  rail- 
at  a  cost  of 
he  Narrows 
— would  te 
),000.     T.'^ 
rst  docliii'.J 
redc'jessors. 
>n  for  delay, 
ler  capita  of 
it  this  ollbr 
ince  havinu; 


tho  part  .  '  'iO 
I  Sept.  'JO  I  ,. 
il  Nanaiii  ,j  i  il- 
L'ttliisliiiotlu  r  ; 
ik  boHt,  aiul  lli.u 
may  take  p!;u  u 
fuiiii  uf  a  c.i.  li 


1^ 


SEPArwVTION  THRKATENED. 


665 


sufTercd  loss  and  deprivation  from  the  union,  as  was 
alleged,  it  had  already  derived  therefrom  no  incon- 
siderable advantage.  Apart  from  railway  expenditure, 
Canada  had,  between  the  date  of  the  union  and  the 
close  of  1875,  spent  $1,204,388  over  the  amount 
derived  from  revenue/  The  object  of  the  provincial 
legislature  appeared  to  bO;  not  to  secure  the  com- 
pletion of  the  road  as  a  national  undertaking  under 
such  conditions  as  would  tend  to  the  welfare  of  the 
entire  community,  but  to  enforce  an  enormous  ex- 
j)cnditure,  at  whatever  cost  to  Canada,  within  their 
own  province,  and  for  which  that  province  could 
render  no  equivalent.  The  urgency  with  which  the 
government  of  British  Columbia  demanded  this  ex- 
j)enditure,  with  a  view  to  secure  vast  profits  for  a 
small  population,  would  not  encourage  the  people  of 
the  dominion  to  support  their  rulers  in  the  eftbrt  to 
i'ul'il,  as  far  as  possible,  the  appalling  obligations  to 
which  they  were  committed.  In  conclusion,  it  re- 
mained only,  under  the  circumstances,  to  endeavor  to 
construct  the  railway  as  rapidly  as  the  resources  of 
the  country  would  i)ermit. 

Here  for  the  moment  negotiations  practicall}^ ceased, 
(ud  separation  from  the  dominion  was  for  the  time 
njH'iily  threatened,  the  executive  council  expressing 
in  their  re[)ly  the  fullest  confidence  that  her  Majesty 
v.ould  not  require  lier  subjects  in  British  Columbia, 

0 'ims,'  to  be  cxpen:le(l  m  the  Icgislatuvo  might  tlctermino.  In  the  petition  to 
iIm;  quc'cu  this  waj  intei  priitcil  us  an  indemuity  to  he  pai<l  on  comlitien  that 
Vai'.  ii^'i-eLMuent  fur  a  yearly  oxpentliture  oi  $2,000,000  within  tho  pniviiice,  and 
fill'  tho  ooniph'tion  of  the  road  to  Lake  Superior  before  tho  end  of  ISUO,  shoidd 
liL'  surrendered.  In  a  letter  to  DuU'crin,  dated  May  "J;!,  IS70,  Carnarvon  s.ays: 
'1  cannot  hut  suppose  that  tho  complaints  that  have  reaehod  niu  from  the 
govt  f)f  B.  C.  have  been  founded  on  a  misapprehension,  with  reference  to  the 
t\pression  used  in  the  Canadian  minute  of  council, ..  .as  well  as  to  the  in- 
ti'iitions  of  tho  tljminiun  minister.'  Corrf.iiioitilriim  Can.  I'ac.  lliiihrmj,  11. 

'  The  total  expenditure  for  the  four  and  a  half  years  wasSli,()S:!,r>ii.").  21,  and 
I'.ic  total  revenue  Sl.STO.'iJU. .*?;).  Meanwhile  the  railway  expcndilure  was 
b*i7(i,  l-lt.r>9,  making  a  total  excess  of  expemlitnrc  of  S2,0i>0,4S;>..'!0,  or  about 
S.'OS  per  capita  of  the  [lopulation.  .SV.s.s.  Paj/irn,  li.  ('.,  18SI,'J.'iO.  To  tills 
tlie  executive  co\ui(;il  of  the  jirovinco  replied  that  a  larj:o  part  of  tho  expendi- 
l\irc  was  incidental  to  the  extension  of  the  system  of  confederation  over  a  ne\r 
p;i)vliiee,  and  that  the  disbursements  would  be  greatly  reduced  after  the  com- 
I'iuion  of  tho  public  buildings  and  works  provided  for  in  tlio  ternia  of  uuiun. 


'ii! 


■    I 


li' 


tf 


GGO 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


i*|i        * 


however  few  in  number,  to  submit  to  injustice  from  tlio 
majority  to  which  they  had  united  themselves  on  dis- 
tinct and  carefully  considered  terms.  Unless  means 
w*^.-  promptly  taken  to  remove  this  sense  of  injus- 
tice, and  to  satisfy  the  people  that  their  rights  would 
bo  maintained,  the  "growing  alienation  of  sentiment 
must  result  prejudicially  to  the  interests  of  the  eui- 
pire."« 

In  a  despatch  to  the  earl  of  Carnarvon,  enclosing  a 
copy  of  the  report  to  the  privy  council,  the  governor- 
general  states  that  he  is  about  to  visit  the  western 
portion  of  the  dominion,  mainly  with  a  view  to  bring 
about  a  settlement  of  the  differences  with  British  Co- 
lumbia. From  this  visit  much  was  expected.  With 
the  authority  of  his  rank  and  office,  Dufferin  com- 
bined, in  no  limited  degree,  sound,  practical  judg- 
ment, tact,  and  temper,  together  with  much  official 
experience.  He  was  an  adroit  and  versatile  diplomate, 
one  who  never  gave  offence,  and  who  well  knew  how 
to  make  allowance  for  local  prejudices,  and  to  smooth 
artificial  impediments.  If  he  failed  in  his  efforts  to 
adjust  the  dispute,  then  the  difficulty  might  almost 
be  regarded  as  insurmountable.  So  hopeful,  how- 
ever, was  the  secretary  for  the  colonies  of  his  suc- 
cess, that  he  postponed  his  reply  to  the  minutes 
of  council  from  British  Columbia  and  Canada,  and 
deferred  laying  before  her  Majesty  the  petition  of 
the  provincial  legislature  until  ho  was  informed  as  to 
the  result  of  Dufterin's  visit.* 

After  making  a  tour  of  the  provinces,  northward 
as  far  as  the  border'3  of  Alaska,  and  eastward  to 
Kamloop,  on  the  20th  of  September,  187(5,  the 
governor-general  addressed  a  deputation  of  the  recep- 
tion committee  at  Victoria.  Dufferin  was  a  trained 
and  polished  speaker  for  an  English  nobleman,  souie- 


1870. 


'/(/.,  1881,  245.    Tlie  report  of  the  executive  council  ia  dated  Juuu  3, 
'  Corrfisj^ondence  Can.  Pac.  Railway,  11. 


tice  from  tho 
;elves  on  dis- 
Jnlcss  moans 
nsc  of  inj US- 
rights  would 
of  sentiment 
3  of  the  eni- 


,  enclosing  a 

he  govcrnor- 

the  western 

lew  to  brini,' 

I  British  Co- 
cted.  With 
'ufFerin  eoui- 
jctieal  judg- 
nuch  official 
le  diplomato, 

II  knew  how 
d  to  smooth 
his  efforts  to 
light  alnu)st 
jpeful,  how- 

of  his  suc- 

the  minutes 

anada,  and 

petition  of 

brmed  as  to 

;,  northward 
eastward  to 
187G,  the 
)f  the  rccci»- 
as  a  trained 
3man,  souie- 

ia  dated  Juuo  3, 


il 


DUFFERIN'S  ADDRESS. 


667 


what  ornate,  but  still  an  orator  of  marked  ability. 
All  his  eloquence  was  thrown  away,  however,  on  this 
Hclf-willcd  audience.  In  vain  did  ho  exert  to  the 
utmost  his  well-known  powers  of  pleasing;  in  vain 
did  he  compliment  his  hearers  on  their  unswerv- 
ing loyalty,  and  the  province  on  its  amazing  resources; 
in  vain  did  he  dwell  on  the  idyllic  beauty  of  its  scen- 
ery, its  noble  harbors,  and  its  labyrinth  of  navigable 
channels,  winding  for  thousands  of  miles  around 
islands,  promontories,  and  peninsulas,  unruffled  by 
the  faintest  swell  from  the  neighboring  ocean,  and 
adapted  as  well  to  the  largest  merchantman  as  to 
the  frailest  canoe;  in  vain  did  he  point  to  the  agri- 
cultural and  pastoral  resources  of  the  country,  its 
wealth  in  gold  and  silver,  coal  and  iron,  fisheries  and 
forests,  winding  up  his  glowing  picture  by  declaring 
British  Columbia  to  be  "  a  glorious  province — a  prov- 
ince which  Canada  should  be  proud  to  possess,  and 
whose  association  with  tho  dominion  she  ought  to 
logard  as  the  crowing  triumph  of  federation."  Of 
all  this  the  people  of  British  Columbia  were  well 
awire,  though  probably  they  did  not  object  to  being 
loniinded  of  it.  They  had  ni  vcr  doubted  that  their 
country  was  one  which  Canada  should  be  proud  to 
possess,  and  had  always  regarded  their  union  as  the 
brightest  jewel  in  the  dominion  crowti.  What  they 
coiii[)lained  of  was  that  Canada  did  not  keep  faith 
with  them,  and  thereby  show  a  becoming  pride  in  her 
now  acquisition,  instead  of  appearing  entirely  indiffer- 
ent as  to  the  stability  of  tho  federal  edifice.  Passing  to 
tho  main  point  of  his  address,  tho  earl  assured  his  audi- 
ence that  he  came  on  no  diplomatic  mission,  nor  as 
one  intrusted  with  any  announcement  either  from  the 
imperial  or  the  dominion  government.  His  visit  was 
in  order  to  become  acquainted  with  them  as  the  roj)- 
losentative  of  her  Majesty,  to  ascertain  their  wants 
and  wishes,  and  to  learn  as  much  as  possible  concern- 
ing the  physical  features  and  resouices  of  the  })rov- 
ince.     He  Jiad  no  desire  to  persuade  them  into  any 


\n 


i 


663 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


"i 


line  of  action  that  did  not  accord  with  thoir  own 
interests,  and  he  would  neither  make  any  new  prom- 
ises on  behalf  of  his  government  nor  renew  any  old 
ones;  least  of  all  did  he  wish  to  force  upon  them  any 
further  modification  of  the  Carnarvon  terms.  Nev- 
ertheless, the  greater  part  of  his  speech  was  devoted 
to  an  elaborate  exculpation  of  the  Canadian  govein- 
ment,  though  he  did  not  deny  that  British  Columbia 
hud  suft'ered  in  many  respects  through  the  non-ful- 
lilment  of  the  terms  of  union. 

Touching  on  the  quesJon  of  the  Esquimalt  and 
Nanaiino  railway,  he  stated  that  he  well  knew  the 
importance  which  they  attached  to  this  portion  of 
the  work,  and  admitted  that  its  immediate  execution 
was  definitely  included  in  the  Carnarvon  settlement. 
He  was  not  surprised,  therefore,  that  the  miscarriaj^^c 
of  this  part  of  the  bargain  should  have  caused  so  much 
irritation.  "Two  years  have  passed,"  he  said,  "since 
the  Canadian  government  undertook  to  commence  the 
construction  of  the  Esquimalt  and  Nanaimo  railway, 
and  the  Nanaimo  and  Esquimalt  railway  is  not  even 
commenced,  and  what  is  more,  there  does  not  at  pres- 
ent seem  a  prospect  of  its  being  commenced.  What, 
then,  is  the  history  of  the  case?  and  who  is  answerable 
for  your  disappointment?  I  know  you  consider  Mr 
INIackcnzie.  I  am  not  here  to  defend  Mr  Mackenzie, 
his  policy,  his  proceedings,  or  his  utterances.  I  hope 
this  will  be  clearly  understood."  Notwithstanding 
this  disavowal,  however,  the  earl  proceeded  to  defend 
the  premier's  administration,  as  an  advocate  would 
plead  before  a  court.'"     As  to  the  proposed   money 

'"  'It  is  aaaerted,  and  I  imagine  with  truth,'  he  said,  'that  Mr  Mackenzie 
and  his  political  frienda  had  always  been  opposed  to  many  portions  of  Canada's 
bargain  with  B.  C.  It  therefore  came  to  be  considered  in  this  province  timt 
the  new  government  was  an  enemy  to  the  Pacific  railway.  But  I  believe  this 
to  iiavo  been,  and  to  be,  a  complete  misapprehension.  I  believe  the  I'ucilio 
railway  has  no  better  friend  than  Mr  Mackenzie;  and  that  ho  was  only  dp- 
posed  to  the  time  terms  in  tiic  bargain,  because  he  believed  them  imixissilile 
of  accomplishment,  and  that  a  conscientious  endeavor  to  fullil  them  woiilil 
unnecessarily  and  ruinously  increase  the  financial  expenditure  of  the  counti;Vi 
and  in  both  these  opinions  Mackenzie  was  nndoubtedly  in  the  right.'  >o 
persistently  had  the  liberal  premier  been  accused  of  bicach  of  faith,  insiucer- 


m 


SPECIAL  PLEADING. 


GG9 


compensation,  he  could  not  hold  out  any  hope  that  Its 
amount  would  be  increased,  and  he  was  of  opinion 
that,  in  making  tliis  offer,  after  the  defeat  of  the  rail- 
way bill  in  the  senate,  Mackenzie  had  adopted  the 
only  alternative  left  open  to  him.  Otherwise,  every 
item  in  the  Carnarvon  terms  was  in  course  of  fulfil- 
ment. The  thirty  millions  of  money  and  the  fifty 
million  acres  of  land  were  ready;  the  surveys  were 
being  pushed  forward  to  completion;  the  profiles  of 
the  main  line  had  been  taken  out;  the  wa<jon-road 
would  follow  ^3«>'i  pa^'Sit  with  construction;  several 
thousand  miles  of  the  telegraph  line  had  been  built; 
and  now  that  the  terminus  on  the  mainland  appeared 
to  have  been  selected,  at  Bute  Inlet,"  tenders  would 
probably  be  invited  at  an  early  date.  If  the  railway 
was  once  completed  to  Bute  Inlet,  it  could  not  stop 
tliere,  and  as  soon  as  the  tide  of  traffic  fairly  set  in 
with  Australia,  China,  and  Japan,  the  line  must,  of 
necessity,  be  continued  to  Esquimalt.  In  that  case 
the  Nanaiino  road  would  almost  spring  into  existence 
of  its  own  accord,  and  the  people  of  British  Columbia 
would  be  in  possession  not  only  of  the  $750,000  of 
compensation  money,  but  of  that  for  which  it  was 
paid.  As  to  the  threat  of  secession,  of  which  more 
later,  he  remarked  that,  if  hasty  counsels  should  so 
far  prevail  as  to  render  necessary  a  readjustment  oi' 
their  political  relations,  he  feared  that  Victoria  would 
be  the  greatest  sufferer.  There  were  men  with  whom 
ho  had  held  much  pleasant  intercourse,  and  from  whom 

ity,  and  <louble-dcaling,  that  at  this  time  three  fourths  of  the  people  of  B.  C. 
were  opposed  to  him.  In  tlio  Shunlard  of  Jan.  1,  1875,  was  [  ublislicd  a  val- 
edictioii  to  the  chjsing  scene  of  187.'),  dedicated,  without  pi'rniission,  to  tlie 
cabinet  of  tlie  dominion  of  Canada,  and  especially  to  Alexander  Mackenzie, 
by  tlie  author,  James  MacBraiie  Siuitlj. 

'  Then  pUce  on  view,  iu  the  Centcnnlnl  Park, 
Our  hiTcj's  piilurc,  labcllcil,  Urokeu  Terms; 
Ami  if,  ill  flesh,  llio  imrlriilt  in  theRe  hues 
81io\Ud  swell  tlio  irowd  mi  luiU'iieuiIeuio  Dny, 
Give  lilm  II  sceliun  whire  no  pr  yress  sliiiies, 
Murked,  I'laut  truiu  Sjo.luud  raised  iu  Cimada. 

Fnrewelll    Thu  pen  shuU  never  rust 
That  wrote  Uepudlatiou  o'er  thy  dust." 

"  At  this  date  it  was  conimouly  believed  that  such  was  the  case,  though, 
hi  fact,  no  terminus  had  as  yet  been  tiually  selected. 


i 


C70 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


he  had  received  the  utmost  kindness  and  courtesy, 
l)ut  wlio  declared  that  if  the  legislature  of  Canada  was 
not  cc)n)i)elled  forthwith  to  build  the  Esquiniult  and 
Nunainio  railway,  they  would,  notwithstanding  the 
})reniier's  offer  of  a  money  equivalent,  bring  about  the 
separation  of  the  province  from  the  dominion.  This, 
he  dc  dared,  they  could  not  do,  or,  at  least,  such  a 
proposition  would  find  no  favor  on  the  mainland.  In 
rejecting  the  railway  bill — and  this  was  now  their 
main  grievance — the  senate  had  merely  exercised  its 
legitimate  functions,  and  on  this  matter  there  was 
nothing  more  to  be  said.  Should,  hov/ever,  the  in- 
fluence of  these  persons  prevail,  what  good  pur[)osc 
could  it  serve?  British  Columbia  would  still  remain 
a  portion  of  the  dominion.  The  line  of  the  railway 
would  probably  be  deflected  toward  the  south,  in  which 
case  New  Westminster  would  become  the  capital  of 
the  province,  the  seat  of  government  and  of  justicv, 
the  social  centre  of  the  British  domain  in  the  nortli- 
west,  and  would  doubtless  develop  into  a  prosperous 
city.  Burrard  Inlet  would  contain  a  thriving  com- 
mercial port,  where  the  miners  of  (^lariboo  wouKl  ex- 
pend each  winter  their  stores  of  gold-dust.  Esquimalt 
would,  of  course,  be  retained  as  a  naval  station  on  tho 
Pacific;  but  Vancouver  Island  and  its  inhabitants, 
whose  influence  was  due  rather  to  their  intelligence 
than  their  numbers,  would  sink  into  insignificance. 
Nanaimo  would  become  the  principal  town,  while 
Victoria  would  lapse  into  the  condition  of  a  villai^o, 
until  the  growth  of  a  healthier  sentiment  should  [)ave 
the  way  for  her  readmission  into  the  dominion.^- 

Though  Dufferin's  visit  allayed  somewhat  the  pop- 
ular discontent,  it  failed  altogether  in  ito  main  purpose, 
which  was  to  obtain  from  the  people  of  British  Colum- 
bia their  consent  to  the  premier's  latest  prcjposal  to 
evade  the  obligations  of  the  dominion.  It  must  bo 
admitted,  however,  that  his  task  was  one  of  peculiar 

"  A  copy  of  the  carl's  address  will  be  found  in  Seas.  Papers,  Ji.  C,  ISSl, 
249-Gl. 


V. 

md  courtes}', 
f  Canada  was 
squiiiiult  uiid 
standinjj  the 
Ing  about  the 
inion.  This, 
least,  such  a 
lainland.  In 
IS  now  their 
exercised  its 
iiv  there  was 
ever,  the  iii- 
food  purpose 
I  still  remain 

the  railway 
luth,  in  which 
he  capital  of 
id  of  justice', 
n  the  nortli- 
a  prosperous 
iriving  coni- 
oo  would  ox- 
Esquimalt 
bation  on  the 

inhabitants, 

:  intelligence 

isignificancc. 

town,  while 

of  a  villai^e, 

should  pave 
linion.^^ 
hat  the  pop- 
lain  purpose. 
itishColnni- 

pnjposal  to 

It  must  he 
3  of  peculiar 

pers,  B.  C,  ISSl, 


TUE  EARL'S  FAILURE. 


671 


difficulty.  lie  was  compelled  to  appear  before  them 
in  the  dual  character  of  a  representative  of  the  crown 
and  of  an  independent  constitutional  s^'steni — func- 
tions always  difficult  to  reconcile,  and  especially  so  at 
the  time  of  his  visit.  In  fulfilling  his  mission,  ho  was 
eompclled  to  assume  in  a  measure  the  character  of  a 
(liplomate.  While  attomping  to  "l^ow  that  Canada 
had  acted  in  good  faith,  he  urged  the  province  to 
accept  what  was  in  fact  merely  the  compromise  of  a 
compromise,  the  offer  of  a  government,  which  had 
virtually  repudiated  its  obligations,  to  pay  so  much  in 
tiic  pound  to  a  creditor.  It  must  be  admitted  that, 
on  this  occasion,  the  viceroy  failed  to  do  justice  either 
to  himself  or  to  his  office,  pleading,  as  he  did,  before 
her  Majesty's  subjects  the  cause  of  the  Mackenzie 
administration.  Granted  that  he  found  it  necessary 
to  keep  his  ministers  in  good  humor,  to  remedy  their 
hhmders,  and  if  possible  to  prevent  the  secession  of 
British  Colun»bia,  it  was  no  part  of  his  duty  thus  to 
attempt  the  negotiation  of  a  bargain  between  his  own 
cabinet  and  the  executive  council  of  one  of  his  prov- 
inces, still  less  to  enact  the  role  of  apologist  for  his 
own  government." 

In  an  address  presented  by  the  people  of  British 
Columbia  to  the  governor-general  a  few  days  before 
his  speech  at  the  capital,  it  was  stated  that  the  wide- 
.s[)read  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  caused  by  the  action 
of  the  dominion  government  had  been  intensified  bv 
the  remarks  of  men  prominent  in  affairs  of  state,  who 
a[)peared  to  regard  the  province  merely  as  a  source  of 
trouble  and  expense,  and  as  one  whose  withdrawal 

"The  comments  of  the  English  press  on  Earl  Dufierin's  visit  and  the  rail- 
way question  were  for  the  most  part  adverse  to  •^'  o  dominion,  and  some  of 
tiicni  wore  a  little  severe.  Soothe  Loudon  Sla),iiril,  Oct.  17,  1S7C;  /'<(ll 
Mall  Oazctto,  Sept.  22,  1870.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Lonlon  Times  remarks: 
'It  is,  judging  by  past  experience,  a  moderate  estimate  to  suppose  tliat  prob- 
ably a  generation  will  elapse  before  the  Canadian  Pacific  railway  can  pay  its 
working  expenses.  Is  it  worth  Canad.a's  while?  Wc  doubt  it.  At  all  events, 
it  tmist  bo  apparent  to  any  mind  that  its  construction  means  probably  an  addi- 
tion of  at  least  from  forty  to  fifty  millions  sterling  debt  to  tlie  already  lioavy 
Canuilian  di'bt  before  the  line  has  been  worked  live  years.'  Victoria  Slaiid- 
ani,  Nov.  10,  1877. 


m 

III 


|. 


11     I 


m 


672 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


would  not  bo  rogrcttcd.  Tlio  allusion  was  in  part  to  the 
premier,  whoso  speeches  implied  that  the  eoruicetion 
was  embairassing  and  unproiitable.  The  minister  of 
justice"  liad  also  declared  that,  should  British  Colum- 
bia not  bo  content  with  what  Canada  chose  to  givo 
her,  she  had  better  withdraw  from  the  union."  "  If," 
continues  the  address,  "the  Canadian  government 
fail  to  take  practical  st(jps  to  carry  into  effect  tho 
terms  solemnly  accepted  by  them,  we  most  respect- 
fully ini'orm  your  Excellency  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
a  large  number  of  people  of  this  province,  the  witli- 
drawal  of  the  province  from  the  confederation  will  ho 
the  inevitable  result." 

Nearly  two  years  elapsed,  and  notwithstanding  the 
assurances  of  Dufferin  and  Carnarvon,^"  no  decisive 
action  was  taken.  The  Wasatch  Mountains  were  lull 
of  surveyors  and  theodolites;  but  nothing  had  been 
done  toward  the  actual  construction  of  the  line  within 
the  province,  nor  had  even  tenders  been  invited.  In 
Sopteud^er  1878,  therefore,  an  address  from  the  pro- 
vincial legislature  was  ibrwarded  to  her  ^lajcsty,  in 
"which,  aicer  once  more  setting  forth  tlieir  grievances, 
the  petitioners  ask  that  in  the  event  of  the  dominion 
government  failing  to  carry  out  before  tho  1st  of  May 
the  agroeuient  of  1874,  "British  Columbia  shall  have 
the  right  to  exclusively  collect  and  retain  her  cus- 
toms and  excise  duties,  and  to  withdraw  from  the 
union;  and  shall  also  in  any  event  be  entitled  to  be 
compensated  by  the  dominion  for  losses  sustained  by 
reason  of  past  delays,  and  the  (ailure  of  the  dominion 
govermnent  to  carry  out  their  railway  and  other  obli- 
gations to  tho  province."" 

"Mr  Blake,  one  of  tlie  leaders  of  the  liberal,  or  as  it  was  termed,  tl:  e  'grit' 
party. 

'■■llis  remarks  were  indorsed  by  Sir  Alexander  Gait,  a  prominent  Mn- 
sorvative  Icailur.   Pall  Mall  Gazelle,  Sept.  '22,  1S7G. 

'''In  11  di;spatcli  to  DuU'crin,  dated  L)cc.  IS,  LS70,  Carnarvon  says:  'I  fully 
hope  and  bcliuve  that,  after  the  vciy  limited  dulay  of  a  single  suninicf,  the 
province  of  15.  O.  will  find  that  tlicio  i.i  no  longer  any  obstacle  to  the  active 
prosecution  of  t!ie  undertaking. '  Correspondence  Can.  Pac.  liailway,  X'l. 

"  Forciipy  of  the  address,  sue  Jour.  LeijisL,  B.  C,  1S78,  lOJ-7;  iV-a.  Paj>'rs, 
B.  C,  ISSl,  •.:7ci-«0. 


ANNEXATION. 


073 


icrmcd,  tie  'grit' 
prominent  oon- 


This  was  sufficiently  decisive,  and  if,  at  this  juncture, 
British  Cohimbia  had  deteruiined  to  secede,  neither 
EniJ^land  nor  Canada  could  have  prevented  it;  for  it 
is  the  long-established  policy  of  the  home  government 
that  colonies  shall  not  bo  retained  against  their  will. 
In  accordance  with  constitutional  law,  a  court  wt)ul(l 
probably  have  held  that  the  union  could  not  bo 
severed,  and  that  the  dominion  must  fulfil  its  part  of 
the  contract  or  make  compensation  for  failure  and 
delay.  But  the  dominion  could  no  more  have  insisted 
on  the  integrity  of  the  union  than  could  the  province 
have  compelled  Canada  to  do  her  justice,  for  British 
colonies  are  no  more  liable  to  coercive  jurisdiction 
than  arc  sovereign  states.  It  is  almost  certain  that 
the  separation  of  British  Columbia  would  have  been 
IbHowed  at  no  long  interval  by  annexation  to  the 
United  States;  nor  would  the  imperial  government 
have  had  any  just  grounds  for  exception  to  such  a 
measure. 

Long  before  this  date,  annexation,  if  not  openly  dis- 
cussed, had  at  least  suijijested  itself  to  men's  thouiihts 
as  one  way,  and  perhaps  the  best  way,  out  of  the  dil- 
ficulty.'^  Nor  can  it  be  believed  that  the  United 
States  would  have  refused  to  accept  this  portion  of 
England's  domain,  which,  lying  between  Alaska  and 
Washington,  is  the  only  break  in  the  stretch  of 
their  Pacific  seaboard.  The  province  is  indeed  a 
magnificent  one.  With  a  vast  area,  a  scant  po[)U- 
lation,  and  boundless  resources,  as  3'et  almost  un- 
touched; with  ports  on  the  most  direct  lino  of  travel 
between  Europe  and  Asia,  Victoria  being  but  tw'.'i  ty 
days' distance  by  steamer  from  Hong-Kong — the  LiaJc 
of  this  country  is  destined  to  become  a  not  inconsider- 
able factor  in  the  commerce  of  the  world.  Taking 
Yokohama  as  a  central  point,  its  distance  from  Liver- 

'' For  comments  of  the  Pacific  coast  press  on  the  threatened  secession  and 
prohalilo  annexation  of  the  province,  see,  among  others,  .V.  /'.  Alia,  Dec.  29, 
ISTl,  April  10,  Autr.  14,  187(1;  Brit.  Colonist,  April  23,  1879;  PoHland  TeU' 
Sram,  March  22,  1879. 

UiBT.  UniT.  Col,    13 


I 


;■! 


674 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


pool  via  Montreal  and  Port  Moody  is  computed  at 
10,9G3  miles,  and  by  way  of  New  York  and  San 
Francisco  at  12,038  miles,  a  difference  of  1,075  miles 
in  favor  of  the  former  route.  At  this  date  the 
Panamd  canal  was  believed  to  be  impossible  of  ac- 
complishment at  any  reasonable  expense  of  life,  labor, 
and  capital.  If  Great  Britain  sought  for  means  of 
commercial  intercourse  with  the  far  cast  and  licr 
Australian  colonies,  other  than  these  which  Cook  and 
Vancouver  had  discovered  in  the  eighteenth  century, 
and  Do  Lessops  bad  endeavored  to  improve  in  the 
nineteenth,  where  was  she  to  look  for  them  save  to  the 
dominion  or  to  the  United  States?  And  what  would 
be  the  prospect  for  England's  commerce  with  the  east 
should  British  Columbia  become  one  with  the  United 
States? — a  danger  all  the  more  imminent  because 
British  Columbia  still  contained  a  v  large  percent- 
age of  Americans.  Though  the  i.inion  miji^ht 
afford  to  slight  these  considerations,  cne  home  <io\- 
ernment  could  not.  The  question  was  no  longer  as 
between  Canada,  with  her  four  millions  of  inhabitants, 
and  British  Columbia,  with  her  few  thousands;  but 
between  the  mother  country  and  one  of  her  most  dis- 
tant and  sparsely  settled,  though  most  valuable,  colo- 
nies. 

Fortunately  there  occurred  at  thisjuncture  a  change 
of  administration  in  the  Canadian  government.  In 
answer  to  a  telegram  from  Victoria,  dated  the  IGth 
of  January,  1879,  wherein  it  was  stated  that  no  an- 
swer had  yet  been  received  to  the  last  petition  of  the 
legislature,  the  following  reply  was  returned  by  Sir 
John  A.  Macdonald:  "Railway  matters  are  now 
under  consideration,  and  your  representations  and 
claims  will  receive  our  best  attention."  Then  followed 
one,  dated  a  few  weeks  later:  "The  attention  of  the 
present  ministry,  on  taking  office,  was  not  called  to 
this  petition,  and  it  remained  unnoticed.  On  its  be- 
ing discovered,  it  was  transmitted  to  England.  The 
government  here  greatly  regret  the  oversight."     After 


READY  TO  BEGIN. 


67fv 


somo  further  negotiation,"  surveys  being  now  almost 
(■(HiiplctcJ,  Port  Moody,  or  Burrard  Inlet,  finally  se- 
lected as  the  terminus,^"  and  all  being  in  readiness  for 


'«'     H." 


:  I 


"In  which,  as  usual,  B.  C.  insists  on  havinp;  her  own  way,  without  much 
regard  to  the  interests  of  tho  dominion.  On  the  24th  of  Ai'ril,  1870,  a  tele- 
(;r;iin  was  forwarded  to  tho  premier  of  Canada:  '  IIouho  regrets  delay  of  your 
luilroad  policy,  and  unanimously  request  to  be  informed  of  policy  immedi- 
ately, and  whether  construction  and  vigorous  prosecution  will  tako  place  la 
province  this  year;'  and  to  tho  secretary  of  state  for  tho  colonies:  'No action 
yet  taken  on  railway  by  dominion  government.  Tliis  legislature  in  session 
awaiting  answer  to  petition,  unanimously  and  respectfully  request  immcdiata 
rLi)ly  to  its  prayer.'  Tho  secretary  of  state  for  the  dominion  replied:  '  Cana- 
liiuii  government  is  determined  to  commence  work  of  construction  in  B.  C. 
tW\i  season,  and  lo  press  it  vigorously.'  Oct.  2,  1879,  Walkem  telegraphs  to 
Macdonald:  'Delay  in  commencing  railway  causes  great  dissatisfaction.  Wo 
strongly  urge  you  not  to  overlook  your  assurances  to  our  legislature.'  Tho 
premier  answered:  '  127  miles  to  bo  constructed  forthwith,  from  Yale  to 
kamloops."  Sess.  Papers,  B.  V.,  1881,  284-8. 

•'' In  tho  winter  of  1874  the  building  in  which  were  kept  tho  field-note 
Ijoolis,  unlinishcd  plans,  etc.,  was  destroyed  b  (ire,  nearly  every  scrap  of 
paper  being  consumed.  Thus  were  lost  tho  results  of  three  years'  labor,  ob- 
tained at  a  cost  of  somo  .C.^OOjOOO,  and  it  was  necessary  to  commence  tho  work 
afresli.  At  this  dato  Mi-  Fleminfr  was  of  opinion  that  a  direct  line  from  Teto 
Jamie  Cache  could  be  found  via  Clearwater  and  Stillwater  lakes  to  the  Fraser, 
the  crossing  being  a  short  distance  above  Big  Bond,  and  ascending  westward 
—on  the  eastern  slope  of  tho  Cascade  Range — by  the  valley  of  tho  Chilkotin, 
juiiiiiig  the  Bute  lalct  route  on  tlio  summit  I-  vel.  L  iter  explorations  showed 
tliid  route  to  bo  impracticable.  Almost  the  entire  force  was  employed  on  tho 
survey  of  the  Fraser  between  Tete  Jauno  Cache  and  Fort  George,  and  tho  sev- 
eral lines  westward  from  tho  latter  point,  toward  tho  moutli  of  tho  Skecna, 
Gardner,  Dean,  and  Bute  inlets.  Gardner  and  Dean  inlets  seemed  at  first  to 
promise  best,  but  ultimately  the  former  was  abandoned,  as  no  favorable  route 
could  bo  found  tlirough  the  Cascade  Range.  The  Dean  Inlet  line  was  instru- 
meiitally  surveyed,  and  a  favorable  lino  marked  out,  though  with  high  gra- 
dients toward  tlio  sea.  Harbor  accommodation  was  also  less  favorable  than 
represented,  but  otherwise  the  Dean  Inlet  was  preferred  to  the  Bute  Inlet 
route.  Tho  latter  was  fifty  miles  longer,  and  it  wouhl  be  necessary  to  build 
tlie  railway  to  Frederic  Arm,  on  tho  northern  mouth  of  the  inlet,  while  navi- 
gation, both  toward  Queen  Charlotte  Sound  and  the  strait  of  Fuca,  was  diflB- 
cult.  Tho  advocates  of  this  route  were  so  well  aware  of  these  obstacles  that 
they  never  proposed  to  encounter  them,  but  rather  to  cross  at  onco  from 
Frederic  Ann  to  Otter  Cove,  V.  I.,  and  thence  to  Esquimalt,  a  distance  of 
205  miles.  Certain  advocates  of  the  Bute  Inlet  route  pointed  out  that  a  har- 
bor equal  to  that  of  Esquimalt  could  be  reached  on  the  outer  coast  of  V.  I.  at 
Quatsiiio.  Wlien  all  tlic  djlliculties  connected  with  the  northern  routes,  in- 
chiiling  Bute  Inlet,  became  known,  it  was  determined  to  try  tlic  lower  Fraser 
and  Thompson  rivers  by  instrumental  survey.  The  result  satisfied  the  govt, 
aii'l  Port  Moody,  or  English  75ay,  on  Burrard  Inlet,  was  selected  as  the  tor- 
minus  for  several  reasons,  among  which  may  be  mentioned:  1st.  That  the  line 
to  I'ort  Moody  was  shorter  and  elieapcr  than  tlie  one  to  Bute  Inlet.  2d.  That 
no  gradient  exceeded  50  feet  to  the  mile,  while  on  the  Bute  Inlet  route  there 
vero  gradients  of  more  than  100  feet  to  tlie  mile.  3d.  Tliat  tho  Burrard  In- 
let route  could  bo  commenced  at  Yale,  to  v  hich  point  tho  Eraser  was  navi- 
galile,  and  extended  to  tidal  commnnication.  4th.  That  tho  construction  of 
l-.j  miles  to  Kaiiiloop  Lake  would  immediately  open  up  the  heart  of  the 
province.  5th.  That  the  line  would  pass  through  or  close  to  the  largest  coal- 
tield  yet  discovered  on  the  Island.     Cth.  That  the  open  sea  could  be  reached 


h 


676 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


1  *■' ' 


the  virtual  fulfilment  of  the  railway  clause  contaiiu'd 
in  the  terms  of  union,  a  telegram  was  received  on  tlic 
9th  of  January,  1880,  from  the  secretary  of  state  for 
Canada,  asking  that,  in  accordance  with  these  terms, 
twenty  miles  of  land  on  either  side  of  the  lino  be  con- 
veyed to  the  dominion  government.  On  the  8th  of 
May  the  conveyance  was  authorized,  and  on  tin' 
25th  of  March,  1881,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legis- 
lature of  British  Columbia,  providing  that  "the  su- 
preme court  of  Canada  and  the  exchequer  court,  or 
the  supreme  court  of  Canada  alone,  according  to  tlio 
provisions  of  the  act  of  the  parliament  of  Cauuil.i 
known  as  the  supreme  and  exchequer  court  act," 
should  have  jurisdiction  in  controversies  between  tho 
dominion  and  the  province.^^ 

Thus  did  British  Columbia,  possibly  of  her  own 
free-will,  though  probably  through  a  slip  of  the  Hon- 
orable George  A.  Walkem,  bind  herself  once  more  to 
the  dominion,  and  by  a  statute  which  neither  Eng- 
land nor  Canada  had  power  to  enact.  Yet  one  n'oro 
petition  was  presented  to  her  Majesty,  wherein  ho 
oft-recited  grievances  were  rehearsed,  the  construction 
of  the  Esquimalt  and  Nanaimo  branch  insisted  u[)on, 
and  the  threat  of  secession  repeated."  To  tliis  I  ho 
dominion  government  replied:  "As  regards  the  prayer 

much  more  easily  than  by  way  of  Bute  Inlet.  J\fac/.r'iizi<''.-<  Mem.  ('<ni.  /'m: 
liailway,  MS.,  8-11.  A  description  of  each  year's  cxi)lorati()ni  iiinl  mui  u ys 
will  be  found  in  I'lrmiuiy^t  Urporht,  Can.  Pac.  IlaVmuj.  In  ims  coiniiLtiiii 
may  bo  mentioned  tlic  geologic  survey  of  Canada,  undcitakcn  in  ISTl  I'.v  Al- 
fred R.  C.  Sehvyn,  F.  R.  8.,  assisted  by  James  Kiuhard.son  of  lliu  gculu^ic 
Btair,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  physical  character  of  iho  cjiiiiiiy, 
the  general  distribution  of  tlie  geological  formations,  and  llic  fafilities  ,or 
travel  in  the  several  districts.  Tlic  route  examined  was  oun  of  ihoso  \.  liicli 
attracted  attention  in  connection  with  the  surveys  for  the  Canaihau  Pui.io, 
extending  obliijuely  across  the  province  through  the  vidlcysdi  Uio  I'raseiaiiil 
Thompson  to  Leather  I'ass  iu  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Surveys  m  ere aiteruai. I 
conducted  by  Richardson  on  V.  I,  and  tho  mainland.  For  desciipLioii,  tio 
/(/.,  Mem.  Oeol.  Survey,  MS. 

'■"Also  in  cases  of  controversy  between  B.  C.  and  any  province  of  tin  do- 
minion which  might  have  passed  a  similar  act,  and  in  suits,  actions,  oi  i  ro- 
cccdiugs  i'l  which  the  parties  in  their  pleadings  raised  the  (piestion  if  ilio 
validity  c  .'  an  act  of  tlie  Canadian  parliament,  or  of  an  act  of  t!io  provin'i:il 
legisl.iluro,  when,  in  tlio  opinion  of  a  judge  of  tho  court  in  whicli  tliey  wcio 
pending,  such  (juestion  was  matoriiil.  4^i('i  ^'tct.,  in  IJ.  ('.  Slat.,  IhSl,  17. 

'■i'^For  copy  of  petition,  see  Jour.  Leyul..  Brit.  CoL,  'SSl.  uO-'_';  I'mKisrel, 
Mmion  JJe  CoH7nos,  3-5. 


;i:; 


f. 

ISO  contaiiu'd 
;civcd  oil  tlic 
^  of  .state  lor 

these  terms, 
J  lino  be  con- 
1  the  8th  of 

and  on  the 
by  the  legis- 
hat  "the  sa- 
ner court,  or 
)rding  to  t!ic 
b  of  Canada 
court   act," 

between  the 

of  her  (nvu 

of  the  IIoii- 

onco  more  to 

icither  l:^iig- 

'et  one  iporo 

wherein     ho 

construction 

isisted  u[)oii, 

To  tliis  the 
Is  the  praw'i' 

■(  Mem.  ('nil.  I'nc, 
liiijiii  ami  .SMI  \i_v3 
u  liiia  cDiiiiirlii'U 
i.'ii  ill  l;>7l  I'.V  Al- 
ii <il'  Uio  yui>lu;^lc 
I'  «f  llio  coiuiuy, 

tlio  fiK'ilitii'.s  .01' 
10  (jf  llioso  V.  Iiicli 
CaiKidiau  I'.u'i.ic, 

f  Uio  I'rastT  iiml 
ys  woivafti'rwuril 
ir  (IcsciipLiDii,  buo 

'oviiicu  of  111'  ilo- 

S,   ilclioilS,  (h    1  I'O- 

3  (liiL'sUon  i;f  llio 

of  t!ic  i)fovin''i;il 

wliicli  lliL'y  uure 

at.,  USSl,  17. 
uO-'2j  Papers  nL 


rROVINCIAL  REVENUE. 


677 


of  the  proposed  petition  to  her  Majesty,  that  the 
])rovince  be  permitted  to  regulate  and  collect  its  own 
taiiff  of  customs  and  excise,  until  through  communi- 
cation by  railway  bo  established  througli  British  Co- 
lumbia with  the  eastern  provinces,  the  committee  of 
ilw  privy  council  desire  to  observe  that  this  request 
involves  a  breach  of  the  terms  of  union,  and  the  vir- 
tual severance  of  British  Columbia  from  the  d(jn)in- 
ion.""^  De  Cosmos  pleaded  in  London,  in  1881,  the 
case  of  the  provincial  legislature,  and  was  politely 
heard,  though  doubtless  her  Majesty's  govern mont 
was  now  somewhat  weary  of  the  matter.  Said  the 
carl  of  Kimbcrley  to  the  marquis  of  Lome,  in  a  de- 
spatch dated  August  25,  1881 :  "The  requ  'st  of  the 
legislative  assembly  of  British  Columbia  for  permission 
to  regulate  and  collect  its  own  tariff  is,  in  my  opin- 
ion, inadmissible."  "Far  be  the  da}^"  remarked  Dnf- 
fciin,  in  his  speech  at  Victoria,  "when  on  any  acre  of 
soil  above  which  floats  the  flag  of  England,  more  ma- 
terial power,  brute  political  preponderance" — what- 
ever that  may  bo — "should  bo  permitted  to  decide 
sufli  a  controver.'^y  as  that  which  wo  are  discussing. 
A  governor-general  is  a  federalist  by  profession,  and 
ytiu  might  as  well  cx])ect  the  sultan  of  Turkey  to 
throw  up  his  cap  for  the  commune  as  the  viceroy  of 
Canada  to  entertain  a  suggestion  for  the  disintegration 
of  the  dominion." 

Meanwhile  work  had  been  progressing,  though 
somewhat  slowly,  on  the  Canadian  Pacific.  Early  in 
1880,  2G4  miles  of  the  oa&tern  section,  commenced  in 
1874,  were  in  operation,  and  up  to  the  1st  of  July,  1S80, 

•'On  the  other  hand,  it  was  claimed  in  tho  petition  that,  under  the  terms 
cf  l!u'  treaty.  15.  C.  was  allowed  to  retain  its  own  tarilF  until  the  C.  I',  slioiild 
1"'  Kiiipleted,  hut,  'helieviiis^  in  tlio  good  faith  of  tho  (loiiiiiiion,  niid  1m mij 
(Ir^iiiiua  of  lu'onioting  confederation  in  its  true  sense, '  Biiiioiuleruil  its  l  m iff 
ill  INT'J.  It  would  seem  that  tho  dominion  government  was  in  tho  li^rht. 
Tlic  iliuso  to  wiiieh  reference  is  made  reads:  'It  is  agreed  that  tliu  existing 
'li-^iiiiiis  tarilFaiid  excise  duties  sliall  continue  in  force  in  IJ.  C.  ".'iitil  tlie  rad- 
^v;ly  fioiii  the  I'acilio  coast  and  tho  Bysteni  of  railways  in  t'  tiaila  an;  con- 
III  Lii  .1.  unlt'Hs  the  legislature  of  B.  C.  should  sooner  deciiL-  toaccept  tho  tariff 
ami  cxL'iso  laws  of  Canada.' 


i!  I 
I'  1 


i 


mi 


878 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  KAiLWAY. 


aL3ut  $10,500,000  had  been  expended  on  surveys  and 
construction."*  In  June  of  this  yeai  it  was  also  an- 
nounced by  Sir  John  A..  Macdonald  that  negotiations 
had  been  concluded  in  London  whereby  the  completion 
of  the  road  was  to  be  undertaken  by  a  sjaidicate 
composed  of  ca[)italists  in  New  York,  St  Paul,  Lon- 
don, and  Paris. '^ 

According  to  the  term,,  of  the  contract,  the  por- 
tions of  the  line  not  yet  constructed  were  to  bo 
<livided  into  three  sections:  the  first  or  eastern  sec- 
tion extending  from  Callander  station,  near  Lako 
Nipissing,  to  a  point  of  junction  with  the  Lake  Su- 
perior section,  then  being  built  by  the  government; 
th'-"  second  or  central  section  from  Selkitk,  on  lied 
River,  to  Kamloop;  and  the  third  or  western  section 
from  Kamloop  to  Port  Moody.  The  syn(hiate  agieed 
to  construct  by  the  1st  of  May,  1891,  and  keej)  in 
running  order,  a  line  of  uniform  gauge,'^®  and  pay  to 
the  dominion  the  cost,  according  to  an  outstandin;,' 
contract  of  one  hundred  miles  of  road  westward  lioni 
the  town  of  Winnipeg,  a  fev/  miles  south  of  Selkiik. 
The  dominion  agreed  to  complete  the  portion  of  the 
western  section  between  Yale  and  Kamlooj)  by  the 
end  of  June  1885,  between  Yale  and  Port  Moody  by 
the  1st  of  June,  1891,  and  the  Lake  Superior  section 
according  to  the  contract.  The  road  was  to  be  the 
property  of  the  syndicate;  but  until  the  eastern  and 
central  sections  were  finished,  the  Canadian  govern- 
ment reserved  the  privilege  of  working  those  already 
constructed.  On  tlie  completion  of  the  former  ssec- 
tions,  the  dominion  agreed  to  convey  to  the  syndieato 
the  portions  of  the  hue  then  constructed,  or  to  be 
constructed  by  the  government,  and    meanwhile  to 

'*  In  PaperM  rel.  Mission  Dc  Cosmos,  59-C2,  are  tables  showing  approxiiiiitily 
the  sums  voted  unci  actually  expended  for  each  year  between  IbTl  anel  h'-. 
Tlio  total  amouut  voted  under  all  heads  up  to  the  latter  year  was  .§40,till7,- 

"John  S.  Kennedy  of  New  York,  Richard  B.  Angus  and  James  J.  Hill  vi 
St  Paul,  Morton,  Hose,  &  Co.  of  London,  and  John  iioiuaoh  &,  Co.  of  i'aiis. 
t'ldtlrnih-n's  li.  ('.  und  Alaska,  ;{•_'. 

"  Four  ftict  eight  and  a  half  iuuhMi 


WW!I 


THE  CONTRACT  RATIFIED. 


C79 


I  surveys  and 
was  also  an- 

r  negotiations 

le  completion 
a  syndicate 

It  Paul,  Lon- 

act,  the  por- 
were  to  be 
easttnn  scc- 
,  near  Lake 
lie  Lake  Su- 
governnient; 
kirk,  on  lied 
■stern  section 
lic.itt;  agreed 
ajj'J  kcej)  ill 
'^^  unci  pay  to 
outstandiu'' 
3st\vard  Iroiii 
1  of  Selkiik. 
irtion  of  the 
nloop  by  the 
[•t  Moody  by 
iorior  section 
as  to  be  the 
eastern  and 
dian  govern- 
hose  already 
former  t^ec- 
lic  syndicate 
ed,  or  to  Ije 
eanwhilo  Id 

ngapproxiiii.iti'ly 
n  1871  ami  h"'-. 
car  was  S4(,',(ill7,- 

I  James  J.  11  ill  uf 
h  &,  Co.  of  i'aiis. 


grant  to  them  subsidies  of  $25,000,000  and  25,000,000 
,"':'rcs  of  land,^'  both  of  which,  as  we  shall  see  later, 
were  afterward  largely  increased.  As  soon  as  any 
part  of  the  road,  not  less  than  twenty  miles  in  length, 
was  in  operation,  the  government  would  transfer  to 
the  syndicate  their  pro  rata  of  cash  and  land,  and 
agreed  to  admit  free  of  duty  all  material  needed  for 
tlie  construction  of  railway  bridges,  and  of  a  telegraph 
line  in  connection  with  the  road.  For  twenty  years 
i'rom  the  date  of  the  contract  the  government  also 
a'j:rccd  that  it  would  not  authorize  the  buildinix  of 
any  line  near  the  Canadian  Pacific  unless  it  ran  in  a 
!<()uth-westerly  direction,  nor  of  any  that  ran  to  within 
lifteen  miles  of  the  international  boundary.  The  en- 
tire railway  and  its  equipments  were  to  be  forever 
exempt  from  taxation,  and  the  land,  unless  previously 
st)ld,  was  to  remain  untaxed  for  twenty  j-ears. 

On  the  motion  to  ratify  this  contract  arose  one 
of  the  warmest  discussions  ever  witnessed  in  the 
dominion  parliament.  The  ceaseless  friction  which 
had  occurred,  however,  while  the  government  was  in 
eliarge  of  the  work,  and  the  fact  that  there  was  no 
prospect  of  its  completion  within  the  stipulated  time 
unless  some  radical  changes  were  made  in  the  method 
of  prosecuting  the  enterprise,  were  strong  arguments 
in  its  favor.  Moreover  the  ministry  stated  that 
under  its  provisions  the  line  would  be  finished  for 
some  $22,000,000  less  than  if  completed  by  the  gov- 
ernment. The  measure  was  finally  carried  by  an 
ovirwlielming  majority,"^  and  immediately  afterward 
the  syndicate  entered  uj)on  the  execution  of  its  con- 
tract, the  work  being  thenceforth  prosecuted  with 
energy. 

Accordinof  to  a  measurement  in  1882  of  the  various 


'"  For  the  central  section  §10,000  .amilo  for  the  first  900  miles,  and  for  the 
ri'inaiiiing  410  at  tlio  rate  of  $l.'l,.'!;!3  per  mile;  and  for  tho  eastern  section  of 
OR)  miles,  $1,"),3S4.G1.  The  land-grant  was  for  the  central  section,  l'J,rjGO 
aciLn  for  each  of  the  lirst  900  miles,  and  10,000.07  acres  per  mile  for  the  re>- 
nuindor.     For  the  eastern  section  the  (.'rant  was  §'.(,01. ').,■}.")  per  niilo, 

^«The  vote  was  140  to  45.  S.  F.  Bulklin,  Nov.  Vi,  1885. 


ii 


I'E-ii 


680 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY, 


sections  as  finally  located,  the  entire  length  of  lino 
iVoni  Callander  to  Fort  William,  on  Thunder  Bay,  at 
the  head  of  Lake  Superior,  thence  to  Winnipeg,  and 
from  that  point  to  Savona's  ferry,  at  the  foot  of 
Kamloop  Lake,  crossing  the  Ilocky  Mountains  by 
way  of  Kicking  Horse  Pass,  and  ft'oni  Savona's  ferry 
to  Port  Moody,  was  2,557  miles.  To  this  nmst  ho 
added  the  sections  between  Callander  and  Ottawa,  a 
distance  of  228  miles,  and  from  Ottawa  to  Monti-eal, 
119  miles,  making  a  total  of  2,904  miles  as  the  grand 
trunk  road  of  the  Canadian  Pacific,  though  it  may  bo 
presumed  that  the  entire  line  from  Halifax  to  Port 
JNIoody  will  eventually  be  under  the  control  of  a 
single  company. '^^ 

Of  the  sections  between  Callander  and  Kamloop 
Lake  no  further  mention  is  required  in  these  pages; 
but  of  the  one  between  Savona's  ferry  and  Port 
Moody,  lying  as  it  does  entirely  within  British 
Columbia,  a  descri[)tion  may  not  be  without  interest 
to  the  reader.  The  length  of  this  portion  of  the  line 
was  2 1 3.5  miles,  and  it  was  divided  into  five  subsections, 
from  Port  Moody  to  Emory's  Bar,  a  distance  of  8.1.5 
miles,  from  Emory's  Bar  to  Boston  Bar  29  miles, 
from  Boston  Bar  to  Lytton  29.5  miles,  from  Lyttou 
to  Junction  Flat  29  miles,  and  irom  Junction  Flat  to 
Savona's  ferry  40.5  miles.^°  The  contracts  for  all 
these  subdivisions,  of  which  the  first  was  awarded 
early  in  1879  and  the  remainder  in  the  winter  of  1882, 
I'ell  into  the  hands  of  A.  Onderdonk,  an  en'jcineer  and 
contractor  of  good  repute,  and  one  who  re[)resentod 
several  prominent  capitalists  in  California,  Oregon,  and 
New  York."^  Their  amount,  including  the  cost  of 
a  bridge  across  the  Eraser  at  Cisco  Flat,  was  about 
li?  1 1,900,000,^"  apart  from  the  e,\j)ensG  of  the   iviils 

'■'•'Froin  CiiUaiulor  to  Fort  William  Gr)Oinilos,  from  Port  Artluirto  Wiiinipi';^ 
l.'llt  inik'.-i,  fmin  Wiiiiii|iog  to  Sa\'i)mi'a  forry  l,'_*5{)  miles,  and  from  Savdirs 
furry  to  Port  Moody 'J I .')  iiiIIl's. 

»".SV,«.  rnr'-r",  B.  v.,  I  SSI,  'JO.');  D.  G.  Director  ii,  1S,S'2  .1,  .",7.'5. 

"D.  O.  .Mills  (.t  Oil.,  S.  (>.  Paul  of  Or,,  .aiul  "ll.  IJ.  Laidlaw  and  ],.  1'. 
Morton  of  N.  V.  Sfss.  J'npiiv,  JJ.  ('.,  ISSl,  'Ji),"). 

^'For  the   subauctiou   between   Kniory  Bar  and   Bostoa  Bar  $-',7-7, ^iOO, 


CONSTRUCTION  OF  THE  ROAD. 


681 


and  iixstcniugs,  which  for  all  but  the  first  subsection 
were  furnished  by  the  dominion. 

Early  in  1880  ground  was  broken;  and  from  that 
(late  work  was  continued  almost  without  interrup- 
tion until  the  line  was  completed.  On  portions  of 
the  road,  and  especially  between  Emory  and  Boston 
bars,  it  is  probable  that  the  difficulties  were  greater 


Canadian  1'acikic. 


t.luirto  Wiiiiiipi',' 
111  from  Siivnii  ■,  s 


Bar  $2,T2-,,-M0, 


k'twocn  Boston  Bar  and  Lytton  32,57^,(140,  between  Lytton  and  Junction 
I'lut  o-',0.")0,9j0,  and  butwccn  Junction  Flat  and  8avona'a  ferry  §1,809, 150,  or 
nil  iivuragc  of  nearly  SlU.OOO  per  niilo.  Tlio  lirst  waa  to  lie  linislRd  liy  Dec. 
1,  l.S^;!,  the  second  by  Juno  liO,  1SS4,  the  tbird  by  December  ;!1,  18M,  and 
the  fourtli  not  later  than  June  ;!0,  1885.  It  iii)pears  that  contiacta  were  origi- 
nally made  vvitli  other  parties,  but,  remarks  Walkem,  in  the  report  of  his 
iiij.'()liiitio>is  at  Ottawa  with  the  dominion  government,  'tlio  nianitest  advan- 
tairi's  of  dealing  with  one  firm  of  unc|uestionablo  means  and  ability,  instead  of 
with  three  or  four  tii  nis,  in  the  conKtniction  of  the  work,  inllnenced  tiio  govern- 
iiii'ut,  as  I  learned,  to  consent  to  the  transfer  of  the  contracts  mentioned.' 
I'l'i-  the  portion  between  I'ort  Moody  and  lOniory  Bar  the  contract  was 
§J,4S7,0OO,  or  an  average  of  §;!0,000  per  mile,  u  -d  the  estimated  cout  of  the 
bndgo  across  the  Fraser  was  $VJ50,000.  JJ.  V.  Viieclori/,  1882-3,  373-4. 


If  ; 

i  i 

I.  } 


h 


GS-l 


TIIK  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


than  licul  liitlierto  bouii  encountered  in  railroad  build- 
ing, I'xcopt  j)erli;q>s  in  Switzerland  and  Peru,  the  aver- 
age cost  i)er  mile  being  $80,000,  and  of  some  miles  as 
much  as  $200,000.  Other  lines,  dithcult  of  con- 
struction, as  the  Central  and  Union  Pacific,  passed 
ai'ound  and  over  the  mountains  by  gradual  ascents; 
but  on  the  Cascade  Range  no  practicable  gradients 
could  be  found,  and  it  was  necessary  to  run  through 
it,  on  a  line  almost  parallel  with  the  cafuju  ot  the 
Frascr.  .For  almost  the  entire  distance  between 
Yale  and  Lytton  the  river  has  cut  icy  way  througli 
this  range,  plunging  in  foaming  cataracts  through  deep 
latcial  gorges.  Hanked  in  i)laces  by  spurs  of  perj)en- 
dicular  rock.  Along  nineteen  mil>:s  of  the  route  tliir- 
teen  tunnels  were  bored,  one  series  of  four  being  within 
a  mile  of  Yale,  and  another  of  six  occurring  some 
2,500  yards  farther  in  the  direction  of  Boston  ]3ar. 
Elsewhere  the  roadway  was  literally  hewn  out  of 
rock,  the  crevices  being  fdled  with  masonry,  and 
tlie  ravines  and  rivers  spanned  by  truss  and  trestle 
bridges,  of  which  there  are  many  between  Savona's 
ferry  and  the  sea,  among  thorn  being  a  three-spanned 
iron  and  steel  truss-bridge  crossing  the  Fraser  below 
Lytton.  =>" 

The  road-bed  throughout  the  entire  section  v>as 
substantially  built,  the  cuttings  and  tunnels  being 
twenty-two  feet,  the  endjankments  seventeen  feet  in 
width,  and  the  track  laid  with  sixty-pound  steel  rails, 
and  heavily  ballasted.  To  perform  this  gigantic  task, 
an  army  of  laborers  and  mechanics  was  employed, 
musterinLT  at  times  more  thai  7,000  men,  and  with  the 
aid  of  the  best  modern  machinery.  They  were  faiily 
paid,"'*  and  humanel}'  treated;  and  it  is  worthy  of  note, 

'^Tlic  total  length  of  tlio  bridi^c  is  .5.30  ft,  and  of  tlio  central  siian  .'!1."]  ft, 
the  eiuls  of  the  hitter  resting  on  piers  of  soliil  masonry  '.10  it  liigh.  liio 
siijicrst  rui'lnrc  contains  0,000  tons  of  iron  and  steel.  Tlic  total  cost  was  jJJm).- 
000.   Portland  II  (■«<  iVioiv,  Dec.  ISS."),  SOO. 

"'  Aciunling  to  a  schedule  of  wages  issued  at  Yale,  March  I ,  ISS^,  I.iIkhti-s 
received  S?l.7.")  to  1?2  a  day;  liewcrs,  §,'{.50;  chopjiers,  §2  to  8--'"'0;  ihilh  rs,  t!J 
to6--"i;  lilacksniiths,  S;i  t(>?;i.r)0;  masons,  §  J.  oO  to  lij.'i.TiO;  slone-cuiars,  j'.'i 
to  §y.jO;  carpenters,  §3  to  §3.00;  foremen,  IJ-'.iJO  to  $4.     These  rates  weruiur 


W! 


u  : 


A  GRAND  ACHIEVP:MENT. 


683 


ilroad  build- 
iru,  the  iivcr- 
)iiiu  miles  (US 
ult  of  c'on- 
.eific,  passed 
iiul  ascents; 
le  j^radients 
run  tliroiiirji 
UKiu  ot  the 
CO  between 
-ay  tlirougli 
hroug]i<lee[) 
s  of  [jerpen- 
J  route  thir- 
beinii;  within 
irrlnij  some 
jostou  JJar. 
jwn  out  uf 
asonry,  and 
and  trestle 
-;n  Savoiui's 
ree-spaiined 
Vasor  below 


:5eetioii  was 
Hicls  being 
teeu  ("eet  in 
[  8teel  rails, 
jantie  task, 
oinploycd, 
nd  with  the 
wore  i'aiily 
-hy  of  note, 

tral  siKiii  .'!!.")  It, 
J  ft  liij^li.  llio 
.1  cost\vu.s.'?'.'M),- 

I,  ISS;!.  lalidiors 
'.■"iO;  .Iriil.  IS,  1?.' 
Loiic-L'iuU'is.  ^'3 
BO  rates  wiu'o  lur 


that  altbough  some  of  the  work  was  of  an  cxtrcnicly 
li,i;:ardous  nature,  men  being  often  lowered  liundredaj 
(if  leet  down  almost  perpendicular  rocks,  in  oi'der  to 
Mast  a  foothold  on  the  mountain  side,  only  thirty-two 
fatal  accidents  occurred  between  A])ril  1880  and  X«»- 
veud)er  1882,  though  the  average  number  emphtyed 
(luring  that  period  exceeded  4,000.  Supplies  were 
forwarded  on  pack-animals,  over  trails  never  before 
deemed  practicable  except  by  Indians,  and  by  them 
only  with  the  aid  of  ladders.  Building  materials  were 
landed  at  enormous  cost,  the  toll  of  ten  dollars  j)er 
ton  on  all  freight  passing  over  the  Yale  and  Cariboo 
road  being  strictly  enforced.  As  the  work  advanced, 
transportation  became  each  year  more  costly,  until  it 
was  resolved  to  attempt  the  passage  of  the  Fraser 
canon  to  the  navigable  water  above,  in  order  to  supply 
the  more  distant  cami)s,  the  steamer  Skuzzy  being 
huilt  for  the  purpose.  But  who  could  be  found  daring 
enough  to  steer  this  boat  up  the  swift-running  river 
and  through  the  frightful  canon,  where  the  j)ent  waters 
rushed  down  in  foaming  fury?  One  captain  after 
another,  looking  at  the  tiny  craft  and  at  the  Scylla 
and  Charybdis  beyond,  declared  the  feat  impossible. 
At  length  two  brothers,  Smith  by  name,  well  known 
for  their  daring  exploits  on  the  upper  Columbia,"' 
consented  to  undertake  the  task.  With  a  steam-winch 
and  capstan,  and  several  largo  hawsers,  they  set  forth 
on  their  voyage  with  a  crew  of  sevop'-een  men,  the 
steamer  being  in  charsje  of  a  skilled  engineer,  J.  W. 
Burse.  The  severest  .struggle  was  at  a  [)oint  called 
China  Riffle,  where  the  power  of  the  engines  and 
sream-winch,  with  fifteen  men  at  the  capstan,  and  of 
150  Chinamen  laying  hold  of  one  of  the  ropes,  barely 

till  hours'  work  and  for  white  labor.  Boarding- houses  were  provided  at  con- 
veiiic  lit  distaneea,  vviiero  tlic  rate  was  §4  per  wceii,  thougli  none  were  n'nuired 
to  ]i.'itioni;;e  them.  IS.  C.  Inform,  for  Emhjr.,  15;  B.  C.  JJiirclori/,  ISS'J-.'t,  .'iTCi. 
•"'S.  11.  Smith  ran  tlic  steamer  Slwuhow  down  the  SnaUo  liivcr  fur  a  liis- 
tiuice  of  1,000  miles,  a  portion  of  the  route  being  through  the  lapiils  near  the 
iiasc  of  the  Dluo  Mountains.  Up  to  1S8;1  this  wa.sthe  only  boat  that  had  ever 
atUiiiptcd  this  perilous  passage.  He  also  carried  a  steamer  safely  over  the 
Wlllamctto  Falls,  near  Oregon  City.  ChiUendcii'.i  liril.  Col.  and  Alaska,  30. 


■i 

!:s*M 


1 


I    !      it 
.      Ill 


Ir 


!■   i 


m 


6fl4 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


sufriood  to  pull  the  vessel  over  the  shoals.  Over- 
coming this  difficulty,  and  pass i tig  safely  through  llcll- 
gato  and  Ulack  Canon,  where  the  stream  runs  at  the 
rate  of  some  twenty  miles  an  hour,  the  Skuzzij  ntixvii^d 
with  her  first  load  of  freight  from  Boston  Bar. 

Along  the  entire  route  between  Port  Mood}'  and 
Savona's  ferry,  and  apart  from  tunnel-boring,  some 
10,000,000  cubic  yards  of  earth  and  rock  were  re- 
moved by  i)ick,  powder,  and  nitro-glycerine.  On  the 
liiu>  between  Emory  and  Yale  were  complete  works 
for  the  manufacture  of  explosives,  with  a  capacity  of 
about  2,000  pounds  per  day,^"  and  at  Yale  were  con- 
struction and  repair  shops,  supplied  with  all  the  ma- 
chinery needed  for  the  building  of  cars  and  engines, 
and  for  general  work. 

Port  Moody  is  distant  seventy-five  miles  from  Vic- 
toria and  overland  from  New  Westminster  about  live 
miles.''^  That  it  is  a  safe  and  commodious  harbor  is 
proved  by  the  fact  that  within  fourteen  years  al'tcr 
the  first  saw-mill  was  built,  in  18G4,  six  hundred  ves- 
sels of  large  tonnage,  and  countless  smaller  craft,  loaded 
at  and  left  it,  not  one  of  which  was  injured."*^     In  18S2 


'"  The  cartridge  cases  for  giant-powder  were  made  of  paper  dipped  in  liot 
parallinc  and  wax,  5-8  to  1  incli  in  diameter,  and  weighed,  when  tilleit,  about 
5-1l!  of  a  pound. 

''  In  section  2  of  a  report  of  tiie  privy  council  of  Canada,  dated  May  19, 
iSSl,  the  reasons  for  the  change  of  terminus  are  thus  given:  'On  the  Olhuf 
June,  ISTo,  in  view  of  the  then  probability  of  tlio  railway  running  by  liuto 
Inlet,  an  order  in  council  was  passed  declaring  that  Esquiinalt  should  lie  the 
terminus  of  the  railway  on  the  Pacific  coast,  but  the  alignment  on  tlic  niuin- 
land  w.is  at  that  time  wholly  undetermined.  In  May  1S78,  tiie  govciniuunt, 
on  increased  information,  determined,  however,  to  select  Burranl  Inlet  us  tlio 
objective  point  on  the  Pacilic  coast  to  be  reached  by  the  railway;  ami  tliey 
cancelled  the  order  relating  to  Ksquimalt.  Still  furtiier  examinations  were, 
liowevor,  deemed  necessary,  particularly  with  reference  to  the  advantages  of 
a  still  more  northern  route  which  should  terminate  at  Port  Simpson;  and  to 
kee|>  the  whole  question  entirely  free  until  additional  exploratory  surveys 
should  be  made,  the  order  in  council  of  Juno  1S73  was  in  April  IST'.l  re- 
vived, and  continued  in  force  until  October  IS79,  when  the  selection  ot  Dur- 
rard  Inlet  was  finally  made.'  Papers  rel.  Mission  De  (Jonmos,  15. 

"*  Letter  of  Capt.  Jas  Cooper  to  tho  gov. -gen.,  in  Flemhuj'a  Rept.  Can.  Pac. 
Rinlwuy,  1877,  30(j.  See  also  Drit.  Colonist,  in  Can.  Puc.  Railway  Ront<.i,  4. 
Admiral  Richards,  hydrographer  to  the  admiralty  in  1882,  describes  I'urt 
Moody  as  a  snug  harbor,  and  capacious  for  shipping  beyond  all  probable  re- 
quirements. 


CHOICE  OP  TERMINUS. 


C85 


\  ffif 


•| 


a  substantial  wharf  had  already  been  constructed  1,370 
feet  in  len<^th,  and  with  a  breadth,  for  GOO  feet  I'roni 
its  centre,  of  150  feet.  It  was  supported  by  more 
than  1,700  piles,  from  twelve  to  twenty  inches  in 
dinnieter,  strongly  capped  and  braced,  the  front  and 
sides  of  the  structure  presenting  a  solid  wall  of  four- 
tcen-inch  timber,  and  the  surface  being  covered  with 
four-inch  planks,  fastened  with  eight-inch  spikes. 
On  this  structure,  freight  and  passenger  stations, 
offices,  work-shops,  warehouses,  and  other  buildings 
needed  for  traffic  were  completed;  and  here  ships 
could  unload  in  a  depth  of  water  never  less  than  four 
and  a  half  fathoms  at  low  tide. 

Xcvertheless  it  cannot  be  disputed  that  Port  Moody 
was  selected,  not  as  the  best  terminus,  but  probably 
because,  as  the  privy  council  of  Canada  remarked  in 
its  report  touching  the  latest  petition  of  the  provincial 
legislature,  "it  rendered  uimecessary  the  line  between 
Nanaimo  and  Esquimalt  as  a  condition  of  the  union 
with  British  Columbia."^"  In  his  official  report  to 
the  premier,  dated  April  26,  1878 — some  eighteen 
mouths  before  the  selection  of  the  terminus — the  en- 
gineer-in-chief stated  expressly  that  Burrard  Inlet 
was  less  eligible  than  Esquimalt.  Navigation  to  tho 
former  point  from  the  ocean  was  more  or  less  intri- 
cate; nor  could  it  be  reached  at  all  by  vessels  of  largo 
toimage  without  passing  within  cannon-shot  of  a  group 
of  islands  belonging  to  a  foreign  power.  As  to  the 
Bute  Inlet  route,  supposing  even  the  wide  channels 
of  the  Valdes  Islands  bridged  at  an  enormous  cost — 
one  which  it  was  almost  impossible  to  estimate — and 
tlio  road  extended  to  Esquimalt,  the  travel  thence  by 
rail  to  Bute  Inlet  would  be  at  least  150  miles  farther 
than  direct  by  steamer  to  Burrard  Inlet,  while  to 
substitute  a  ferry  for  the  bridging  between  the  former 
inlet  and  the  mainland  would  entail  a  very  consider- 
able and  unnecessary  expenditure.     From  the  crossing 

"  Papers  rel.  Mission  De  Cosmos,  15. 


I  I- 


i  I' 


686 


THE  CANADIAN  PAaFIC  RAILWAY. 


■ 
fit 


of  LaliG  Manitoba,  about  midway  on  the  continent, 
to  Burrard  Inlet,  the  distance  was  more  than  eleven 
hundred  miles,  and  to  Esquimalt  more  than  fourteen 
hundred.  In  this  entire  region  there  were  not  more 
than  12,000  white  inhabitants.**  It  was  difficult,  in 
his  opinion,  "to  recognize  any  commercial  advantage 
in  carrying  the  line  to  Esquimalt  at  this  period  in  the 
history  of  Canada  to  compensate  for  these  grave  objec- 
tions;" and  after  considering  the  engineering  features 
of  each  route,  and  weighing  carefully  the  commercial 
considerations,**  he  was  foiced  to  the  conclusion  that, 
if  a  decision  could  not  be  further  postponed,  some 
point  on  Burrard  Inlet  should  be  selected  as  the  ter- 


mmus 


42 


"The  actual  figures  were  probably  nearer  20,000. 

*'  WHiat  the  chief  engineer  had  to  do  with  commercial  considerations  he 
does  not  explain. 

"  Fleminij'a  liept.  Can.  Pac.  Railway,  1878,  12-14.  The  chief  engineer, 
in  the  correspondence,  queries,  and  nautical  evidence  respecting  liarbors  and 
waters  in  B.  C,  283,  says:  'The  railway  lines  which  have  been  projected 
across  the  Rocky  Mountain  zone  touch  the  navigable  waters  of  tho  racilio  at 
the  following  inlets:  1.  Burrard  Inlet;  2.  Howe  Sound;  3.  Bute  Inlet;  4. 
Buntick  Arm,  North;  5.  Dean  Inlet;  6.  Gardner  Inlet;  7.  Skeeua  River.'  In 
reply  to  questions  propounded  by  Fleming  to  naval  officers  in  liigh  coiiunaiid, 
as  to  the  selection  of  a  terminus,  there  was  littlo  difference  of  opinion,  la 
answer  to  tlio  question,  '  Could  large  sea-going  ships  approaching  by  tho  miil- 
die  cliannel  pass  without  danger  or  difficulty  through  ny  Johnston  Strait  to 
Burrard  Inlet,  Howe  Sound,  or  Waddington  Harbor  (near  tho  head  of  Bute 
Inlet)?'  Admiral  Cochrane  answered,  'No;'  Admiral  Richards:  'Tlie  ap- 
proach would  always  be  attended  with  some  danger; '  Admiral  Farquhar, 
tliat  ho  understood  from  oflScers  under  his  orders  that  the  navigation  was 
'intricate  and  difficult  for  large  vessels  (even  steamers),  and  impracticaljlo 
for  ocean  sailing  vessels.'  In  answer  to  tho  request,  '  Having  regard  to  navai 
and  commercial  considerations,  mention  the  point  on  the  coast  which  apjjcara 
to  you  the  most  suitable  for  the  railway  terminus, '  Cochrane  answered:  '  I  am 
of  belief  that  the  most  advantageous  site  for  tho  terminus  is,  as  before  stated, 
that  of  Burrard  Inlet;  Richards:  '  From  a  nautical  point  of  view,  Burrard 
Inlet  is  every  way  preferable; '  Commander  Pender:  '  Burrard  Inlet  is,  in  my 
opinion,  preferable  to  either  of  tlie  other  places  named.'  Carnarvon's  de- 
spatch to  Earl  DuflFerin,  in  Id.,  1877,  278  et  seq. 

To  Dean  Inlet  a  line  was  instrumentally  surveyed,  and  a  very  favorable 
route  was  found,  but  it  had  high  gradients  for  some  distance  from  tho  sea. 
While  neither  the  harbor  nor  the  sea  approach  to  it  proved  as  good  as  was  ex- 
pected, the  route  and  terminus  at  Dean  Inlet  were  found  in  every  respect  su- 
perior to  Bute  Inlet.  To  Bute  Inlet  the  railway  was,  besides,  fifty  miles 
longer,  even  to  the  head  of  the  inlet;  and  it  was  quite  clear  that  it  wuuld 
have  to  bo  built  on  to  Frederic  Arm,  at  the  north  side  of  the  mouth  of  the 
inlet.  Furthermore,  the  navigation,  either  north  to  Queen  Charlotte  Sound 
or  south  toward  Fuca  Straits,  presented  serious  difficulties.  So  well  a  ivare 
were  tho  Butc-Inlet-or-nothing  party  of  the  difficulties  hero  mentioned,  that 
the  inlet  as  a  terminal  harbor,  or  as  of  any  permanent  importance  to  tlic  rail- 
way, was  thrown  out  of  the  calculation  (says  Mackenzie);  and  the  terminal 


i  I 


I  I 


Y. 

le  continent, 
than  eleven 
ban  fourteen 
Te  not  more 
difficult,  in 
il  advantage 
)eriod  in  the 
grave  objec- 
ting features 
!  commercial 
elusion  that, 
poned,  some 
i  as  the  ter- 


considcrationa  he 

e  chief  engineer, 
3ting  harbors  and 
e  been  projected 
i  of  the  Pacilic  at 
}.  Bute  Inlet;  4. 
keena  River. '  In 
1  liigh  conntiaiiil, 
3  of  opinion.  In 
hing  by  the  mid- 
ahnston  Strait  to 
he  head  of  Bute 
hards:  'The  ap- 
miral  Farquhar, 
navigation  was 
id  impraeticiiljlo 
;  regard  to  navai 
st  wliieh  appears 
mswcred:  'I  am 
aa  before  stated, 
f  view,  Burrard 
d  Inlet  is,  in  my 
Carnarvon's  de- 

El  very  favorable 
,ce  from  the  sea. 
good  as  was  ex- 
very  respect  su- 
ides,  fifty  miles 
.r  that  it  wnuld 
lie  mouth  of  tlie 
Charlotte  Scuiid 
So  well  a  ivare 
mentioned,  that 
anco  to  the  rad- 
nd  the  terniiual 


COMPLETION  OF  THE  ROAD. 


G87 


i 


Early  in  November  1885  the  Canadian  Pacific  rail- 
way was  completed  from  Montreal  to  Port  IVIoody, 
the  last  rail  being  laid  at  Eagle  Pass,"  some  twenty 
miles  from  the  second  crossing  of  the  Columbia.** 
The  work  was  finished  more  than  five  years  before 
the  date  required  in  the  Carnarvon  terms,  as  much  as 
four  miles  of  road  having  been  built  on  some  sections 
in  a  day,  and  twenty-two  miles  in  a  week.  The  cost 
of  the  undertaking  far  exceeded  the  early  estimates, 
some  of  which  were  placed  as  low  as  $00,000,000, 
while  the  actual  outlay  was  probably  more  than  double 
that  sum,  most  of  the  amount  expended  being  drawn 
from  Europe.  In  London  and  Paris  the  syndicate 
raised  nearly  all  its  funds,  mortgaging  for  this  purpose 
its  enormous  land  grant,  besides  selling  at  fair  prices 
considerable  portions  of  the  most  fertile  tracts. 

That  the  Canadian  Pacific  would,  in  the  near  future, 
pay  dividends  on  the  original  outlay  was  not  expected. 
The  main  purpose  was  to  establish  overland  commu- 
nication within  British  America,  and  to  open  up  for 
settlement  the  vast,  uninhabited,  and  roadless  wilds  of 
interior  Canada.  In  the  work  of  exploration  alone 
more  than  50,000  miles  were  surveyed,  of  which  at 
least  15,000  were  carefully  measured,  at  an  expense 
of  some  $4,000,000,  by  chain  and  spirit-level,  through 

diffieulty  was  avoided  by  pi  iposing  to  continue  the  railway  250  or  300  miles 
farther  than  to  the  head  of  Dean  or  Burrard  Inlet,  and  to  make  the  terminus 
at  Esquimau,  on  Vancouver  Island. 

"  So  named  by  Engineer  Walker  Moberly,  who  in  18G5  was  ordered  to 
search  out  a  pass  for  a  wagon  route  through  Gold  Mountains.  He  had  well- 
nigh  abandoned  his  task  aa  hopeless,  when  one  day  he  observed  an  eagle  llying 
uj)  one  of  the  narrow  valleys  near  Lake  Shuswap,  and  following  the  direction 
of  its  flight,  discovered  the  pass.  Portland  We^it  Shore,  Dec.  ISiio,  3G0. 

"On  this  occasion  a  tram,  consisting  of  the  official  car,  a  sleeper,  and  bag- 
eago-car,  arrived  from  Winnipeg,  making  the  distance  of  1,022  miles  to  tlio 
first  crossing  of  the  Columbia  in  .S2i  hours,  and  stopping  a  short  distance  from 
the  end  of  the  track.  The  honor  of  driving  the  last  spike  was  granted  to  D. 
Smith,  Major  Rogers,  a  civil  engineer  in  the  company's  employ,  holding  the 
tie.  The  ceremony  waa  not  a  very  demonstrative  one,  not  more  than  150 
persons  being  present.  Aa  the  last  blow  was  struck,  cheers  were  given  for 
the  success  of  the  enterprise,  and  Manager  Van  Home,  being  requested  to 
make  a  few  remarks  on  the  occasion,  merely  replied,  'All  that  I  have  got  to 
say  is,  that  the  work  was  well  done  in  every  way.'  Van  Ilorno  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  line  since  1871,  when  there  were  but  15  miles  constructed. 
-S'.  F.  Alta,  Nov.  9,  1885. 


'l     M      1 


1:1    )i 


},,;1 


683 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY, 


mountain,  forest,  aud  prairie.  The  coast  of  British 
Columbia,  with  its  countless  fiords,  llunked  by  moun- 
tains reaching  far  abovo  the  limit  of  [)eri)etual  snow, 
was  repeatedly  explored  in  the  searcli  for  a  suitabio 
terminus.  The  northern  portion  of  the  province  was 
ma[>i)cd,  at  least  as  far  north  as  Port  Simpson,  by  men 
who,  after  labeling  in  vain  amidst  e::treme  peril  and 
hard.shi[),  were  compelled  to  abandon  it  once  more  to 
its  primeval  solitude. 

In  the  interior  of  British  Columbia  aT\  still  vast 
districts  as  yet  almost  untrodden  by  the  foot  of  civi- 
lized man,  though  forn)ing  little  more  than  a  speck 
when  compared  with  the  deserts  of  the  dominion. 
The  entire  area  of  Canada  is  but  little  smaller  than 
that  of  Europe;  and  excluding  from  each,  as  almost 
worthless,  the  portion  within  the  Arctic  circle,  it  will 
bo  found  that  the  surface  of  th-^  former  is  equal  to 
that  of  all  tb^i  empires,  kingdoms,  principalitii  s,  and 
republics  between  the  Adriatic  and  the  ^h^  c  Sea. 
Covering  the  broadest  and  not  the  least  fertile  portion 
of  the  continent,  with  an  almost  endless  extent  of 
vacant  land,  an  invigorating  climate,  and  unliuiitcd 
resources;  with  valuable  fisheries  in  the  lakes  and 
rivers,  and  around  the  coasts;  with  boundless  forests 
within  reach  of  navigable  water;  with  immense  de- 
posits of  coal  and  iron,  gold  and  silver,  copper  and 
lead,  on  the  seaoojirds  and  in  the  interior; — with  all 
these  elements  of  wealth,  the  question  was,  how  to  de- 
velop a  region  thus  lavishly  provided.  This  railway 
is  the  answer. 

But  the  railway  was  pr  iec^  1  also  as  a  portion  of  a 
great  national  highwa;  (img  from  Great  Britain 

to  the  Indies,  and  to  j  portions         the   British 

empire.  Esquimalt,  th  aval  lation,  and  probably 
destined  to  be  the  arsenal  of  ae  province,  was  from 
Liverpool  at  least  a  three  months' voyage  by  steamer, 
whilo  via  Halifax  and  by  rail  it  could  be  reached  i  a 
forcnight.  By  the  construction  of  this  lino,  the  Aus- 
tralian colonies,  New  Zealand,  and  every  portion  of 


i 


COMPARISONS.  689 

England's  possessions,  both  in  the  North  and  South 
Pacific,  would  bo  more  or  less  benefited;  while  to  Can- 
ada herself,  rankinn;  alre.n.!y  among  the  great  maritime 
j)o\vers  of  the  world,  with  a  shipping  trade  greater 
than  that  of  Germany,  and  at  least  twice  that  of 
Spain  or  Russia,  a  transcontinental  railway  under  her 
own  control  was  an  advantage  worth  any  reasonable 
outlay. 

Whether  the  building  of  the  Canadian  Pacific 
railway  was  a  somewhat  premature  enterprise,  and 
whetL  Tthe  line  could  have  been  built  at  smaller  cost 
to  the  dominion,  are  questions  which  I  shall  not  dis- 
cuss. With  the  overland  roads  between  San  Fran- 
cisco and  New  York,  or  between  San  Francisco  and 
New  Orleans,  no  fair  comparison  can  bo  made,  not 
only  on  account  of  the  disparity  of  population,  but 
because  the  latter  were  mainly  commercial  enterprises. 
Perhaps  the  nearest  counterpart  may  be  found  in  the 
Australian  railroads,  and  especially  in  the  one  between 
Sydney  and  Melbourne,  iijany  of  these  lines  being  the 
property  of  the  government,  and  most  of  them  oper- 
ated at  a  small  profit,  on  an  average  probably  some 
two  or  three  per  cent.  In  the  Australian  colonies,  as 
in  the  dominion,  a  large  extent  of  difficult  but  worth- 
less and  unoccupied  country  was  traversed,  though 
the  obstacles  encountered  in  the  former  were  by  com- 
parison of  little  moment. 

In  1873,  Canada,  with  a  population  somewhat  under 
four  millions,  a  trade  of  about  $218,000,000,  a  debt 
of  at  least  $100,000,000,  and  a  rate  of  taxation  equal 
to  §4.58  per  capita,  contained  2,639  miles  of  railroad; 
while  in  Australia,  with  less,  than  two  millions  of  peo- 
ple, a  trade  of  $300,000,000,  a  debt  of  $32,000,000, 
and  an  income  derived  from  taxes  and  land  sales  of 
$5.35  per  capita,  there  were  at  the  same  date  some 
1,500  miles  in  operation.  The  volume  of  trade  in 
either  instance  includes  only  exports  and  imports,  and 
the  difference  m  its  ratio  to  population  may  be  partly 

But.  Bbit.  i'^ol.   41 


,■  I 


iliiS: 


690 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


explained  by  the  paucity  of  manufactures  in  the  Aus- 
tralian colonies,  their  most  valuable  products  hornet 
shipped  to  England.  Apart  from  this  consideration, 
it  will  be  seen  that  in  relation  to  the  revenue,  debt, 
and  population  of  the  two  countries,  there  was  no  great 
disproportion  in  the  extent  of  their  railroads,  and 
twelve  years  later  the  disproportion  had  certainly  not 
been  altered  in  favor  of  Canada,  It  would  appear, 
however,  that,  in  the  construction  of  the  Canadian 
Pacific,  the  dominion  added  to  her  burdens  all  that 
she  could  bear,  and  that  the  completion  of  the  task 
according  to  the  strict  letter  of  the  terms  of  union 
would  have  driven  her  to  the  verge  of  bankruptcy. 

Nevertheless,  it  is  not  improbable  that  if  the  mem- 
bers of  the  provincial  legislature  had  been  less  persist- 
ent in  their  demands ;  if  they  had  acted  in  the  matter 
not  merely  as  colonists,  but  as  representatives  of  an 
integral  portion  of  the  dominion  and  of  the  British 
empire;  if  they  had  accepted  the  spirit  as  well  as  tho 
letter  of  the  Carnarvon  terms,  whereby  the  comple- 
tion of  the  road  was  to  be  deferred  until  the  close  of 
1890,  not  insisting  on  the  immediate  fulfilment  of  the 
contract  at  vdiatever  cost — Esquimalt  would  have  boon 
finally  selected  as  the  terminus.  None  knew  better 
than  did  the  citizens  of  Victoria  that  the  senate  of 
the  dominion  was  not  bound  to  ratify  an  agreement 
proposed  by  the  ministry,^"  and  the  rejection  of  tho 
Esquimalt  and  Nanaimo  bill  by  the  upper  house  of 
Canada  was  no  fair  pretext  for  an  overt  threat  of 
secession.  The  warning  uttered  by  Dufferin  was  not 
in  vain.  The  line  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  has  been 
deflected  toward  the  south.  Burrard  Inlet  already  i 
contains  a  small  but  thriving  commercial  port,  and  | 
the  capital  of  the  province  has  thus  far  reaped  but 
little  benefit  from  the  transcontinental  line  of  British 
America. 

*'  Tlie  action  taken  by  Uie  senate  was  indorsed  by  tho  imperial  govern' 
ment.     SeeJSiat.  Brit.  Col.,  1882,  75. 


NEW  RAILWAYS. 


691 


imperial  govern' 


Meanwhile  new  lines  of  road  have  been  projected 
in  several  portions  of  the  province.  In  April  1882 
an  act  was  j^assed  incorporating  the  New  Westminster 
and  Port  Moody  Railway  Company,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $200,000/"  In  May  1883  the  New  West- 
minster Southern  was  incorporated  by  statute,  with  a 
capital  of  $600,000.'*'^  On  the  same  date  were  also  in- 
corporated the  Columbia  and  Kootenai  Railway  and 
Transportation  Company  with  a  capital  of  $5,000,000, 
and  the  Fraser  River  Railway  Company  with  a  capi- 
tal of  $500,000.  By  the  terms  of  its  contract,  the 
former  was  required  to  construct,  equip,  and  work  a 
continuous  lino  of  road  from  the  outlet  of  Kootenai 
Lake,  through  the  Selkirk  Range,  to  a  point  on  the 
Columbia  as  near  as  practicable  to  its  junction  with 
Kootenai  River,  and  to  build  and  run  a  lino  of 
steamers  from  tha^  '^oint  to  the  spot  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  former  stream  where  the  Canadian  Pacific 
strikes  it,  near  Eagle  Pass.**  The  route  of  the  latter 
was  from  a  point  on  the  forty-ninth  parallel  near 
Somiahmoo  Bay,*"  to  connect  with  the  Canadian 
Pacific  near  its  western  terminus,^"  and  thence  to  New 
Westminster  district. 

'"'Tho  original  stockliolders  were  Ebcnezcr  Brown,  James  Cunningliam, 
l!ul)t  Diuiiinsoii,  Jolm  Hendry,  Wm  N.  Bole,  Loftus  R.  Mclnnes,  and  John 
living,  all  of  New  Westmiusler.  Tho  line  was  to  be  commenced  within  one 
year  and  to  bo  com|>leted  within  fourye.T  i  from  the  passing  of  the  act,  'from 
a  |ioiiit  in  tho  city  of  New  Westminster  to  a  point  at  or  near  Port  Moody,  or 
tlsculiere  on  Burrard  Inlet,  or  to  a  point  between  Port  Moody  and  Pitt 
l;iMM-.'  Stat.  Brit.  Col.,  18S4,  Go-G.  By  act  of  Feb.  18,  1884,  the  time  for 
coiiinicncement  was  extended  to  Jan.  1,  1880,  and  for  completion  to  Jan.  1, 
IhSS. 

*'  Ilir'h  Nelson,  Thos  R.  Mclanes,  Joshua  A.  R.  IIor;er,  Ebenezer  Brown, 
Jds,  Hunter,  Chas  M.  Carter,  and  Gordon  E.  Coroonld  were  tlio  first  share- 
Imlilcrs.  Tlie  line  of  route  was  a  little  indednite — 'from  sonic  point  near  the 
4111  h  parallel  of  north  latitude  between  Semiahmoo  Bay  and  Township  1(3,  in 
the  district  of  New  Westminster,  to  the  city  of  New  Westminster,  and  to 
some  point  on  Burrard  Islet.' 

''Also  a  line  of  steamers  'from  that  point  on  Kootenai  River  where  tho 
Eiiithern  boundary  line  of  British  Columbia  intersects  tho  said  river,  thence 
iluu a  tho  said  liver  to  Kootenai  Lake,  and  through  and  throughout  said  lake 
aiu!  its  navigable  tributaries.' 

'^  Between  the  bay  and  the  eastern  lino  of  township  2'2,  New  Wcot- 
miimter  district. 

'"  Between  tho  terminus  and  the  eastern  lino  of  township  27,  New  West- 
inin^itcr  district.  The  line  was  to  bo  commenced  within  two  years  and  finished 
witiiiu  five  years  after  tho  passing  of  the  act.     The  stockholders  were  Robt 


i  ^  J»  i 


it!'' 


I  !'' 


;;h    i 


1    '    ' 


692 


THE  canadia:n  pacific  railway. 


Finally,  in  August  1883,  a  contract  was  made  with 
a  party  of  capitalists  for  the  construction  of  the  Es- 
quinialt  and  Nanaiino  railway  and  telegraph  line,  with 
a  subsidy  of  $750,000,  the  amount  to  be  contributed 
by  the  dominion  government,  together  with  a  liberr.I 
grant  of  land,"  the  capital  stock  being  $3,000,00u. 
The  contractors  were  required  to  commence  work  im- 
mediately, and  to  complete  and  equip  the  line  on  or 
before  the  10th  of  June,  1887,  time  being  declared  as 
of  the  essence  of  the  contract;  and  in  default  of  such 
completion  within  the  date  specified,  the  contractors 
were  to  forfeit  the  subsidy,  land  grant,  and  the  amount 
to  be  deposited  as  security  with  the  receiver-general/^ 
The  road,  with  its  equipments,  was  to  be  exempt  from 
taxation  for  ten  years  after  completion,  and  all  the 


".» t 


W.  Deane,  Loftus  E.  Mclnnes.  Justus  Howison,  Jas  A.  Clark,  Henry  Elliott, 
Jas  A.  Laidlaw,  Henry  V.  Edmonds,  Donald  Chisbolni,  ChasG.  Major,  Alex, 
Ewen,  John  A.  Webster,  John  S.  McDonald,  John  Adair,  and  iSaiii.  Tiiinp, 
Id.  1883,  103-4.  On  the  l'2th  of  May,  1883,  the  Victoria  Transfer  Coiiip;u,y 
Limited  was  incorporated,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  its  inaiii  purpose  hciii .;  to 
build  and  work  street-railroads  in  Victoria  and  Esquimalt,  and  their  iicighboi'- 
hood.  Acts  of  incorporation  for  each  company  will  be  found  in  St'it.  11.  C. 
for  their  several  years. 

"  On  the  eastern  side  of  the  island;  bounded  by  straight  lines  drawn  from 
the  head  of  Sa:inicli  Inlet  to  Muir  Creek,  on  the  Fuca  Straits;  thence  Meat  to 
Crown  Mountain,  and  thence  north  to  Seymour  Narrows,  anil  on  the  cast  by 
the  coast  line  to  the  point  of  commencement,  'including  all  coal,  coal-oil,  ores, 
stones,  clay,  marble,  slate,  mines,  minerals,  and  substances  whatsoever  there- 
upon, therein,  and  thereunder.'  From  this  tract  there  was  excepted  the  [lor- 
tion  lying  to  the  northward  of  a  line  running  cast  ami  west  half-way  between 
the  mouth  of  Courtcnay  llivcr  and  Seymour  Narrows.  For  four  years,  eoin- 
mencing  from  Dec.  10,  1SS3,  the  entire  grant,  excepting  of  course  the  mi  cr:il 
lands,  was  to  be  open  for  agricultural  scttleiiieut  at  the  rate  of  $1  per  ;ure, 
the  government  issuing  preemption  records  for  100  acres  to  actual  settlers. 
See  'Act  relating  to  the  Island  Railway,  the  Graving  Dock,  and  l;;iilw,iy 
Lands  of  the  Province'  (approved  Dec.  1!),  I8S3),  in  Slat.  U.  C,  ISSl,  (IJ, 
04,  07.  In  the  same  statute  it  was  enacted  that  the  dominion  govoi  iiiiieiit 
should  take  over  and  complete,  and  operate  as  a  dominion  work,  the  dry-dnek 
at  Esquimalt,  being  entitled  to  the  lands,  approaches,  and  plants  lie!oir,'iii!j 
to  it,  and  the  appropriation  of  the  imperial  government,  paying  to  tiui  piov- 
ince  the  amount  expended  or  remaining  duo  for  work  and  material,  lunl  .i 
furtlier  sum  of  S'2.")0,0l)0.  In  order  finally  to  settle  all  disputes  with  tli^  do- 
minion, it  was  a!.so  enacted  that  3,.500,000  acres,  in  the  portion  of  the  I'eae* 
River  district  lying  east  of  tiie  Rocky  Mountains  and  adjoining  the  iiortli- 
west  territory  of  Canada,  should  bo  transferred  in  one  rectangular  bloik.  to 
he  located  by  the  dominion.  For  correspondence,  reports,  etc.,  relatiii :  to 
tlie-je  disputes  and  their  settlement,  see  Sess,  Papern,  11.  ('.,  K'i84,  l.)7-7'2, 
187-8,  '201-2. 

^'^i'lio  sum  of  J'2,")0.000  in  cash,  on  which  they  were  to  bo  paid  four  jier 
cent  intorust  after  tlio  fulfilment  uud  acceptance  of  the  contract. 


fWi  - 


PLANS  FOR  THE  FUTURE. 


693 


material  used  in  its  construction  was  to  be  admitted 
free  of  duty.  The  character  of  the  line  was  to  be  in 
all  respects  equal  to  that  of  the  Canadian  Pacific/^ 
and  the  company  was  required  to  maintain  it  in  run- 
ning order,  and  to  work  it  "continuously  and  in  good 
faitii."^*  It  is  among  the  possibilities  of  the  future 
tliat  this  line  may  be  extended  northward,  and  that 
the  terminus  on  the  mainland  be  eventually  at  Bute 
Inlet,  and  on  the  island  at  Esquimalt,  the  former 
point  being  connected  with  Vancouver  by  suspension 
bridges,  or  steam-ferries,  when  traffic  shall  be  suffi- 
ciently developed  to  justify  the  outlay."^ 


i:i  t 


1 10  imid  foui-  per 


"  Witli  the  same  gauge,  the  alignments,  gradients,  and  curvatures  being 
the  best  that  tlic  pliyaical  fcatur'_  of  the  country  would  permit,  the  grades 
uiit  to  exceed  80  feet  to  the  mile.  The  width  of  cuttings  was  to  bo  '20  font, 
and  of  embankments  10  feet.  All  bridges,  culverts,  etc.,  were  to  be  of  ample 
size  and  strength,  equal  to  the  best  description  of  work  on  the  Canadian  I'a- 
t'ilic.  Sidlicicut  rolling  stock,  and  all  buildings  necessary  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  tiallic,  were  to  be  furnished  by  the  contractors. 

'"'  Tlio  full  text  of  the  contract  will  be  found  in  Sess.  Papers,  B.  C,  1884, 
183-0. 

'^  Among  the  most  valuable  authorities  consulted  in  this  and  the  preceding 
chapter  may  be  mentioned  a  Memorandum  on  the  Terms  of  Union  and  iha  I'a- 
c'ljic  Hailwuy,  b;/  Alexander  Mdclcevde,  MS.,  wherein  I  have  been  supplied 
with  a  clear,  brief,  and  succinct  account  of  the  subject-matters.  The  mate- 
rial funiislicd  by  the  foriner  premier  of  the  dominion  contains,  not  a  statement 
of  his  own  views,  but  a  statement  of  tlio  facts,  so  far  as  he  knew  them.  It 
was  fortunate  for  tiie  dominion  that,  at  this  juncture  in  her  history,  a  man  of 
Jlackenzie's  intuitive  caution  and  foresight  had  sway  for  a  time  over  the 
interests  of  his  adopted  country,  and  for  several  years,  as  leader  of  the  oppo- 
sition, held  in  check  tlio  more  ambitious  designs  of  Sir  John  A.  Macdonaid. 

In  tiic  Piijitrn  in  Conneilion  lotlh  the  Construclion  of  the  Canadhm  Pacific 
L'ttiticdii,  hei'iy.en  the  Dominion,  Imperial,  and  Provincial  Governments,  in 
(imsioncd  I'-apirs,  D.  C,  1881,  139-310,  are  copies  of  all  the  ollicial  corre- 
fpondcnce  relating  to  tiie  Canadian  Pacific,  between  tlio  14tii  of  August,  I  SCO, 
and  the  8th  of  ^Iay,  1S80.  On  tiie  former  date,  while  yet  the  question  of 
cuu federation  had  not  assumed  definite  shape,  Earl  Uranville,  inadesjiatcli  to 
(Governor  Musi;ravc,  tla^n  recently  appointed,  says:  'It  is  evident  tliat  the 
t'stablisliment  of  a  Britisli  line  of  communication  between  the  Atlantic  and 
I'acific  oceans  is  far  mure  feasible  Ijy  tho  operations  of  a  single  government 
responsible  for  the  progress  uf  both  shores  of  the  continent  than  by  tho  bar- 
gain negotiated  between  separate,  pciliaps  in  some  respects  rival,  governmenta 
and  legislatures.'  On  the  8th  of  May,  1880  the  provincial  legisla'.ure  granted 
to  the  dominion,  as  we  have  seen,  the  lamls  required  in  the  terms  of  the  re- 
vised agreement,  the  contract  with  tho  syndicate  having  been  then  probalily 
couckuied,  though  not  odiuially  announced.  In  the  Correnpondcnce  relating 
to  the  Ciniadian  Pacific  Rnilway  are  a  few  of  the  more  important  despatches 
relating  to  this  controversy,  though  all  of  them  are  contained  in  the  Sessional 
Pa/iiTi  of  1881.  In  that  year,  A.  De  Cosmos  was  ordered  by  the  provincial 
li':;islature  to  proceed  to  London  in  order  to  support  the  petition  to  the  im- 
perial government.  Ho  appears  to  have  performed  his  duty  faithfully.  In  a 
despatol)  to  tho  Marquis  of  Lome,  dated  Aug.  25,  1881,  acknowledging  tiie 


!      ! 


|.      I 


V  rl 

!:l 
Mil 


604 


THE  CANADIAN  PACIFIC  RAILWAY. 


receipt  of  the  petition  and  of  the  report  of  tlio  privy  council,  the  eorl  of  Kim- 
berlcy  writes:  'I  iiavo  also  Imd  the  advantage  of  several  interviews  witli  Sir 
J.  A.  Mucdonald  and  with  Mr  De  Coaaios,  and  I  will  now  proceed  to  com- 
niiiuicato  to  you  the  conclusions  which  I  liiivo  formed  on  the  subject. .  .Hav- 
ing regard  to  the  statemcnta  and  representations  which  have  been  made  to  iiio 
on  tlio  part  of  the  dominion  government  and  of  the  province  respectively,  I 
am  of  opinion  that:  1st,  the  construction  of  a  light  lino  of  railway  from  Na- 
naimo  to  Esquimalt;  2d,  the  extension  without  delay  of  the  line  to  I'urt 
Moody;  and  .'id,  the  grant  of  reasonable  compensation  in  money  for  tlio  faihiio 
to  complete  the  work  within  the  term  of  ten  years,  as  specified  in  the  couiii- 
tions  of  union — would  offer  a  fair  basiaforaBCttlemcutof  the  whole  (juestiuu.' 
An  account  of  the  emissary's  negotiations  will  bo  found  in  the  Papers  rclaliiig 
to  the  Mlsnion  of  the  Hun.  A.  De  Cosmos.  The  Opinions  of  the  Ewjllsh  Pivst 
on  the  llrUish  Columbian  Ilitilway  Question,  Victoria,  1877,  and  the  Canadian 
Pacijxc  liailway  Poutfs,  Victoria,  1877,  are  pamphlets  containing  extracts 
from  the  Pall  Mali  Gazette,  Saturday  Review,  London  Standard,  and  Brilisk 
Colonist,  the  last  touching  only  on  the  question  of  the  terminus.  In  The  Do- 
minion of  Canada  andthe  Canadian  Pncijic  liailway,  by  \Vm  Wilson,  Victoria, 
1874,  is  nil  ex  parto  statement  of  the  case,  a»  it  then  stood,  from  the  provimiul 
standpoint,  and  one  for  which  the  preface  is  a  rather  unfortunate  aclcction 
from  Duflcrin's  speech  at  Simcoe,  on  the  U7th  of  August,  1874:  '  The  time  lias 
come  for  laying  asido  sectional  ditTcrcnces,  and  for  combining  in  one  grand 
cfl'ort  to  create  a  nationality  that  shall  know  uo  distinction  from  the  Atlantio 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean.' 

Vancouver  Island  and  British  Columbia,  iheir  History,  Resources,  and  Proa. 
]>ects,  by  Matthew  Mac/ie,  F.  R.  O.  S.,  London,  180,'),  was,  as  its  authur 
claims,  the  first  work,  published  in  Great  Britai.'i,  containing  full  and  classiliid 
information  on  the  various  topics  rclatina  to  the  colonics  of  V.  I.  and  15.  C 
In  scope  and  arrangement,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  book  is  much  to  bo 
preferred  to  the  one  published  by  1).  O.  Forbes  Maclonald  undtr  a  similar 
title,  although  the  latter  reached  a  third  edition  in  1803.  Mr  Maclic,  who 
resided  for  live  years  in  Victoria,  devotes  the  first  six  chapters  of  his  woik 
mainly  to  an  account  of  the  topography,  geology,  geography,  history,  and 
resources  of  V.  I,,  which  ho  terms  'the  England  of  the  Pacific,'  two  of  tluiii 
treating  mainly  of  the  gold  discovery,  and  of  the  trade,  progress,  and  condi- 
tion of  the  capital.  Then  follow  chapters  relating  to  the  commerce,  the  min- 
ing and  agricultural  interests,  and  the  fauna  and  flora  of  the  mainland;  cun. 
eluding  with  a  description  of  society  and  of  the  Indian  tribes,  the  last  chaptor 
containing  some  excellent  advice  to  intending  emigrants. 

The  f()llowing  is  an  additional  list  of  references  to  authorities  consulteil 
iu  the  preceding  ch.apters:  Hansard's  Pari.  Deb.,  vol.  clxxii.  Ol-Cl,  elwi. 
202;j-4,  and  clxvii.  045,  1404-5;  Coiifcd.  il/e.ss.,  35-40;  Dam.  Min. 
Privy  Council,  Dec.  18,  1884;  Sess.  Papers,  li.  C,  1875-85,  passim;  Tht 
Gi'nl.  Survey,  Can.  (B.  Westminter  &  Co.,  N.  V.,  Daw.son  Bros,  .Montnal, 
1880);  Papers  Proposed  Union  li.  C.  and  V.  I.  (London,  Eyre  &  Spottis- 
woode,  18t>(>);  the  files  of  the  London  Times;  Ev.  Mad;  Pall  Mall  Oazitte; 
Sat.  Review;  Standard;  Victoria,  Brit.  Col.,  Standard,  Tdeijraph;  Dom.  I'lv. 
Herald;  Mainland  Guardian;  Toronto  Globe;  London  (Ont.)  Adverl'i^'r; 
Good's  Brit.  Col.,  MS.;  De  Cosmos,  Government,  MS.;  Sketches,  B.  <'., 
MS.;  Bayley's  Vancouver  Island,  MS.,  passim;  Acts,  B.  C,  1871,  iios  .'t, 
13,  14,  10,  17,  23;  Stat.  B.  C,  1880,  30-40;  /./.,  1881,  17:  Id.,  18S2,  .f, 
05-75;  Id.,  188.3,  25-8,  39-45,  95-101,  103-11,  113-15,  149-5-2;  Jour.  Le<v^l. 
Council,  1804,  2,  4-5,  29,  31,  39,  41-4;  Id.,  1804-5,  1-5,  app.  iv.-vi.:  //., 
1800,  1-4,  39-40,  app.  i.;  /(/.,  1807,  1-0,  61,  04,  71-2,  app.  xvi.;  Id.,  ISOS, 
1-.3,  11-12,  2,>-7,  40-1,  app.  i.-iii.,  xvii.-xix.;  Id.,  1809,2-5,44-0,70-1;  hi., 
1870,2-4,  28-35,  02-3,  app.  i.-ii.;  /d.,  1871,  2-C,  14-17,  23,  27,  ap|..  .V-'; 
Jour.  Leijisl.  Ass.,  1873-4,  v.-viii.,  1-3,  app.  iii.  3-10,  vi.  1-8,  vii.  1-4,  4!)-(i7, 
83-90;  fit.,  1875,  vii.-xiii.  1-2,  app.  487-541,  58i5-90,  005-80;  Id.,  187(1,  vii.- 
xiii.;  Id.,  1877,  vii.-xi.  3;  Id.,  1878.  vii.-xi.  3,  71-0,  105-0;  /./.,  1879,  xiii- 
xiv.;  Id.,  1880,  xi.-xvi.;  Id.,  1881,  3-4,  50-2,  app.  04;  Id.,  1882,  ix.-xv.  H, 


AUTHORITIES. 


26,  29,  34.  44,  40-8,  50-3;  /(/.,  1883,  2;  Sess.  Papert,  B.  C,  1876,  57-72, 
IGiVSSS,  565-92,  037-46,  073-0,  731-2,  737,  751-7;  Jd.,  1877,359-72,  Slo-Si, 
38!),  400,  431,  449-74;  Id.,  1878,  379-88,  415-16,  549;  Jd.,  1880,  327-59; 
/(/.,  1881,  189,  260-1;  Id.,  1883,  453;  Id.,  1884,  157,  183,  325;  Indiati  Land 
QiieMion,  Brit.  Vol.,  26,  29-36,  38-9,  41-3,  47,  54-7,  64-8,  95-6,  104-6,  154, 
103-0;  S.  F.  Alia,  Bulletin,  Call,  Chronicle,  Herald,  Pout,  Times,  passim; 
Sacramento  Union,  Aug.  24,  1855;  Oct.  4,  1856;  Apr.  25,  1857;  Juno  9,  July 
1»,  10,  Aug.  9,  26,  Sept.  2,  6,  1859;  Mar.  3,  Aug.  29,  Sept.  15,  Nov.  23,  1860; 
Juno  21,  July  13,  20,  1861;  June  1,  1863;  Feb.  15,  1884;  St  IIAena 
Slur,  Aug.  27,  1880;  li.  C.  Directory,  1882-3,  1884-5,  passim;  ChUtemlen't 
Travels  in  Brit.  CJ.,  31-7;  St  Helena  (Cal.)  Star,  Aug.  27,  1880;  Har- 
per's Mag.,  Aug.  1882;  Portland  (Or.)  Wat  S/iore,  Dec.  1885,  359-62;  Ev. 
Telegram,  Feb.  20,  Mar.  22,  29,  1879. 


i  ^       li 

\    i  :  ill! 

n 

\ 

<  \ 

i 

l- 

) 

:-    ' 

1  •: 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

POLITICS  AND  GOVERNMENT. 

1870-1886. 

Ths  Victoria  and  Esquimalt  Railway— Protest  of  the  Maini^akd 
Population — The  Carnarvon  Club — Secession  or  the  Carnakvox 
Terms — Defeat  op  the  Elliott  Ministry — A  Lively  Debate— Tin 
Legislature  Votes  for  Separation — Discontent  in  the  Capital- 
Cornwall  Appointed  Chief  Magistrate — Government  of  British 
Columbia — The  Suffrage — Proceedings  of  thu  Legislature— Tub 
Judiciary. 

In  the  preceding  chapters  I  have  endeavored  to  lay 
before  the  reader  the  main  incidents  in  relation  to  the 
Canadian  Pacific  Railway,  avoiding,  as  far  as  possible, 
the  political  issues  to  which  the  project  gave  rise  in 
British  Columbia,  as  a  matter  apart  from  the  disputes 
and  negotiations  between  the  province  and  the  do- 
minion. At  the  first  mention  of  the  scheme,  in  con- 
nection with  the  terms  of  union,  certain  parties  in 
Victoria  raised  the  cry  of  "no  terminus,  no  confed- 
eration;"^ and  the  question  of  the  Bute  Inlet  route  aa 
against  Burrard  Inlet  was  discussed  and  remarkably 
well  understood  as  early  as  1870.  In  December  of 
that  year  a  petition  was  presented  to  the  governor- 
general,  praying  that  if,  after  the  surveys  had  been 
completed,  it  should  be  found  impracticable  at  once  to 
extend  the  line  to  Vancouver  Island,  then  a  road 
should  be  constructed  between  Victoria,  Esquimalt, 


*  The  Victoria  Standard  of  Oct.  13, 1870,  declared  that  no  candidate  ought 
to  be  returned  for  tli:it  city  who  would  not  pledge  himself  to  vote  for  I'nu- 
federatiou  oulvou  couditioa  that  Victoria  or  Esquimalt  be  made  tiie  tenniuut: 

(6»8) 


'i    .11 It/,! 


RAILPwOAD  POLITICS. 


097 


and  Nanaimo,  on  the  same  conditions  as  were  granted 
to  the  mainland  sections.'^ 

When  it  was  announced  by  the  Macdonald  ministry 
that  Esquimalt  had  been  selected  as  the  terminus,  an 
incorporation  was  organized  and  chartered  by  the 
local  legislature,  early  in  1873,  under  the  style  of  the 
Victoria  and  Esquimalt  Railway  Company,  the  length 
of  the  proposed  line  being  three  and  a  half  milcs.^  In 
July  of  that  year  certain  members  of  the  government 
proceeded  to  Esquimalt,  and  after  driving  the  first 
stake  for  the  location  survey  of  the  Canadian  Pacific 
at  the  south-east  corner  of  the  dock-yard  fence,  hoisted 
a  flag  upon  it,  and  quaffed  champagne  in  honor  of  the 
occasion.  Two  days  later  the  location  for  the  termi- 
nus was  selected  by  the  same  parties,  the  ceremony 
consisting  of  marking  one  of  the  posts  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  fence  enclosing  the  aduiiral's  resi- 
dence at  Thetis  Cove  with  the  inscription,  C.  P.  R. 
S.,  July  19,  1873.  Several  hundred  yards  of  trail 
were  cut  throufrli  brush,  thousfh  no  sod  was  turned 
under  official  authority,  Helmcken,  who  was  present 
as  the  representative  of  the  Allen  company  in  the 
Pacific  province,  declining  to  officiate.  On  the  same 
date  a  telegram  was  received  from  Ottawa,  stating 
that  the  commencement  of  the  location  survey  was 
not  in  conflict  with  the  terms  of  union,  the  limit  of 


i;P^ 


'Tho  petitioners  ilesircil  to  have  a  clause  to  this  effect  embodied  in  the 
terms  of  union.  In  hia  reply,  dated  Ottawa,  Dec.  31,  1870,  Lord  Lisgar  said 
that  the  route  could  only  bo  detorinined  after  confederation,  and  after  explor- 
ation and  survey,  in  which  15.  C.  would  be  duly  represented;  that  the 
interests  of  the  whole  dominion,  including  those  of  V.  I.,  would  then  l)e  con- 
siilercd;  but  not  until  then  could  the  question  of  a  branch  road  be  entertained. 
nrit.  Coloiti.it,  Jan  11,  1871. 

'  The  company  was  empowered  by  its  charter  to  condemn  lands,  and  was 
required  to  commence  building  within  a  year,  and  to  complete  the  road  within 
two  years.  In  t\\G  Conxol.  Slat.,  li.  C,  1877,  G14,  the  time  for  commenco- 
nii.nt  was  extended  to  July  1870,  and  for  completion  to  July  1S77.  Thus, 
rciuarked  the  Colonkt  of  Feb.  20,  1873,  'there  were  two  great  railway  com- 
piiiiics— the  Canadian  Pacinc,  with  a  capital  of  §180,000,000,  §10,000,000  paid 
lip,  and  the  Victoria  and  Esquimalt  Railway  Company,  with  §175  paid  up;' 
tlifi  object  of  the  latter  being  to  capture  the  site  of  the  terminus,  and  tha 
principal  parties  interested  being  the  chanipioua  of  the  'no  terminus,  no  con- 
federation' idea. 


■    I 


! 


III,!'!   f. 


h  I 


j-l 


698 


POLITICS  AND  GOVERNMENT. 


time  for  the  commeneemcnt  of  the  line  expiring  on 
the  following  day.* 

A  year  later,  after  the  downfall  of  Macdonald, 
meetings  were  held  at  Yale  and  New  Westminster, 
at  which  the  entire  action  of  the  people  of  Vancouver 
Island  on  the  railroad  issue  was  repudiated,  and  their 
right  denied  to  speak  in  the  name  of  British  Colum- 
bia. It  was  also  declared  that  the  beginning  or  com- 
pletion of  the  island  road  would  in  no  way  affect  the 
Canadian  Pacific*  On  the  defeat  of  the  island  rail- 
way bill,  however,  and  the  refusal  to  accept  $750,000 
as  compensation,  the  premier  of  the  dominion  dealt 
with  the  provincial  administration  as  with  one  whoso 
interests  were  entirely  identified  with  the  island  line, 
which  placed  that  line  before  the  Canadian  Pacific, 
and  whose  tenure  of  office  depended  on  the  pcrsisteuce 
with  which  they  urged  the  fulfilment  of  this  portion 
of  the  Carnarvon  terms.  Thenceforth,  as  we  have 
seen,  the  principal  bone  of  contention  between  the 
two  governments  was  the  Esquimalt  and  Nanaimo 
railroad. 

Early  in  187G  the  attention  of  the  people  of  Vic- 
toria was  called  to  the  fact  that  E.  Brown,  president 
of  the  provincial  council,  and  Forbes  George  Vernon, 
chief  commissioner  for  lands  and  works  under  the 
Elliott  administration,^  were  in  favor  of  accepting  the 
offer  of  the  dominion  government.^  In  the  summer 
of  that  year  was  organized  at  the  capital  the  Carnar- 


*  Brit.  Colonist,  July  20,  1873. 

*At  Lillooet  and  Spellmans,  in  the  Lillooet  district,  mcctinga  were  also 
held,  at  wliich  similar  resolutions  were  adopted.  Colonist,  July  12,  15,  1874. 

*  Which  succeeded  to  tliat  of  George  A.  VValkem  in  Feb.  1S70.  A  list  of 
the  members  of  the  legislative  council  and  assembly  of  V.  I.  during  tho  co- 
lonial period,  and  of  tho  members  of  the  executive  council  during  tho  provin- 
ci.ll  pei'iod,  will  bo  found  in  tho  Brit.  Col.  Direct. 

'  Wherefore  the  ministry  was  roundly  abused  by  a  portion  of  the  Victoria 
press.  'Do  not  trust  a  premier,'  said  tho  Standard,  in  its  issue  of  FoIj.  9, 
1870,  'who  says  one  thing  and  means  another.'  To  this  tho  goverimuiil  or- 
gan rejoined  that  one  would  have  thought  the  \Valkcni  administration  liud 
done  enough  to  injure  the  country,  in  linking  its  fortunes  with  the  conserva- 
tives, to  cure  its  contemporary  and  tho  men  wliom  it  supported  of  tiicir  pen- 
chant for  party  politics.  B.  C.  had  no  interests  in  common  with  either  ot  tlia 
political  parties  at  Ottawa.  Brit.  Colonist,  Feb.  17,  1876. 


CARNARVON  CLUB  DEMANDS. 


609 


irv  ill 


expiring  on  ■  von  club,  by  the  members  of  which  throats  of  seces- 
sion were  openly  avowed  in  default  of  the  execution 
of  the  Carnarvon  terms,  the  visit  of  Lord  DufFerin 
appearing  rather  to  increase  than  diminish  their 
clamor. 

When,  in  reply  to  an  address  from  the  citizens  of 
Yale  deprecating  the  threat  of  secession,  Governor 
Albert  Norton  Richards®  observed  that  his  ministers 
"did  not  sympathize  with  the  view  that  separation 
must  follow  as  a  result  of  the  non-commencement  of 
the  island  railway,"  the  Carnarvon  club  demanded 
an  interview  with  Elliott  on  business  of  great  public 
importance."  Giving  audience  to  a  deputation  from 
the  club,  the  premier  was  asked:  "Did  the  govern- 
ment indorse  the  sentiment  expressed  in  the  governor's 
reply  to  the  Yale  address?"  The  answer  was  in  the 
negative;  the  premier  observing  that  the  address  was 
of  a  mixed  nature,  containing  "a  little  good  and  a 
great  deal  of  an  objectionable  character;"  whereupon 
the  members  urged  him  not  merely  to  repudiate  the 
responsibility  of  what  the  lieutenant-governor  had 
said,  but  to  "make  him  take  back  his  words  or  stop 
his  supplies."  Elliott  remarked  that  the  governor 
received  his  supplies  in  the  form  of  a  stipend  from 
Ottawa.  The  Carnarvon  club  then  asked  whether 
the  provincial  legislature  could  not  reach  the  matter 
in  some  other  way — by  refusing  to  pay  the  salary  of 
the  governor's  private  secretary,  or  to  supply  materials 
needed  at  the  gubernatorial  residence.  For  a  moment 
the  premier  was  staggered;  but  he  was  equal  to  the 
occasion,  and  with  the  versatility  of  a  statesman,  re- 
plied that  he  was  hardly  prepared  for  such  a  question, 
lie  hoped  that  before  the  next  session  of  the  house 
the  rnilroad  difficulty  would  be  adjusted,  and  that 
addresses  and  replies  would  be  forgotten.     He  could 

'Successor  to  Trutch,  who  held  office  from  July  1871  to  July  1870,  Ripli- 
ftrils  licing  nppointod  for  the  ensuing  five  years. 

"  Richards  had  said,  moreover,  to  the  pco|jle  of  Yale:  'I  have  no  doubt 
Imt  what  your  views  are  those  entertained  by  the  people  of  the  province  at 

large.' 


700 


POLITICS  AND  'JOViniN'MKNT. 


not  Sivy,  liowovcr,  at  a  niomciit's  notice  what  the 
government  niigl>t  or  niii^dit  not  do  if  no  satistactoty 
settlement  were  made.'"  The  deputation  then  de- 
parted, fully  satisfied  that  the  interests  of  tiie  proviuco 
were  safe  in  Mr  Elliott's  keeping." 

In  January  1877  there  were  ohservcd  at  Victoria 
evidences  of  unusual  activity  among  the  leaders  of  thu 
two  parties.  On  the  convening  of  the  local  legisiaturo, 
Elliott  was  vigorously  attacked  by  Walkem,  Beaveii," 
and  others,  for  sacrilicing  the  island  railway,  and  aid- 
ing Mackenzie  in  his  rei)udiation  policy."  A  public 
meeting  was  held  at  Victoria  on  the  3d  of  March,  with 
a  view  to  demand  separation  or  the  Edgar-Carnarvon 
compromise  terms,  the  one  or  the  other,  and  in  luiy 
event  the  removal  of  Elliott's  non-Carnarvon  niiiiiis- 
ters.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  on  tlio 
premier  and  ascertain  what  course  he  intended  to 
pursue  with  regard  to  the  chief  commissioner  of  lands 
and  works,  who,  it  was  reported,  had  declared  hiniHulf 
opposed  to  forcing  the  island  railway  and  the  l>uto 
Inlet  terminus  on  the  dominion  government.  Another 
mass-meeting  was  held  shortly  afterward,  when  reso- 
lutions were  adopted  demanding  the  resignation  of 
Elliott.  In  the  local  parliament  Walkem,  in  discussing 
a  motion  respecting  the  Edgar-Carnarvon  terms,  re- 
marked that  the  secret  of  the  change  in  Carnarvon's 
views,  as  to  the  island  railway,  was  to  be  found  in  the 
influence  brought  to  bear  on  Dufferin  by  members  of 
the  Elliott  government;  and  Vernon  did  not  deny 
having  advised  the  governor-general  not  to  undertake 
the  construction  of  this  line. 

The  change  to  which  he  referred  is  probably  the 

»» Toronto  Globe,  in  Brit.  Colonkt,  Dec.  12,  187G. 

"If  wo  can  believe  the  Ottawa  Timet,  the  Ciimarvon  club  was  rogardtil  at 
the  capital  of  the  dominion  as  a  danf^erous  organization,  and  one  with  pio- 
American  leanings.  To  this  tlioS^rtHt/an/ replied,  in  its  issue  of  Nov.  I,  K'^TO: 
'  Tlic  club  is  undoubtedly  dangerous  to  Canadian  repudiators,  but  tiioro  is  no 
fear  of  pro- American  leanings  if  the  railway  contract  be  carried  out.' 

'■^  Robert  Beaven  was  chief  commissioner  of  lands  and  works  from  I)co. 
1772  to  Jan.  187G;  was  appointed  minister  of  finance  and  agriculture  Feb, 
28,  187."J,  and  held  the  latter  oiUce  from  Juno  1878  to  Juno  1882. 

"Standard,  iMarch  2,  5,  Feb.  27,  1877. 


■I 


:ico  what  tho 
lo  sati.slacloty 
lion  then  dc- 
)ft]ie  province 

xl  at  Victoria 
leaders  of  the 
,'al  lef^islatiirc, 
:cm,  iicavcii," 
way,  and  aid- 
\"     A  pultlic 
f  March,  with 
^ar-Carnurvou 
r,  and   in  any 
narvon  minis- 
wait  on  tlio 
>  intended  to 
ioner  of  lands 
clared  himself 
md  the  Ikito 
nit.    Another 
d,  when  roso- 
'esignatiou  of 
,  indiscussini' 
.'on  terms,  re- 
1  Carnarvon's 
3  found  in  tlio 
y  members  of 
Jid  not  tleny 
to  undertake 

probably  the 

ub  was  regarded  at 
and  one  with  pio- 
luoof  Nov.  I,  ISTG; 
ora,  but  tliciv  is  no 
arrieil  out. ' 
1  worka  fioiii  Dec. 
cl  agricultuiu  Feb. 
18SL'. 


TUE  ELLIOTT  MINISTRY. 


701 


one  montn  ncd  in  the  carl's  despatch  to  tlic  govcrnor- 
fjeneral,  dated  Decemljer  18,  187G,  wherein,  after 
\voi,i,diin<^  the  considerations  on  either  side,  he  says: 
"I  wish  you  to  inform  your  advisers  and  the  provin- 
cial government  that,  wliilo  I  do  not  feci  myself  in  a 
position  to  decline  to  entertain  the  ^'presentations 
pressed  upon  me  by  the  province,  I  am  nevertheless 
at  this  moment  unable  to  pronounce  an  opinion  as  to 
the  course  which  should  be  taken,  either  with  regard 
to  the  Esquimalt  and  Nanaimo  railway,  or  with 
rci,'ard  to  the  delays  which  have  occurred  or  may  yet 
occur  in  tho  construction  of  the  main  line."'*  Tho 
followers  of  the  government  said  that  Walkem  should 
he  'ishamed  to  follow  a  leader  who  had  not  the  cour- 
age to  show  them  where  the  battle  was.  The  min- 
i.stry  must  not  be  allowed  to  shirk  such  an  important 
question.'' 

IClliott's  ministry  endeavored  to  contrd  the  move- 
ment by  giving  way  to  it;  but  in  vain.  In  March 
1878  Walkem  introduced  a  resolution  in  the  assembly 
declaring  that  if  railway  construction  were  not  coni- 
menced  by  May  1879,  the  legislature  would  demand 
■separation.  The  Elliott  party  opposed,  pleading  that 
it  would  be  better  not  to  press  Canada  for  another 
year. 

In  June  the  Elliott  ministry  resigned,  George  A. 
Walkem,  whose  second  term  of  office  lasted  for  four 
j'ears,  being  again  called  to  the  head  of  affairs. 
Further  action  on  the  resolution  was  deferred  until 
Se[)tember.  Meanwhile  the  Mackenzie  administra- 
tion was  attacked  by  the  conservatives  at  Ottawa  on 
the  island  railway  question.     On  the  23d  of  March, 

^'Correspondence  rcl.  Can.  Par.  I'nUwa;/,  15-10. 

''Mr  Mara,  a  member  for  the  niaiiilaiiil,  sai<l,  on  tho  3J  of  April,  1.S77, 
that  ii(!  had  strongly  opposed  tlio  administration  of  NValUcin,  ai  ho  had  been 
8tiiig.;iing  hard  for  surveys  down  tho  Eraser  Itivcr.  If  tho  Es(ju!nialt  lino 
and  IJutc  Inlet  line  liJid  been  commenced,  it  would  have  been  fatal  to  tho 
Frascr  Uivcr  route.  There  were  no  lands  fit  for  settlement  on  tho  i.sland,  and 
tlie  expenditure  would  be  useless.  In  tho  Ulterior  was  a  region  which  must 
bo  opened  up  to  bo  in  any  manner  available.  It  was  not  in  tlic  interest  of 
the  v.hulo  province  that  tho  Esquimalt  and  Nanaimo  railway  should  bo  com- 
menced first,  i'^'taixlnnl,  April  4,  1877. 


ifl'fll'' 

i 

m 

■  ■  '1' 

^ 

■ 

1 

iili 


iir 


,|  1  r 


702  POLITICS  AND  GOVERNMENT. 

187G,  a  question  was  a.skcd  in  the  senate  as  to  tin;  pnr- 
eha-soof  5,000  tons  of  steel  r;\ils  whidi  had  l)een  landed 
at  Es(juinmlt  before  the  line  had  even  been  snrv(  Vdl. 
The  answer  was,  that  the  Esquiinalt  and  Naniiiino 
j)roject  had  been  indorsed  by  the  connnons,  and  that 
tlie  government  was  justified  in  taking  advantage  (>[' 
11  low  market  for  the  iiurchaso  of  rails.  The  fact, 
however,  that  in  1878,  some  three  years  after  IIk; 
railway  bill  was  defeated  in  the  senate,  the  rails  weto 
in  process  of  removal  to  Yalo,  was  regarded  by  tlio 
opposition  in  the  provincial  legislature  as  an  elocticni- 
eeringjob. 

On  this  and  other  points,  issue  was  taken  in  the 
local  parliament,  and  when  Walkem's  resolution  was 
again  brought  before  the  house  a  lively  debate  ensued. 
Basil  Humphreys,  provincial  secretary  and  minister 
of  mines,  said  no  one  could  thiidc  that  the  removal  of 
the  rails  was  in  good  faith,  for  the  purpose  of  const  ruc- 
tion; and  they  should  scout  this  last  deliberate  insult 
of  the  Canadian  government.  They  were  now  appeal- 
ing to  the  imperial  government  in  a  maimer  not  re- 
sorted to  hitherto,  and  one  which  would  prove  elfect  ual. 
Every  argument  had  been  exhausted,  and  every  legiti- 
mate means  used,  to  obtain  their  just  rights,  without 
success.  Mr  Beaven  said  it  was  evident  that  Canada. 
never  intended  to  build  the  road.  Since  confederatioii, 
the  exi)enditures  of  the  dominion  had  exceeded  the 
revenue  by  over  a  million  dollars  annually.  Was  it 
reasonable,  he  asked,  for  them  to  expect  that  a  rail- 
way to  cost  more  than  a  hundred  million  dollars  could 
bo  built  without  increasing  the  rate  of  taxation?  llo 
observed  that  tenders  were  invited  for  the  construct  inn 
of  125  miles  of  road  from  Yale  to  Kamloop,  but  tlii.s 
he  regarded  as  a  mere  trick,  designed  for  electioneer- 
ing purposes.  Mr  Abrams  said  a  government  that 
could  stoop  so  low  as  to  cripple,  in  the  way  they  had 
done,  the  late  Walkem  administration,  was  an  enemy 
to  the  province. 

Dr  Ash,  who,  as  provincial  secretary  under  Walkein, 


w 


FINANCIAL  ASPECTS. 


703 


assisted  in  obtaining  the  Etlfjar-Curnarvon  settlement, 
o|»|)oseil  tlio  resolution  on  tlio  ground  that  it  would 
iKj)rive  British  Columbia  of  all  claim  to  the  build- 
iiiL;'  of  the  road.  Ho  recommended  a  modification,  if 
necessary,  of  the  Carnarvon  terms.  To  this  Walkeni 
rc[)lied  that  the  doctor  well  knew  that  Edj^ar's  pro- 
j)()sals  were  unauthorized,  and  that  it  required  an  order 
in  council  to  sanction  them  beforothey  could  be  enter- 
tained. Connnissioners  were  merely  channels  of  com- 
iiiimication;  with  negotiations  they  had  nothing  to  do. 
The  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  seventeen  to 


Jcr  Walkciu, 


nine.*' 

Between  1871  and  1878  some  ten  millions  of  dol- 
lars w(!rc  expended  by  the  dominion  govermiient  for 
the  surveys  and  construction  of  the  Canadian  Pacific 
railway,  of  which  sum  about  $1,300,000  was  appro- 
])riated  for  surveys  in  British  Columbia;  but  as  yet 
iii)t  a  single  dollar  had  been  expended  on  construction 
within  the  province.  It  was  claimed,  moreover,  that 
(luring  this  })ori()d  the  contribt'.tion  of  British  Cc^lum- 
hia  to  the  consolidated  fund  of  the  dominion  exceeded 
its  proportion  to  the  liability  more  than  a  million,  the 
average  taxation  for  1878  being  $D  per  capita  for  the 
])r()vince,  as  against  $5.34  for  the  dominion."  It 
^vould  seem  that  as  yet  the  former  had  gained  noth- 
ing by  confederation  save  the  phantom  of  an  unreal- 
ized dream.  No  wonder  that  there  were  not  a  few, 
and  these  by  no  means  destitute  of  intelligence,  who, 
after  considering  the  general  bearings  of  the  matter, 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  have  been  better  to 
remain  an  independent  colony  under  the  home  govern- 
nicut  than  to  have  united  with  Canada.  Moreover,  as 
I  have  said,  the  population  of  the  capital  contained  a 
large  percentage  of  Americans,  always  impatient  of 
control,  and  especially  of  dominion  control.  It  should 
not  be  ignored,  however,  that  before  confederation 
the  province  was  burdened  with  a  debt  that  hung  like 

"  An  account  of  the  debate  will  bo  fouiul  in  the  Slamlanl,  Sept.  4,  1878. 
"  I'apers  rel.  Mission  De  Cosmos,  0.5. 


\  i 


704 


POLITICS  AND  GOVERNMENT. 


a  millstone  around  its  neck,  was  virtually  bankrupt, 
and  that  men  had  lost  faith  in  its  power  of  reoujieia- 
tion.  The  terms  of  union  relieved  the  people  of  their 
most  oppressive  burdens,  enlarged  tlicir  interests,  and 
made  them  rich,  at  least  in  promised  greatness. 

Concerning  the  government  and  political  annals  of 
British  Columbia,  there  is  but  little  more  worthy  of 
record.  It  ma}^  indeed  be  stated,  however,  that  for 
many  years  the  latter  were  so  intimately  connected 
with  the  affairs  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  railway,  tliat 
the  history  of  one  is  almost  the  history  of  the  other. 
As  in  other  provinces,  the  chief  magistrate  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor-general  of  Canada  and  held 
office  for  tive  years,  this  ])osition  being  filled,  between 
July  1881  and  July  188G,  by  Clement  Francis  Corn- 
wall, formerly  a  member  of  the  Canadian  senate." 
Regulations  pertaining  to  customs  and  excise,  trade 
and  navigation,  tlie  militia,  the  postal  service,  and  the 
administration  of  justice,  together  with  such  other 
matters  as  elsewhere  in  Canada  fell  under  dominion 
control,  were  for  the  most  part  framed  by  the  privy 
council,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  parliament, 
while  the  province,  of  course,  retained  control  of  its 
local  affairs.  In  that  parliament  British  Columbia 
was  represented  by  three  senators  and  six  members  of 
the  commons,  her  awn  legislative  assembly  consisting 
of  twenty-five  members,  elected  by  the  peojile  from 
thirteen  disti'icts^^  for  a  term  of  four  years,  while  of 
the  executive  council  there  were  but  throe  members.^ 

'^Mr  t'orn\v!ill,  a  pradiiato  of  Canibriiltrc,  niul  a  nicmhcr  of  tlio  inner 
teniplf,  is  a  native  of  Kngland,  ami  a  son  of  Allan  Gaidnci'  Cornwall,  ilmp- 
lain  in  onlinary  to  tliu  (]iii'ini.  In  ISO'i  ho  oainc  to  11.  C,  ami  in  partnci-'^liip 
with  his  Inothcr  cngagfd  in  stock-raising  in  the  ncighhoi  hood  of  Aslu  luit, 
wliero  in  1S78  uus  hia  country  scat.  C.'oo(/'.-i  li.  ('.,  MS.,  5;?.  Elected  senator 
innncdiately  after  tho  confederation,  he  held  that  position  until  his  appoint- 
ment as  {;uvernor, 

''■'For  the  fourth  parliament,  clcctod  in  ISS"-',  there  were  four  niemliers  for 
Victoria  City,  two  for  Victoria  district,  one  for  the  city  and  two  for  thedislrict 
of  New  Westminster,  three  for  Cariboo,  two  each  for  Yale,  Ksquimalt,  Koo- 
tenai, Cowicliau,  and  Lillooct,  and  one  each  for  Nanaimo,  Conio.x,  .and  Ca.'-si:ir, 
Their  iiaiucs  are  ^'ivcn  in  JJ.  ('.  Direct.,  1S8'2  3,  ;464. 

""•In  IbSJ  the  niemljcrsof  the  council  were  Win  Smiilie,  premier  and  chief 


J"^ 


lly  bankrupt, 
of  rceupeia- 
cople  of  their 
interests,  and 
atness. 

ical  annals  of 

•ro  worthy  of 

;ver,  tliat  for 

;ly  connected 

railway,  tliat 

of  the  other. 

!:rate  was  ap- 

ida  and  held 

lied,  between 

'rancis  Corii- 

lian  senate.'^ 

excise,  trade 

vice,  and  the 

I  such  other 

ler  dominion 

by  the  pi'ivy 

parliament, 

ntrol  of  its 

1  Cokunhia 

niendjors  of 

y  consisting 

people  from 

irs,  while  of 

3  members.*^ 

)t'r  of  the  inner 
Cornwall,  iliiip- 
1  in  pai'tiuMs'liip 

,00(1  of  Asiic-'ioft, 
Klcctod  soiuitor 

mtil  his  iippuiiit- 

four  nicinlirrs  for 
for  tluMlistrict, 
Ks(iiiiiimlt,  Koo- 
iiox,  anil  Ciissiar. 

ireniier  and  cliief 


LEGISLATH'E  PROCEEDINGS. 


705 


The  cumborsomo  restrictions  on  the  suffrage  cxi.sting' 
(lui'lng-  the  first  years  of  the  confederation  had  now 
been  abolished,  registration  and  twelve  months'  I'esi- 
dence  being  the  only  qualifications  needed  for  British 
sul))ects,'^'  and  vote  being  by  ballot." 

The  proceedings  of  the  legislature  between   1872 

and  188G  related  mainly  to  n mncipal  affairs,  to  public 

ini])rovements,'-'^  to  the  incorporation  of  companies,  to 

tolls,  taxes,  and  revenue,  to   the  disposition   of  the 

)ublic  lands,  of  all  which  matters  mention  will  be  made 

ater,'*  and  to  the  administration  of  justice,  so  far  as 

the  province  was  not  under  the  control  (jf  the  dominion. 

In   188G  Sir  Matthew  B.  Begbie,  appointed  chief 

justice,  as  will  be  remembered,  in   1858,-^  was  still  at 

omniissioncr  of  laiuls  anil  works;  A.  E.  B.  Davie,  atty-gcn.;  and  John  Roli- 
Boii,  jirovinuial  sue. 

-' Acconling  to  the  tcrni3  of  the  Qualification  and  Ilegistration  of  Votci-a 
net,  1S7(!,  repealing  a  similar  act  passed  in  1S7">,  the  latter  rcpcaiiiig  a  .simi- 
lar act  of  1871,  and  this  a;iain  repealing  acts  of  1S71  anil  187-'.  For  text  of 
the  lirsfc  one,  sec  Sliit.  />'.  ''.,  1870,  "Jl-O.  According  to  its  provisions,  tliu 
franchise  was  withheld  from  judges,  stipendiary  magistrates,  and  conslal/les, 
except  in  certain  ca.sc3  provided  in  the  act;  also  from  pci-sons  undergoing  .sen- 
tence for  treason,  felony,  or  other  infumouaoU'ence.  The  only  ipialilication  for 
a  nu  inhcr  of  tlio  legislature  was  that  he  should  ho  duly  entci'ed  on  the  rci;is- 
tcr  of  electors,  and  .should  have  Lecn  a  resident  of  the  province  for  at  lcj.st 
twelvu  months  before  the  date  of  his  election. 

■•According  to  rules  prescribed  in  //.,  1S77,  Sl-7,  the  polling-places  were 
to  he  furnislieil  "iLh  a  number  of  e  impailmcnts,  in  which  the  elector.*  could 
inarl;  then'  votes,  vlnlc  .screened  from  ol)sei'vation.  l']:ich  ballot-paper  was  to 
contain  ii  li^t  of  the  candidates  alphabetically  arranged.  'I'he  cleeior  on  re- 
ccivihg  tlio  ballot-pa|ier  must  oiter  one  of  the  compartments  and  marl;  it  with 
a  cri.j.s  opposite  the  natne  of  the  candid. ites  for  whom  ho  jncfened  to  vole. 
He  nnist  tlicn  fold  it  so  as  to  conceal  the  names  of  the  canihdatcs,  the  maiks 
on  its  face,  and  the  printed  numerals  on  it.s  back,  though  displaying  t!ie  olli- 
cial  mark  thereon  to  the  presiding  olhcer,  and  depositing  his  jiaper,  leave  the 
)iolliiig  station  without  making  known  to  any  one  for  whom  he  had  v(jtcd. 
Women  were  entitled  to  vote  at  nnuiicipal  elections. 

■'  ljy  act  of  187-,  it  was  declared  lau  ful  for  the  lieut-g'iv.  to  appropi-i.'ito 
uiiy  leal  estate,  streams,  watercourses,  etc.,  which  mi;;ht,  lu  his  o[)iniu;i,  be 
neccs.sary  for  the  use,  construction,  maintenance,  or  improvement  of  any  puh- 
1.0  work,  and  especially  sucii  as  he  might  ih'ein  neccssai'y  for  the  ■■  "istructioii 
ol  the  dry-dock  at  Esijuimalt.  Incase  the  owner  refused  to  si  11,  the  cUief 
eoniMiissioncr  of  lands  and  woiks  might  tender  what  lie  coiisidere  I  a  rcasim- 
alilc  value,  with  notice  that  the  matter  would  bo  submitted  to  arliitivuioii, 
and  .'!0  days  thereafter  was  authorii'jtl  to  take  possession.  (  unxol,  Stul.  U.  C. 
(■'1.  l'-;77),  70.J. 

■'The  laws  enacted  by  the  legislature  up  to  1877  will  be  found  in /(/., 
passim,  and  after  that  date  in  the  yearly  volumes  of  the  Stat.  JJ.  < '.     For  pro- 
cei'iliiigs  of  the  legislative  assembly,  .see  ./our.  Lcnisl.  Ai/i.  ii.  C.  for  each  year, , 
where  will  also  be  found  the  governor's  spuoehes, 

'See  p.  'Vll,  this  vol. 

UiBT.  131111'.  Col.    is 


7D6 


POLITICS  AND  GOVERNMENT. 


h  d 


the  head  of  the  judiciary,  being  assisted  by  four  puisno 
judges.^"  Next  in  i-ank  were  the  county  court  jud'^es, 
many  of  whom  had  held  office  since  18G1,'-'  and  for 
each  settlement  and  electoral  district  were  one  or 
more  justices  of  the  peace,  of  whom  more  than  200 
were  in  office  iu  188G.^  Thus  the  law  has  bciu 
brought  to  every  man's  door.  Of  late  years  it  lii^s 
been  matter  for  congratulation  that,  notwithstandlii"' 
variKy  of  race  and  diversity  of  interests,  peace  and 
order  have  been  maintained  without  resorting  to  any 
unusual  t>xpedients.  Absolute  protection  has  bi'cii 
affordtid  to  all,  without  n^gard  to  creed  or  nationality, 
and  ovon  duriuijf  the  construction  of  the  railroad  the 
vast  inilux  t)f  workmen  belonging  to  every  natioiialitv 
merely  j-eiidered  necessai^y  the  appointni'  ;t  of  a  low 
additional  constables. ^^ 

■^11.  p.  f.  Crease,  J.  Hamilton  Gray,  John  F.  McCreiglit,  and  George  A, 
Walkeni.     At  this  date  there  were  'J.'j  nioinbcrs  of  the  15.  C.  bar. 

'■U  jod'x  liril.  <'oL,  MS.,  101,sav.s  that  in  1878thi'y  were  favorably  knuwn, 
u<,t  only  for  their  experience,  but  fur  the  skillul  aiul  conscientious  discliargo 
of  tlieir  duties. 

-'  For  names,  with  jurisdiction  and  address  of  tiioae  in  office  in  1885,  suo  Jl. 
('.  J  'iri'ct.,  IS**-.''),  '2;'A-~. 

*  I'or  particulairsiis  to  thoadministration  of  justice  between  ISoGand  ISW, 
see  chap,  x.xiii.,  thie  vol.  Among  the  cnaotments  relating  i"  the  judicial;,  'Im- 
inj:  the  eunl'ederation  period  may  he  nieiitioiieil  t  he  County  ('ourts  Practili  m  is 
act.  iS7;f,  whereby  all  persons  were  entitled  t' appear  in  the  county  enurt- 
tlie  coiirtsof  stipendiary  magistrates,  and  of  ju.><tioea  of  the  j)cace,  as  tlie  .t  iv> 
cates  I'f  partie;!  to  any  proceedings  in  such  courts,  thoiigii  not  qualilied  pia. 
titunieia.  (■(///■(o/.  Stat.  B.  C,  1877,  144.  By  act  of  1877,  the  proviiuc  «.ij 
divided  into  county  court  districts.  In  187- an  act  was  [lasscl  to  pi  >vi'i.: 
for  the  holding  of  linuit  courts  in  connection  with  the  supriTiC  courts,  i'  ' 
acts  relating  to  le;,'al  profeasions,  sec  /(/.,  GOl-7:  SUil.  B.  ('..  1878,  III'  -('■ 
1S»2.  [)';  l>i84,  lOJ  11.  Uy  acts  of  1870,  judicial  districts  were  estahh-lj"; 
for  the  ju<lge9  of  the  supreme  court,  and  thi>  practice  ami  ))roecilurc  d  li' 
supremo  court  were  ampn<led.  In  the  Local  Administration  of  Justice  a'l, 
18^1,  provi-ion  was  made  wlicroliy  proeeedings  in  the  supreme  court  couM  lo 
determined  in  any  of  the  judicial  districts  as  cll'cctually  as  iu  the  c.'ty  of  Vic- 
toria. Uy  tlie  I'lDviucial  Superior  Court  act,  188"2,  there  was  cst;ibli.-lK'ii  a 
court  of  record  and  of  original  and  appellut^  jurisdiction,  styled  Her  Maji'->ty  .s 
Court  of  Queen's  r>ench  for  lirULsh  L'.»lnirt><  i  For  act  regulating  tliC  powtn 
of  .supremo  court  judges  in  cases  of  n[i[».^ial,  we  /d.,  1885,  i;j-l4.  Tlie  Assiio 
Court  act,  ISS,"),  appoints  tlic  dates  -i.  holding  courts  of  iissizc  and  ni~i  jiriih, 
and  of  oyer  anil  tcrininor,  and  pi  .■•ral  jail-dilivery,  nt  Victoria,  N.iiramn, 
New  Westminster,  Yale,  Kamlooi  Clinton,  l.ytton,  and  llichlield.  I  lact 
rehiting  to  tho  jurisdiction  and  [iroccdurc  nl  county  courts,  sec  /(.'..  ISS.'i, 
17-04;  for  acts  relating  to  juries  and  jurors,  seo  ( 'onwl.  Stat.  B.  C  (od.  IS"'). 
315-10;  atat.  B.  C,  188;t,  47-74;  1S34,  GU;  188."-,  79. 


■^ 


by  four  puisne 
i  court  jud'j^cs, 

80 1,"'  and  for 
wore  one  m- 
iiorc  tlian  200 
law  has  Ijoou 
)  years  it  lius 
twitlistamliiiif 
its,  peace  uiul 
sorting  to  aiiv 
;ion  has  Ixh.'u 
or  nationality, 
e  railroad  the 
!ry  nationality 
in--   .;    of  a  t'c\V 


iglit,  and  George  A. 
C.  bar. 

re  favorably  known, 
scientioiis  discliargo 

office  in  1885,  mu'll. 

ween  ISoGand  |S>;o, 
h>  the  judicial  y  rhu- 
(Joiirtsl'ractiti  iiiii 
the  county  inr.rt- 
!  peace,  us  the  ,i  ai 
I  not  (Hialiljcd  |irai 
I,  the  provini<'  «,i^ 
i  passed  to  pi'Hi  ^' 
pixTic  courts.     I'  ■ 
'i.  t'.,  1878,  ll;i  •.'(!■ 
ts  wefc  estalili-lu'.i 
d  procedure  (if  nr 
tion  of  Justice  a"t, 
reiiie  court  could  Le 
)  ill  tlio  c.'ty  of  Vio- 
3  was  cstnbii>licii  a 
yled  Her  Mujcity'.s 
;ulating  tbo  pnwcrs 
13-14.     'i'lio  Assize 
isizc  and  ni^i  priii>, 
Victoria,  K.ui  dmo, 
Kiclilield.     I'-iatt 
irts,  sec  /(■.,  ISSJ, 
U.  B.  c'.  (jd.  liJ77), 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 

1861-1886. 

VicToniA— The  Ubiquitohs  Ciiinamax — Esquimalt— Nanaimc— The  Vic- 
toria Coal,  Mining,  and  Land  Company — New  Westminster — 
Langley — I.,Yn'oN— Savona'.s  Fekry — Kamloop — Clinton — Barker- 
viLLE— Yale —Indian  Missions  and  Missionaries— Metlakathla— 
Forts — Indifference  of  the  Provincial  Government— CiviLiZArioN 
OF  THE  Native  Tribes — Churches — Charitable  Societies — Public 
Schools— Jourkalism — Libraries. 

"Barely  two  centuries  ago,"  exclaimed  Dr  Pick- 
ering, who  in  1841  passed  through  the  straits  of 
Juan  do  Fuca  on  board  the  exploring  ship  Vincennes, 
"our  New  England  shores  presented  only  scenes  like 
tliat  before  inc:  and  what  is  to  be  the  lapse  of  the 
third?"  At  this  date  an  Indian  trail  and  a  few  Indian 
wigwams  alone  marked  the  presence  of  man  amid 
the  almost  untenanted  solitudes  where  now  stand  the 
cities  of  Victoi'ia  and  New  Westminster.  In  18G1 
the  population  of  Victoria  mustered  about  3,500  white 
inhabitants,  of  many  nationalities,  English  and  Amer- 
iiaus  jiredomiriating.  At  that  date  the  grades  and 
<'!i(jue«  into  which  society  resolves  itself  in  older  set- 
llmnents  did  not  as  yet  exist,  even  the  lordly  Douglas 
b'.ing  esteemed  iio  better  than  his  fellow-man.  More 
co.smopoli'tan,  p<5rhaps,  than  were  even  the  San  Fran- 
ciscans in  the  tl*ys  when  b(nianza  society  and  tlie 
hoard  o^  brokers  were  unknown,  the  memb(>rs  of  this 
huterogeucous  community,  gathered  from  all  quarters 
of  the  earth,  placed  themselves  on  a  common  level, 
atid  bud  but  a  cuuimon  interest — to  better  their  con- 

(707  1 


w 


708 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


t  1 


tlition,  vying  with  each  other  only  in  making  their 
Hvcs,  and  especially  their  lei.'furc  hours,  as  agrecalilo 
as  joossiblc  under  their  altered  condition.  Free  i'loiu 
conventional  restraint,  dwelling-  in  a  spot  \vorld-fan\ou8 
for  the  beauty  of  its  scenery,  amid  magnilicent  vislas 
of  forests  and  mountains  clad  with  richest  verduio, 
and  in  a  climate  softer  than  that  of  the  south  of  Vav^- 
land,  there  arc  few  among  the  present  citi/cns  ofA'ic- 
toria  who,  after  enjoying  this  brief  respite  from  tlio 
whirl  and  strife  of  progress  and  civilization,  <lo  n(,t 
recall  with  a  tinge  of  sadness  those  good  old  times. 

iVt  this  date  the  Hudson's  Bay  ibrt,  with  its  l)'^ 
buildings  and  its  picket  palisade,  was  crumbling  into 
decay.  There  were  but  four  streets,^  and  tlie  nmst 
])rominent  buildings  in  the  capital  were  the  Iludson'.s 
Bay  store  and  the  bank  of  Bri'wsli  North  America. 
Two  years  later  the  city  had  made  considerable  jtro- 
gress,  containing,  early  in  18G3,  about  G,000  peoiile. 
a|)art  from  the  migratory  population  that  tlirongid 
the  town  durirjg  the  winter  season,  and  some  1,jU0 
buildings,  among  which  were  substantial  warehouses 
and  stores,  several  commodious  hotels,  a  theatre,  a 
hospital,  five  churches, and  five  banking-houses.  Tlio 
value  of  real  estate  was  also  increasing  rapidly,  fiont- 
age  on  good  business  streets  commanding  a  niontlily 
rental  of  three  to  seven  dollars  a  foot.  In  1807  A  ie- 
toria  was  incorporated,  being  divided  into  iUwc  wards, 
and  the  municipal  council,  which  consisted  of  a  mayor 
and  seven  councillors,  having  power  to  malce  by-laws 
lor  regulating,  among  other  matters,  the  trafilc  of  the 
city,  and  the  maintenance,  repair,  and  construction  nf 
highways,  wharves,  and  bridges;  to  pui'chase,  hold, 
and  erect  buildings  on  real  estate  needed  for  corpoi'utc 
use;  to  e:^'tablish  markets;  to  frame  measures  for  \\\'' 
|)revention   of  fire,"  and  the  lighting  of  streets;   to 

'Nnmcd  Whnif,  Yiitcs,  Fort,  and  Johnson.  Good's  Drit.  Col.,  MS.,  I. 

'•'Fur  the  siii)]Hiit  (if  an  (.llicicnt  fiic  department,  a  tax  of  .\  of  one  [ur  c'lit 
ii  vear  was  to  \iv  h\  icd  on  the  vahie  of  all  buildings,  and  the  sum  ot  JSoHO  li 
yt  ir  was  to  lie  jiaid  \>y  each  liiu  in.surauee  company,  together  with  a  rate  imt 
e.Ncci'diui;  one  eighth  per  cent  on  the  amount  of   their  iiisuranr.va.     li.  tlw 


CITY  OF  VICTORIA. 


709 


rc/,ailato  the  drainage,  sewerage,  and  sanitary  condi- 
tion of  the  city;  and  to  provide  for  the  taking  of  a 
census.^ 

In  188G  the  capital  contained  at  least  12,000  inliab- 
itants,*  and  in  manufactures  and  commerce  ranked,  as 
we  shall  see  later,  among  the  foremost  cities  of  the 
coast.  In  the  excellence  of  its  hiufhways  and  drives, 
Victoria  is  almost  unsurpassed,  wcll-macadamizod 
roads,  built  during  the  colonial  period,  extending  tor 
Diiles  through  dense  forests  of  pine,  across  stretches 
of  green  meadow-land,  over  undulating  downs,  and 
skirting  the  pebbly  beach  along  the  margin  of  the  bay. 
Contiguous  to  the  city  on  its  south-eastern  side,  and 
boi'derinof  on  the  straits  of  Juan  de  Fuca,  is  the 
public  park,  enclosing  a  spacious  tract  of  great  natu- 
lal  beauty.  In  its  centre  stands  a  mound,  named 
iJcacon  Hill,  from  which  a  view  is  obtained  ol'  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  straits,  the  islands  clustered  in 
the  Georgian  Gulf,  and  the  rugged,  snow-cap[)ed  sum- 
mit of  ^lount  Baker.  Here  it  was  that,  during  the 
early  days  of  the  company's  regime,  signal-fires  were 
ligliled  each  night  when  the  annual  sup[)ly  vessel 
Itceame  due,  and  hence,  as  she  passed  Race  Hocks, 
news  of  her  arrival  was  carried  to  the  miniature  settle- 
iiKut  Slathered  around  the  walls  of  the  old  louf  fort. 


liiisiiiosa  ji.art  of  the  town  no  wooilcii  buiMitig  was  to  lio  croctril  iiuirc  tliiiii  18 
frrt,  or  Olio  story,  liij,'li.  iiiu'u  r  ii  penalty  of  i;.')OOforciicli  nioutli  duriiij^  wlucli 
UK  I]  Imikling  was  erected  ur  in  i.uiirso  of  erection. 

•*  TIk!  text  of  tlu!  ordinaiiee  will  bo  found  in  tlic  Coiinol.  Stat.  li.  C.  (ed. 
l^TTi,  7.');?-0I).  Ill  ISiy,  ))( fore  the  tuiioii  of  the  two  colonies,  aa  act  iiad 
airi:i(ly  lieeii  passed  tor  tlic  incorporatinii  of  the  city  of  Victoria,  fur  which 
siv  /;.  ('.  ami  v.  I.  hired. .  ISCili,  !)-t-UIS.  A  list  of  tlic  mayors  an<l  councillors 
fiiiii  ISU-J  to  IS}{;2  will  be  fouii<l  in  /.'.  V.  JJirc-t.,  ISSJ-.'i,  H.j-8,  At  the  Lit;cr 
il;i;r  Noali  Shakespeare,  a  native  of  StaH'ordshirc,  I'ln.^laiid,  filled  the  posilioii 
I'f  I  '  lyor.  Arriviiij^  at  Victoria  in  I8(i;>,  liein^'  tlicn  in  iii^  uUtli  year,  ho  was 
{.'1  a  i  lo  liiul  eniploynient  at  one  of  the  Xanaiiiio  <'ollierics,  and  alter  accunui- 
1  uuiL^  a  little  iiioncv,  returned  to  the  ciqiital  and  cn^'a^cd  in  t)usiiu  ss.  Froui 
t!,>  mall  betrinninj;  be  made  bis  way  in  lif'\  biiiiu;  cloctcd  in  1878  to  thei.iiy 
c  '1.  il.  and  in  1882  a  incinber  of  the  doiniiiioii  coiiunons.  and  president  of  the 
IWo'  lianic^"  Instdutc  In  politics  bo  was  termed  a  libor.il  conservative;  alua>  a 
hud  'Ik)  sui'port  of  the  working  classes.  In  1885  tiio  mayoralty  was  held  by 
Uc'ixrt  I'aterson  IMtliet. 

~  rhi«  was  thcestimatc  of  directory  compiler:!.  The  crnKus  of  1881  fiivca 
tti;  po]v«ilatioii  at  IJ.OOO,  excbisivo  oi  Indians.  In  the  S.  F.  UulUliii  of  March 
fi;  18JV,  it  is  given  at  10,000  to  li.',000. 


\ 


710 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


Viewed  from  any  of  the  neighboring  eminences,  as 
from  the  hill  near  government  house,  from  Mount 
Tolmie,  from  Church  hill,  or  from  the  head  of  Pan- 
dora avenue,  the  city,  which  was  laid  out,  not  in  rec- 
tangular blocks,  but  follovving  the  configuration  of  tho 
land,  presents  a  beautiful  appearance.  Many  of  tho 
private  dwellings  are  embowered  in  ivy,  clematis, 
honeysuckle,  or  other  creeping  plants,  and  surrounded 
with  orchards,  lawns,  luxuriant  shrubbery,  and  ncutly 
trimmed  gardens.  The  business  portion  was  quite 
early  for  tho  most  part  built  of  brick  or  stone,  and, 
though  none  of  the  structures  were  pretentious,  not  a 
few  displayed  considerable  taste  and  architectural  skill. 
The  government  buildings,  containing  the  provincial 
offices,  were  situated  on  a  neck  of  land  connected  by 
a  substantial  bricl<]je  with  James  Bay,  and  in  their 
front  was  a  gray  granite  obelisk,  erected  by  the  people 
to  the  memory  of  Sir  James  Douglas.  The  d<niiiiii(iii 
buildings,  including  the  custc  a-house,  post-office,  and 
marine  hospital,  and  containing  accommodation  for  iln' 
federal  officers,  were  well  and  substantially  constructed. 

Like  San  Francisco,  Victoria  had  its  Chinatov  , 
occupying  a  considerable  portion  of  the  city,  and  en- 
croaching rapidly  on  some  of  the  most  valuable  prop- 
erties, while  its  denizens  came  into  active  competiti(»ti 
with  the  mechanics,  operatives,  and  business  men  of 
the  capital.  Apart  from  the  onmipresent  laundryuuui 
and  domestic  servant,  there  were,  in  i88G,  Chinese 
contractors,  merchants,  importers,  grocers,  dry-goods 
men,  dealers  in  provisions,  vegetables,  tobacco,  cloth- 
ing, tea,  fancy  goods;  there  Avere  Chinese  druggists, 
doctors,  tinsmiths,  tailors,  barbers,  bakers,  and  restau- 
rateurs; and  there  were  Chinese  establishments  tor 
the  manufacture  of  shirts,  clothing,  and  cigars,  lin- 
ing the  previous  one  or  two  years,  acts  were  passed  to 
forbid  the  immigration  of  Chinamen,"  to  prevent  tloui 

"  It.  was  declared  iiuiawfiil  for  Chinamen  ;.>  enter  tlip  proviuoo,  tliofi'  "do 
bIiouUI  afterward  make  their  way  iuto  JJriti.ii-  Cuhiinbia  being  liable  to  ii  li«: 
of  j«.jO,  or  ai.'v  iiiontha  iiiipriauiiiucnt.  Tl«i  pui;soii  wiio  should  bring  tln'ir  to 
or  in  auy  way  assist  them  to  rcacli  li.  C-  wan  ut  forfeit  $200  for  each  Cliiiitt- 


(VTION. 

eminences,  ag 
from    Mount 
head  of  Paii- 
iit,  not  in  rec- 
uration  of  the 
Many  of  tho 
ivy,  clematis, 
d  surrounded 
•y,  and  neatly 
jn   was  qui  to 
)r  stone,  and, 
cntious,  not  a 
tcctural  skill. 
he  provincial 
connected  by 
and   in   their 
by  the  people 
rho  doniiiiiuii 
^st-office,  and 
dation  for "'  •• 
)^  construe  I 
3  Chinatov 
city,  and  eii- 
alaable  pro])- 
e  competition 
liness  men  of 
t  laundrvuuui 
88G,  Chinese 
rs,  dry-goods 
>bacco,  cloth- 
se  druggists, 
?,  and  re!5laii- 
ishments  t'or 
igars.     l)ur- 
^ere  passes  >  to 
Dfevcnt  tliriii 

rovilK'o,  those  who 
iiig  liable  tu  it  liiit^ 
iild  liring  tlieir  ;o 
00  for  tiucli  Cliuia- 


THE  CHINKSE  QUESTION. 


71J 


from  acquiring  crown  lands,"  and  to  control  the  Chinese 
population  then  in  the  province.  The  lirst  of  these 
acts  failed,  however,  to  receive  the  approval  of  tho 
dominion  government/  and  a  committee,  sent  from 
Ottawa  to  inquire  into  the  matter,  reported  in  favor 
of  Chinese  immigration  ;**  whereupon  another  bill, 
ahnost  identical  with  the  former,  was  passed  by  the 
jn'ovincial  legislature,  but  was  again  thrown  out  by 
the  cabinet."  Thus,  on  the  Chinese  question,  British 
Columbia  was,  in  relation  to  the  dominion,  somewhat 
as  the  Pacific  United  States  were  to  the  federal  gov- 
ernment, little  hope  being  entertained  by  either  that 

man  so  conveyed  or  a»ssistc(l,  or  in  default  be  iitiprisoiicd  for  a  period  not  ex- 
celling six  months.  Certificates  of  exemption  mij;!it  he  granted  to  those 
wishing  to  leave  the  province  temporarily.  Stut.  B.  C,  1S84,  0-U. 

"  In  the  preamble  of  this  act,  the  text  of  which  w  ill  1)0  f(ninil  in  Id.,  1S84, 
T-1'-,  it  is  ;ated  that  the  influx  of  Chinese  largely  exceeded  that  of  any  other 
nationality,  Uircatening  soon  to  outnumber  the  white  populati(jn;  that  tliey 
'.iijiilil  not  submit  to  tho  laws  of  the  province,  evaded  the  payment  of  taxe^^, 
anil  were  generally  subversive  of  the  comfort  and  well  being  of  the  community. 
All  Chinamen  were  made  liable  to  a  tax  of  §10  a  year,  on  the  p.'.yuient  of 
vliich  licenses  wcro  to  bo  handed  to  them  by  ofUcials,  called  Chinese  col- 
li'i  iors,  appointed  for  each  electoral  district.  All  employei  s  of  Chinamen 
wcic  ri(juired  to  demand  of  them  their  licenses,  and  retain  them  during  their 
term  of  i^crvice,  producing  them  for  inspection  by  the  collector  whenever  re- 
(|ui red  to  do  so.  The  fco  for  miners' ceitilicatcs,  when  issued  to  Chinamen, 
was  increased  toSlJaycar.  Exhumation  and  tho  use  of  opium,  except  for 
medicinal  or  surgical  purposes,  were  forbidden,  and  it  was  declared  unlawful, 
under  a  p<nalty  not  exceeding  §50,  to  let  or  occupy  any  room  containing  less 
than  liS-t  cubic  feet  of  spuco  for  each  occupai?t,  or  unless  such  room  contained 
a  window  that  wonltlopen,  not  leas  than  two  feet  square. 

'  For  report  of  the  ]irivy  council  disallowing  the  act,  and  containing  a  copy 
cif  the  opinion  of  the  minister  of  justice,  sec  iSV.s.v.  J'ajx  rx,  U.  ('.,  1SS4,  -lo'J-.'t. 
In  answer  to  this,  the  assembly,  at  its  next  session,  forwarded  an  address  to 
tlie  gov. -gen.  in  council,  extremely  regretting  that  the  act  had  been  iliaul- 
lowed,  sti  ting  that  the  disallowame  was  not  I'aused  by  its  l)(;iiig  unconstitu- 
tional, Itut  on  the  ground  ot  inexpediency,  and  tliat  they  saw  no  reasons  to 
clriuge  the  carefully  coiisuiered  n  presentations,  which  fioiii  time  to  time 
hiid  been  ur^'d  upon  the  dominion  government.  Jour.  Ijcijisl.  Ann.  B.  C, 
ISS.j,  52.  This  is  hardly  a  fair  statement  of  the  case.  In  his  report  the  inin- 
i.ster  of  justice  expresses  much  doubt  as  to  the  authority  of  the  legi.dature  to 
pass  such  an  act,  states  that  it  should  not  be  put  in  force  without  due  consid- 
eiatioi),  and  tiiat,  umier  its  provisions,  time  was  not  allowed  tor  -iiicli  coiisid- 
eraiion.  'A  iaw,'  he  remarks,  'which  prevents  the  ))ei»plo  of  ui.y  country 
fn>ni  coming  uito  a  province  cannot  be  said  to  be  of  a  local  or  private,  nature. 
On  the  eontran",  it  is  one  involving  doniinion  and  possibly  iiiiiiciial  interests.' 

■■A  copy  of  tlie  report  will  be  found  in  ilic  S.  /'.  i'ati,  IV1>,  'Jo,  1SS5. 

"In  section  H5  of  the  British  Nortli  America  Act,  18(i7,  it  is  provided  that 
tlio  ir-gislatnre  or  each  province  may  enact  laws  regarding  iiuinigration,  but 
that  rfie  parliaiii^Tit  of  ( '.inada  may  also  pass  similar  laws  for  all  or  any  of  tho 
provincf*.  and  toat  the  former  shall  take  etl'ect  only  so  far  us  tliey  do  not  con- 
lliut  with  the  ikwiiuiuu  utututes. 


(12 


SKTTLKMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


>  i 


any  radical  chanj^e  in  the  law  would  bo  made  until  tlic 
matter  catncj  home  more  closely  to  the  doors  of  their 
eastern  brethren.^" 

Though  still  containing  in  188G  a  large  pcrccntairo 
of  Americans,  and  as  a  community  by  no  means  lack- 
ing in  enter])rise,  the  citizens  of  the  capital  were  nc^t 
disposed  to  imitate  the  example  of  the  Pacific  coasst 
metroi)olis,  where  presided  the  genius  of  unrest,  and 
whore  men  had  barely  time  to  live  their  allotted  span 
of  life.  Tliey  took  life  quietly  and  somewhat  easily, 
the  merchant  walking  leisurely  to  his  store  at  nine  or 
ten  o'clock,  closing  often  at  four,  after  a  long  interval 
for  luncheon;  and  to  the  stranger  within  his  gates,  wlio 
)iii<']it  take  him  to  task  for  his  unbusiness-like  habits, 
he  would  reply  that  he  was  sufficiently  well-to-do,  and 
would  probably  enjoy  longer  days  and  certaiidy  better 
digestion  than  his  American  cousin.  As  hi  other 
colonics,  the  people  of  British  Columbia  were  much 
given  to  holiday-making,  picnicking,  and  junketing. 
Legal   holidays  were  plentiful,"  and  when  they  (jc- 

*"  For  order  in  council  calling  tlie  attention  of  the  dominion  governinciit 
to  the  innncnse  inQux  of  Chinese  into  the  province,  see  Si.-s.  Pa/ier,i,  li.  ('., 
ISS:),  lilJ-O.  At  tliiitilatctlicre  wore  about  I'J.OOO  Chinanienin  B.  C.,of  wliom 
iiKjie  than  one  iialf  were  cniplojcd  on  the  C.  1'.  11.  For  re  solution  urging 
the  provincial  governnicnt  to  adopt  means  for  restricting  further  Chiniso 
immigration,  for  compelling  those  already  in  tlie  jiroviuce  to  comply  \\i;li 
tlie  rcvcuuo  ami  other  laws,  and  for  inaugurating  a  liberal  scheme  of  assistcil 
white  iunuigration,  see  Jour.  Lcjis.  Ash.  11.  C,  ISSli,  17.  In  April  IbsOa 
resolution  was  passed  in  the  assembly,  re(juesting  the  dominion  government 
to  authorize  (he  passing  of  the  Chinese  tax  act,  a  copy  of  which  will  be  found 
in  /(/. ,  1S80,  '21.  For  petition  to  the  legislature  of  the  Anti-Chinese  .Asso- 
ciation, see  iScst.  J'ajii'iv,  li.  ('.,  1880,  400;  for  act  to  provide  for  the  better 
collection  of  taxes  from  (Jhinesc,  St  it.  B.  ('.,  1878,  l'J9-li2;  for  papers  ami 
resolutions  of  assend)l3' relating  to  Chinese  iunnigration  between  1870  ami 
ISSl,  Setis.  I'a/.ers,  B.  "C,  1884,  '2-J0-4:!.  For  vicw8  of  .Mr  .lustico  IJcgbie  on 
tlie  Chiucso  iptestion,  sec  .S'rtr.  llfronl- Union,  March  I'J,  1880;  for  anti-tJhi- 
ncHC  agit:ition  at  Victoria,  /(/.,  May  o,  '23,  1885;  .V.  F.  C/ironicle,  May  I'li, 
18So.  Ill  ISSl  there  was  a  railroad  strike  and  anli-Chiucso  riot  at  Vale,  an 
nccouut  of  wiiieli  is  given  in  the<S'.  /''.  .llln,  May  10,  1881;  Sac.  llcronl-U .ihhi, 
May  10,  ISSl.  As  hite  at  least  as  1878  the  Cliiucse  invasion  was  not  coiisiil- 
cred  to  be  a  serious  evil.  Good's  Brit.  Vol.,  MS.,  104.  For  additional  items 
and  comments  on  the  Chiuese  (jucstion,  see  Brit.  Coloiii.il,  Aiif.  1'!,  187>i; 
Toronto  Li'ddtr,  in  I'ic.  Slaudrml,  Apr.  17,  1878;  Standard,  A\n\  17,  18," >, 
Apr.  ;!0,  May  I"),  1879;  AVw  Westminster  dctrdian.  May  10,  1879;  Domi.t- 
ion  I'ac.  Herald,  March  22,  1879;  S.  F.  Bnlletin,  Aug.  :}1,  ISOo,  Aug.  (>, 
Oct.  14,  Nov.  4,  1878,  Mareii  11,  1879;  Call,  May  12,  I87ti,  Juno  i:!,  i.s7ii; 
/'o.s'/,  May;i,  1870;  Alt.a,  June  13,  July  4,  1800;  Chronide,  Sejit.  i:!,  1878. 

"  The    principal  one   was  tlio  24tli  of   ilay,   the  (piecn's  birthday,   and 


noN. 


AN  EASY  LIFK. 


713 


ade  until  the 
Dors  of  their 

0  pcrcentaiTo 
means  lack- 

tal  were  iu)t 
Pacific  coast 
'  unrest,  and 
dlotted  span 
what  easily, 
re  at  nine  or 
(jng  interval 
is  gates,  wlio 
idike  habits, 
ill-to-d(;,  and 
tainly  better 
\.s  in  other 
weie  nuicli 

1  junketing', 
en   they  oc- 

nion  govornincut 

s.  J'djiern,  Ji.  I '., 

in  n.  C,  of  whurii 

•soliilion  ui'ijiiiL; 

fiirtliui'  Cliiiic.'.ie 

to  comply  wiiU 

•lifiiic  of  ussisluil 

la  April    ISSOa 

ion  govL'i'nineiit 

cli  will  be  foiu.il 

ti-Cliinusu  Asso- 

0  for  tlio  l)utttT 

for  papers  and 

tween  1870  ami 

■stico  15c^;bio  on 

;  for  anti-(Jlii- 

•oiiicle,  May  L';!, 

riot  at  Vale,  an 

['(•■■urd-U  ,ih)ii, 

waa  not  eonsid- 

lilitional  itcniH 

\\<\:    I'i,  lS7,s; 

A|ir.  17,   IS.'S 

',  1S79;  bom  id- 

1S(k),   Aug.  (i, 

June   i;!,  is7'J; 

)t.  i:!,  kS78. 

birtliJay,   uiiJ 


curred  at  too  longintervals,  little  excuse  was  needed  for 
jinielaiiniiiL;'  others.  Recreation  was  consiilered  as  a 
jiortioii  ol"  the  programme  of  lil'e;  and  throughout  the 
warm  season  and  the  long  twilight  of  the  Indian 
summer,  there  were  few  evenings  on  which  the  bay 
was  not  dotted  with  pleasure  craft,'"  and  the  roads 
thronu'enl  with  vehicles,  auKJULT  the  favorite  (h'ives 
being  those  to  Esquimalt,  to  lliciiniond,  and  to  Beacon 
]Iilb'=' 

In  18G1,  and  for  several  years  thereafter,  the  in- 
coming voyager  was  jolted  over  some  three  and  a  half 
miles  of  execrable  rt)ad  on  his  way  from  Es(|uiinalt  to 
Victoria.  The  intervening  space  was  appropriated 
hy  thousands  of  Indians  from  the  neighbt)rhood  of 
Xootka  Sound,  the  western  coast  of  Vancouver,  and 
the  borders  of  Alaska,  and  by  human  waifs  from  the 
Paciiic  coast  settlements — men  attracted  in  ever- 
iiiereasing  nundiors  since  the  gold  excitement  of  1858. 
Tlien;  may  have  been  some  who  came  with  honest  in- 
tent, but  the  majority  were  gathered  for  no  good 
]iur[)ose,  insomuch  that  the  place  was  turned  into  a 
]'aiidemonium,  became  the  receptacle  for  stolen  goods, 
the  site  of  tralfic  in  illicit  whiskey,  and  illicit  amours. 
Orgies  of  the  most  revolting  character  ceased  not  by 
(lay  or  night ;  there  were  hundreds  of  savage,  drunken, 
and  I'renzied  beings  in  human  guise  encountered  at 
ahiiost  every  turn  of  the  |)ath,  beings  among  whom 

aiiioii','  others  may  be  mcntioneil  the  4th  of  July,  the  prince  of  Wales'  l)irth- 
d  ,y.  coronation  day,  and  dominion  day. 

'•I'lio  favorite  resort  for  boating  parties  was  the  Gorge,  a  narrow  aim  of 
the  harboi',  and  openinginto  it  by  .a  passage  so  narrow  that  one  might  almost 
lea  11  across  it.   S.  F.  IJiil/rlin,  March   I'J,  1SS5. 

'Hn  ISSl  Victoria  was  lighted  by  electricty.  6'.  F.  fliilliiiii,  Nov.  21,  1S81. 
Tor  the  Corpoiation  of  Victoria  Water-works  act,  1S7.'?,  :.men<lcd  by  act  of 
b'^7">,  see  (.'oiisol.  Stat.  /I.  C.  (cd.  IS77),  77o-S7;  for  Water-works  l)ibenturo 
liiKiiantee  act,  1S74,  Id..  7S7  !I0.  The  water  was  conviycl  from  Kik  Lake, 
!idi-tauceof  scxcn  miles,  the  cost  of  the  works  being  fe!J(M1.(M)>).  /)/■(/.  ( 'n/. 
J'l  iii.,  ISSIt,  II.  I'"or  mention  of  carth(juakes  at  Victoria,  sre  iS'.  Z'.  Jliilli-'ui, 
X"v.  IC,  ISO!;  Dec.  17,  1S7:2;  Call,  Oct.  (i,  1S(!4;  Alx'inl  J'u-sl,  Jan.  S,  ls70; 
Sir,  Rcroi-d-Uiiinii,  March  14,  ISSl.  For  condition,  progress,  etc.,  at  various 
(laics,  .see  .S'.  F.  Iin!lH,u.  .June  '20,  .July  0.  8,  '20,  20,  Dec.  H.  18.")S;  Fel).  1."),  10, 
Apr.  ].■>,  18,  18.")!);  May  10,  Nov.  10.  1802;  Feb.  1,  1870:  .4 /ta,  .June  25,  Aug. 
'2\  IS7S;  May '27,  Ih.Vlt;  May  21,  1800;  May  i:!,  1801,  March  2:),  1802;  Lull, 
Jan.  22,  18Gj;  Timcd,  iSov.  2,  1807;  Forllaud  Wtal  H/tore,  July  1877. 


I    i^ 


i 


714 


SHTTLKMENTS,  MISSION'S,  AND  EDUCATION. 


I     i^l 


tht!  stron;^  arm  of  the  law  could   scarcely  preserve 
the  weinblance  of  order." 

In  1880  Esquimalt,  where  two  or  three  men-of-war 
were  mLIII  usually  stationed,  furnished  to  the  leaders  of 
the  city's  fashion  recruits  for  their  jtalls,  parties,  kettle- 
drums, and  lawn-tennis,  while  among  the  blue  and 
scarlet  attire  of  the  marines  and  naval  officers  iigund 
the  gorgeous  uniforms  of  the  local  artillery  and  mili- 
tia. Second  only  to  the  capital  in  the  beauty  oi'  its 
sight,  and  far  surpassing  it  in  harbor  facilities,  the 
town  onco  selected  as  the  terminus  of  the  Canadian 
Pacilic  railway,  and,  as  many  think,  the  future  termi- 
nus, contained  at  the  latter  date  probably  less  than 
a  thousand  white  inhabitants.''^ 

Nanaimo  and  its  neighborhood  contained  a  popula- 
tion of  about  4,500,  the  number  being  constant!}' 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  miners,  mechanics,  and 
laborers.  The  line  of  the  island  railway  passes 
through  its  centre,  and  from  the  point  selected  ior  the 
company's  de{>ot  has  been  located  toward  Departure 
Bay.  In  the  midst  of  a  rich  mineral  and  agricultural 
region,  with  extensive  collieries  in  full  operation,  the 
bituminous  coal  of  this  district  sellinu:  at  hi<iher  rates 
than  Australian  coal,  or  than  any  as  yet  [)roducfd  mi 
the  Pacific  coast,'"  with  an  excellent  harbor,  and  with 
steamers  and  sailing  craft  from  San  Francisco,  I'oit- 
land,   Sitka,   and   other  foreign  and    domestic  [)()rts 


'*  On  one  occasion  it  required  the  presence  of  two  or  tlirce  vessels  of  war 
auil  a  (ioniunsliution  in  foivo  to  restrain  tlioni.  (/oor/'.s  JJril.  Col.,  MS.,  .V 

'5  Accordini;  to  the  census  returns  for  ISSl,  the  \vliite  population  of  llie 
Esquimalt  (lislrict  was  G14,  and  the  Chinese  popuhition  4,',Wtb.  In  ISSi)  the 
graviug-dock,  wliich,  when  iinishod,  will  he  one  of  the  largest  on  the  I'Miilic 
coast,  had  not  yet  been  completed.  For  p.ipers  relatin;^  to  its  constrnctinii, 
Boe  Hc'x.  I'aicrs,  Ji.  C,  iHtSO,  3:i7-;}4;  and  tor  reports  of  the  couiiniitcc 
thereon,  Join:  Lr'Htfl.  Asa.  B.  ('.,  1S82,  12,  "27,  G.").  Kor  act  to  incorporate 
the  ]''^.piiinalt  Water-works  Company,  Si'u  S/'il.  Ji.  C,  188'),  l.'>7-<)(i. 

"^ Ag  the  close  of  18S5  the  price  of  Nanaimo  coal  was  .§7  to  ^S.^o  pii'  ton, 
accordin,'  to  quality,  against  I;?.'). 87  a  ton  for  Australian  coal,  5! ).  10  for  (Hua 
Hay,  and  8'>  for  Srattlo  coal.  ,S'.  /•'.  Jllillcthi,  Doc.  -^l,  ISS,").  The  several  .;c- 
scriptionaof  Nanaimo  coal  were  known  a.s  Douglas,  Wellington,  Now  Doii.'l.is 
(or("liase  Itivcri,  Newcastle,  South  Fields,  Alexandra,  and  llarewooil.  U.  '-'. 
JJirect.,  ISS.'),  IJO.  The  output  of  Nanaimo  and  Wellington  coal  wa.i  from 
Jan.  1  to  Nov.  .30,  ISS'i,  ahout  192,000  tons,  the  total  deliveries  for  lliat 
period  being  some  887,199  tons. 


^..iJ 


NANAIMO  AND  NKW  WESTMINSTER. 


71ft 


constantly  at  hor  wharves,  Nanainio,  incorporated  as 
a  city  in  1874,  contained  one  of  the  most  prosperous 
and  contented  coninmnitics  in  British  Cohunl)ia." 
WeUington,  a  short  distance  toward  the  nortli,  and 
j'or  which  the  shipping  point  was  Departure  Bay,  a 
picturesque  inlet  of'  tho  Georgian  Gidf,  contained  in 
188G  about  1,200  people,  and  Comox,  a  thriving  vil- 
lage ii:  the  most  northerly  agricultural  district  of 
Vancouver,  some  300  inhabitants. 

Of  coal  discoveries,  collieries,  and  coal-mining  suf- 
ficient mention  has  already  been  made  in  this  volume. 
It  rcMuains  only  to  be  said  that  in  1885  tho  Vancouver 
Coal  Mining  and  Jjand  Company,  in  addition  to  their 
Nanaimo  estate,  wliich  included  the  site  of  the  citv 
and  many  square  miles  of  adjacent  land,  were  the 
proprietors  of  the  Wellington  mine,  tho  island  of  New- 
castle," and  the  Protection  Islands,  and  the  Frew  and 
Ilarewood  estates,  the  latter  consisting  of  some  0,000 
acres.  The  compan}^  gave  employment  to  about  GOO 
men,  at  fair  rates  of  wages,"  and  at  a  depth  of  GOO 
feet  the  well-known  Douglas  seam  was  found  to  be 
ohAit  feet  in  thickness. 

Passing  to  the  mainland.  New  Westminster,*''  with 
its  neat  and  tasteful  residences,  built  on  wide  and  well- 
defined  streets,  risinij  in  rejjfular  gradients  from  the 
l»ank  of  the  Eraser,  with  its  salmon-fisheries,  its 
farmin-jf  and  manufiicturinijf  Interests,  and  its  ijcneral 
air  of  respectability  and  thrift,  contained  in  1S8G  a 
po[)ulation  of  more  than  4,000.  Xear  its  centre  stood 
tho  dominion  government  building,  a  liandsonie  brick 
structure  with  facino^s  of  freestone.  On  the  outskirts 
were  the  provincial  asylum  for  the  insane. 


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''  For  act  incorporating  the  Nanaimo  Water-works  Company,  see  Stut. 
J).  C,  ISS.'),  lC:)-77. 

"•Where  is  a  valuable  stone-quarry. 

"Miners  cariicil  from  SJ.50  to  §5  a  day;  Indians  and  Cliinamen,  of  whom 
about  100  were  employed  as  laborers,  received  $1  to  §1.'JJ.  JJ.  C  Direct., 
1SS4-.'),  119. 

^"^  Of  whicli  a  description  is  given  in  the  Portland  West  Shore,  Fel).  1880. 
For  report;)  of  superintendent  and  comniissiouurs,  see  Sess.  Pajjcrx,  li.  C, 
1884,  281,  335-45;  1883,  321-31. 


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SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


aiul  one  of  the  provincial  [)onitentiaiics,  ■'  tho  former 
a  brick  edilice,  coinuianiling  a  panoramic  view,  and 
partially  surrounded  with  evcr^^recn  trees. 

Lantfley,  distant  about  seventeen  miles  from  the 
former  capital,  was  a  favorite  rendezvous  for  sports- 
men; and  Lytton,  some  sixty  Uiiles  beyond,  a  town 
which,  like  Lillooet,  contained  during  the  gold  ex- 
citement a  floating  population  numbered  by  the  thou- 
sand, was  again  de  .'doping,  after  a  long  period  of 
decadence,  into  a  thriving  town."  In  the  Cliilli- 
whack  municipality,  east  of  Langley,  were  several 
thriving  settlements,  the  one  that  bears  that  name 
being  built  on  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  on  the 
mainland.'^  Savona's  Ferry  was  at  this  date  a  grow- 
ing and  prosperous  settlement,  and  Kamloopbade  fair 
to  become  one  of  the  leading  towns  of  the  mainland 
interior.  Clinton,  situated  2,700  feet  above  the  sea- 
level,  at  the  junction  of  the  Cariboo  and  Lillooet 
roads,  and  noted  for  the  beauty  of  its  scenery,  was  in 
a  prosperous  condition;  and  Barkerville,  at  the  termi- 
nus of  the  Cariboo  wagon-road,  with  a  population  of 
nearly  300  persons,  enjoyed  a  good  share  of  the  gen- 
eral business  of  British  Columbia.-^ 

Soda  Creek,  some  forty  miles  above  the  mouth  of 
the  Chilkotin,  was  the  point  from  which  the  upper 
Fraser  was  deemed  navigable,  the  river  between  that 
village  and  Yale  being  obstructed  by  rapids.  In  its 
neighborhood  were  several  flourishini;  farms,  and  here 
the  wagon-road  to  Cariboo,  which  diverged  at  Lytton 
from  the  line  of  the  stream,  airain  struck  the  Frast'r. 
Quesncl,  about  sixty  miles  beyond,  and  on  the  lel'fc 

"  Reports  of  the  8iii)erintcnilent  of  police  on  provincial  prisons  will  b« 
found  in  /«/.,! S84,  441-G3;  1883,  471-90;  1882,  457-500.  Tlicre  were  also 
jiiils  ut  Victoria,  Nanaimo,  anil  Clinton. 

'■'■^At  one  time  it  contained  only  a  dozen  dilapidated  buildings.  'f'i/"(/'» 
liril.  Co/.,  M.S.,  07.  In  1885  Lillooet  contained  only  one  broad  street.  Now 
gold  discoveries  were  eonatantly  being  made  in  its  neighborhood,  and  the  s.i- 
called  bridge  River  mines  paid  fair  wages  during  the  seasons  of  low  walir  nu 
the  Fraaer.  U.  C.  Direct.,  1885,  21.3. 

^  Among  others  were  Centreville,  the  steamboai  lauding  for  Chilliwiiui  k, 
Sumas,  I'opcum,  and  Cheam. 

^'  In  ISUO  Ikirkerville  was  almost  destroyed  by  (ire.  S.  F.  Call,  Sept.  J.'l, 
18C8. 


TOWN  OF  YALE. 


1 1 1 


bank  of  the  river,  was  the  point  of  delivery  by  the 
steamer  plyin<j;  thence  to  Soda  Creek,  and  shared  with 
Barkerville  tlie  trade  of  the  Cariboo  country.  At 
Alexandria,  forty  miles  beh)\v  Quesnel,  was  still  one 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  posts,  in  the  vicinity 
of  which  were  also  profitable  farms,  though  the  soil 
in  parts  required  irrigation. 

Next  to  New  Westminster,  Yale  ranked  first  among 
the  settlements  of  the  mainland,  containing  a  resi- 
dent white  population  of  live  or  six  hundred  souls, 
though  during  the  construction  of  the  railroad  the 
number  was  considerably  increased.  Built  entirely  of 
wood,  in  1881  the  town  was  partially  destroyed  by 
fire."  A  border  place  between  the  mainland  coast 
and  the  mainland  interior,  and  api)roached  at  various 
epochs  by  canoe,  bateau,  and  steand)oat,  it  contained, 
among  other  buildings,  several  excellent  coiinti-y-sido 
hotels  and  stores,  two  chui'ches,  episcopal  and  catholic, 
and  the  provincial  government  school.'" 


(     11  r, 


Among  the  residents  of  Yale  in  1878  may  be  men- 
tioned John  B.  Good,^'  who  in  18G1  arrived  in  the 
province  as  an  evangelist  under  the  auspices  of  the 
London  Church  Missionary  Society  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  gospel.  Landing  at  Esquimalt  in  18GI, 
at  a  time  when  the  usually  gentle  savages  had  been 
roused  to  frenzy  by  the  greed  and  aggression  of  min- 
ing adventurers,  and  tiie  wholesale   introduction  of 


'^  Tho  loss  was  estimated  at  iSiOO.OOO.  Diiriiifj  the  previous  year  n  fire  had 
occurred,  causing  damage  to  tho  uinoiiiit  of  i^To.UOO.  .V.  /■'.  IJiillrlin,  .Aug.  I!), 
'.'(),  ISSIj  Sacrumeiilo  Union,  Ai\g.  'M,  "j;!,  l!S5l;  Stociloii  Jiitlrjit'iidi nf,  .Vul;. 
20,  1S81,  July  30,  1880. 

''"  I'or  furtlicr  ineution  of  towns  and  settlements  in  IS&2,  bco  ChiUriidi'ii'a 
Tiavdi  ill  Jlrit.  Col.,  IS-l'i,  passim. 

'"  A  native  of  Wrawby,  Lincoiisliirc,  Knj;l.Tnd.  lie  w.is  in  early  youth 
a  pupil  of  John  West,  tiie  lir.st  Hudson's  liiiy  Company's  chaplain  of  I'linco 
liiipcrt  Ijind,  and  completed  hi.i  education  ut  .St  Aujjustiue  ccilli'^'i',  Ciuitir- 
buiy.  Hi.s  first  calling  as  a  missionary  was  to  Nova  Scotia.  'I'o  Mr  ( iood  I 
am  indehted  for  a  valuable  nianuscrii.t,  one  often  quoted  in  these  p;iv;cs  as 
(itiud's  Uriliiih  Coliimbin,  and  in  which  tiieru  are  many  interesting;  roi-oi-Ji  as 
til  society,  politics,  industries,  and  Betllcmcnt.  The  most  valiuil)lc  portion 
01  hia  narrative,  however,  is  in  conucction  with  his  experience  as;  a  missionary 
aaxjug  tho  native  tribes. 


718 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


fire-arms  and  fire-water,"'  Mr  Good  labored  faithfully, 
and  not  in  vain,  for  the  improvement  of  their  moral  and 
physical  condition.  Among  others  who  have  devoted 
themselves  to  the  same  cause  may  be  mentioned  Wil- 
liam Duncan,  who,  arriving  at  Fort  Simpson  as  a 
missionary  sent  forth  by  the  same  society  in  1858, 
afterward  established  a  mission  of  his  own  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Metlakathla  Bay.  By  188G  this 
establishment  had  developed  into  a  town  containing 
some  1,500  so-called  civilized  natives,  with  neat  two- 
story  houses  and  regular  streets.  The  settlement  was 
almost  self-supporting,  no  outside  aid  being  received 
except  the  voluntary  offerings  of  visitors.  The  prin- 
cipal industry  was  the  weaving  of  shawls.  There  was 
also  a  salmon  cannery  with  a  capacity  of  10,000  oases 
a  year;  a  sash  and  door  factory;  and  a  saw-mill  and 
a  brick-yard.  The  church,  built  entirely  by  the 
natives,  and  the  materials  for  which,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  windows,  were  of  home  production,  liad  a 
seating  capacity  of  nearly  1,000,  and  was  one  of  the 
largest  in  British  Columbia.^ 

Among  the  Kootenai  tribe  a  catholic  mission  was 
for  many  years  in  operation  under  Father  Fouquett, 
of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  and  in  the  Okanagan  Valley, 
Kamloop  district,  near  Williams  and  Fraser  lakes, 
in  the  Chilkotin  country,  at  Lillooet,  and  on  the  lower 
Fraser  were  missions  belonging  to  the  same  order, 


"  About  this  date  Gooil  states  that  men-of-war  were  constantly  necilcd  to 
check  the  depredations  of  roving  bands  of  Indians,  hundreds  of  urincil  ami 
drunken  savages  infesting- the  waters  in  the  neighborhood  of  Nauaiino.  in  a 
passage  alx>voCowitcban  gap,  just  before  entering  the  Nanaimo  narrows,  waa 
a  veritable  cave  of  Adullum,  tlie  rendezvous  for  the  members  of  severul  law- 
less tribes,  who,  under  their  chief,  Arehewon,  waylaid  and  murdered  paitits 
of  explorers  and  emigrants.  It  wns  resolved  to  break  up  this  pcaiiluiili  il 
crew,  several  men-of-war  being  sent  for  the  purpose,  among  whieli  was  llio 
JJemKtation,  commanded  by  Capt.  Pike.  Five  of  tho  principal  ofluinkis, 
among  whom  was  Arehewon,  were  arrested,  and  four  of  them  scnteiiccil  to 
bo  hanged.  Mr  Good,  wlio  attended  them  during  their  last  hours,  icl.itca 
that  tliey  showed  not  the  slightest  symptoms  of  compunction,  and  suiiiicil 
only  to  regret  that  more  of  those  whom  they  regarded  as  their  legitimate  luev 
had  not  fallen  into  their  hands,  which  beliavior  was  more  consistent  than  that 
of  the  average  white  villain  about  to  bo  hanged.  JJril.  Col.,  MS.,  27-S. 

'*A  description  of  this  mission,  among  other  places,  will  bo  found  iu  the 
8.  F.  Uallttin,  Aug.  27,  1883. 


INDIAN  FOUCY. 


710 


their  central  missionary  station  being  that  of  St 
Mary's,  some  thirty  mile,s  above  New  Westminster.** 

By  the  missionary  society  for  the  gospel  propaga- 
tion missions  were  established  also  among  the  Chim- 
syans  and  Nishtacks,  the  Tahkats,  the  Cowitchins, 
and  the  Eraser  and  Thompson  river  tribes,  $10,000 
being  expended  annually,  and  during  several  years 
previous  to  1871,  for  the  support  of  eight  mission- 
aries and  the  industrial  training  of  these  tribes."  At 
the  latter  date  some  5,000  natives  were  under  instruc- 
tion, and  though  considerable  progress  had  been  made, 
more  teachers  were  needed.  In  a  letter  to  the  New 
England  Company,  the  episcopal  archdeacon  of  Van- 
couver remarks:  "  The  government  of  this  colony  has 
hitherto  had  no  definite  or  tangible  policy  with  re- 
gard to  the  native  Indian  tribes.  They  have  preserved 
for  them  crown  lands  under  the  name  of  Indian  re- 
serves; they  have  prevented  their  lands  being  en- 
croached upon;  they  have  in  existence  a  liquor  law, 
with  penal  clauses,  stringent  and  severe,  but  honored 
more  in  the  breach  than  in  observance.  Beyond  this 
they  have  done  nothing,  so  far  as  I  know.  There  does 
not  exist  an  Indian  hospital  in  the  colony  to  ameliorate 
the  evils  which  contact  with  a  too  advanced  stage  of 
civilization  has  brought  upon  its  unprepared  victims." 
Out  of  an  estimated  government  expenditure  in  18G9 
of  £122,250,  the  amount  put  down  for  expenses  con- 
nected with  the  Indian  tribes  was  £100.'^ 

In  Canada  the  interests  of  the  Indian  population 
have  always  been  guarded  with  special  solicitude  by 
the  government;  but  in  British  Columbia  the  cou- 


*  :!■ 


*'^0ood'8  Brit.  Col.,  MS.,  97-8.  It  is  related  tliat  at  the  Okanagan  mik- 
sion,  many  years  ago,  the  venerable  French  padres  invited  their  suholurs,  one 
festal  day,  to  partake  of  aonie  nicely  cooked  frogs;  whereat  tl<e  savages  scat- 
tered iu  terror  to  their  homes,  the  appearance  of  a  frog  being  regarded  by  them 
iut  the  premonition  of  calamity. 

"In  18SI,according  to tlie  return  of  the  Indian  department,  the  natives 
settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Thompson,  above  Lytton,  owned  5,025  horses, 
^>yj  cows,  a  number  of  work-oxen,  and  raised  135  tons  of  cereals,  Go2  tons  of 
bay,  and  12,570  bushels  of  potatoes.  B.  U.  Direct.,  1882-3,  14. 

"D.  C.  Papem,  lad.  Land  Question,  1850-75,97-8.  The  archdeacon'n 
letter  was  published  iu  the  Columbia  report  for  1870. 


790 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


dition  of  the  natives  was,  until  recent  years,  less  satis- 
factory than  in  other  portions  of  the  dominion.  In  thia 
province  no  Indian  title  to  land  was  recognized,  as  was 
the  case  elsewhere  in  British  America.  Under  the 
auspices  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com]  any,  and  under 
the  regime  of  Sir  James  Douglas,  the  title  was  in- 
deed conceded,  but  not  so  in  later  years.  Although 
there  may  never  have  been  any  danger  of  serious  or 
permanent  revolt,  there  were,  as  we  have  seen,  several 
formidable  outbreaks,  and  frequent  danger  of  collision. 
There  may  be  seen  to-day  throughout  British  Colum- 
bia nations  and  individuals  in  all  conditions,  from 
untutored  savagism,  attired  simply  in  a  verminous 
blanket,  and  perched  like  a  bird  of  prey  on  a  rock, 
catching  his  dinner  of  fish,  to  the  well-clad  and  in- 
dustrious inmate  of  comfortable  homes.  In  the  former 
condition  the  Indian  is  neither  a  producer  nor  a  con- 
sumer; in  the  latter  he  is  both;  and  in  proportion  as 
his  condition  is  improved  will  he  contribute  to  the 
wealth  of  the  province. 

The  task  of  improving  the  condition  of  the  natives 
has  been  rendered  less  difficult  by  the  fact  that  the 
intrusion  of  the  white  man  has  not  diminished 
their  supplies  of  food.  Fish  and  game,  which,  as  in 
Alaska,  form  the  staple  diet  of  the  aboriginal,  and 
were  as  necessary  to  him  as  bread  and  meat  to  the 
white  man,  or  the  plantain  and  banana  to  the  dweller 
within  the  tropics,  are  still  as  plentiful  as  ever.  To 
the  nomad  tribes  of  Canada  the  buffalo  was  their  sole 
resource,  supplyirg  them  not  only  with  food,  but  with 
fuel,  clothes,  and  shelter.  The  extinction  of  this  ani- 
mal brought  upon  them  starvation  and  beggary ;  while 
in  British  Columbia  the  Indian  has  not  only  been 
furnished  with  better  implements  for  securing  his  food, 
but  has  been  taught  how  to  farm,  and  thus  acquired  a 
new  source  of  food  supply.  Not  only  is  this  the  case, 
but,  as  I  have  said,  natives  are  largely  employed  as 
herders,  laborers,  porters,  and  in  various  industries," 

"Especially  in  the  Mainland  interior,  where  their  well-known  houesty 


FORTS. 


721 


nor  a  con- 


and  this  from  no  motives  of  philanthropy.  "I  believe," 
said   the  marquis  of  Lome,"  during  his  visit  to  the 

recommends  them  for  eiDpIoymcnt.  Among  the  instances  of  the  trust  reposed 
hi  them  niuy  lie  nicntiont'd  one  that  occurred  in  the  autumn  of  1S7-  or  IS7>'), 
when  a  merchant  on  his  way  to  Lillooet  witli  a  cargo  of  Hour,  his  craft  being 
stranded  on  a  sand-bar,  stacked  the  entire  freight  on  tlie  river  bank,  simply 
covering  it  with  tarpaulin.  There  it  was  left  until  the  following  fpi  ing, 
when  it  \«  as  found  undisturbed.  The  nearest  house  was  but  three  inilis  invay, 
and  during  the  winter  the  Indians  were  buying  Qour  in  that  neighborhood  at 
very  high  rates.  In  The  Norlhwfst  Trrritorien  ami  British  Columbia,  by 
JhicaK  McDonnell  Dawson,  Ottawa,  1881,  is  u  description  of  the  food,  habits, 
and  condition  of  some  of  the  natives  at  that  date.  There  are  here  ahu  re- 
marks on  the  climate,  vegetation,  fisheries,  industries,  fauna,  flora,  and  general 
resources  of  B.  C.  The  work  is  of  little  value,  except  for  the  index,  which 
contains  items  of  information  culled  from  various  resources. 

*^  Dominion  of  Canada  Ouidf-Dook,  ISS."),  75.     The  following  catalogue  of 
forts,  with  reference  to  fuller  descriptions,  points  to  some  of  the  early  centres 
of  occupation.     C'hanipoeg,  .S5  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Willamette,  was 
a  tradinpt  post  established  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  1840.  Groy'» 
(Jnijon,  42.     In  18.jt)  it  was  still  in  existence.   //.  li.  Co.'s  licpl,  .'507.  Fort 
Kamloopon  the  Thompson;  forts  Alexander,  William,  Garey,  and  Abercrom- 
bie,  in  New  Caledonia;  Rupert,  on  north  side  of  V.  I.;  Simpson,  on  tlie  main- 
land, near  the  Portland  canal;   Wraugel,  u  stockade,  originally  on  Dundas 
Island,  at  the  mouth  of  the  fStickeon,  and  afterward  removed  CO  miles  up  the 
river,  and  known  as  I'ort  Stickeen — all  belonged  to  the  II.  B.  Co.  Giai/'s  (hnjon, 
4.').     Fort  Thomiison  was  established  by  David  Thompson  in  ISlOon  the  .'-.iteof 
Kamloop.    Fort  Franklin  was  erected  in  1825  on  Great  Bear  Lake  for  Franklin's 
expedition  to  the  i'olarsea.  Lanlner,  iii.  240.     Chinook  Point  post  was  in  the 
Culunibia  tlistrict.  //.  B.  Co.'s  I.'ept,  307.     The  Cowlitz  post  in  W.  T.  was  in 
existence  in  I8.")G.     A  Spanish  fort  a*'  Meah  B»iy,  V.  I.,  built  in  179'2,  and  sur- 
rounded liy  a  stockade,  was  soon  afterward  abandoned,  and  then  burned  by 
Indians.  Lvaim'  (Jr.,  MS.,  07.     Fort  Santa  Cruz,  on  the  north  point  of  Nootk."* 
entrance,  was  also  a  Spanish  stronghold  and  settlement.    FtVyci  al  Xoric,  MS. , 
3S5.     Long  before  the  eonquestof  Canada,  the  French  had  a  postat  Pasquia,  on 
tlic  Saskatchewan.  Maclenzic'n  I  'oi/. ,  Ixix.     On  the  same  river  was  I'ort  Augus- 
tus. /(/.,  Ixix.,  Ixxiii.    Fort  (>'ar".ton.  on  the  south  side  of  the  Saskatchewan, 
was  protected  by  high  palisades,  and  at  each  angle  was  a  small  squaio  tower. 
In  18.'>5  it  was  attacked  by  Indians.   Martin's  lliulson's  Bay,  17;  SnuVx  Miss., 
1-4;  Miltiino)i(tCfietidk''MA'.  \V,  Pnnsaije,  49.     Fort  Cumberland,  on  Sturgeon 
Lake,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Saskatchewan,  was  built  in  1774.     Frauklin'nAarr., 
i.  01;  Smcl'.i  Miss.,  l-_>4;  Mackenzie's  Voy.,  Ixix.     Fort  i\  la  Crosse  was  also  in 
the  Saskatchewan  district.  //.  B.  Co.'s  Ii<pt,  305.     Fort  Edmonton,  on  the 
north  braneh  of  the  Saskatchewan,  was  built  in  the  form  of  a  hexagon,  with 
lii^'h  pickets,  bastions,  and  battlemented  gateways,  and  lay  on  a  eoniiiiundin'j 
lieij.'lit.  Mnrtin's  Ihidson's  Bay,  18,  1'24.     In  1840  it  contained  about  l.'iOiii 
habitants.   Kane's  WaiahrinijH,  130.     It  was  the  chief  post  in  this  regiou,  and 
was  also  known  as  Fort  Augusto.  Smet's  Miss.,  122-4,     Fort  Confidence  wa:i 
a  mere  log  structure,  without  defensive  works,  forming  three  sides  of  a  sijuare, 
mm  stood  at  the  northern  end  of  Great  Bear  Lake,   lUchard&on's  Jour.,  ii. 
G.'!-,).     Dunveyan  post  lay  in  the  Athabasca  district.  Hudson's  Bay  Co.'s  /'(•}t, 
lifij.     In  1787  there  was  a  fort  on  Elk  Uiver.  Mackenzie's  I'oy.,  l-'O.     Fort 
C'liipewan,  one  of  the  most  important  posts  of  the  N.  W.  Co.  was  Indlt  on 
a  rocky  point  of  the  northern  shore  of  Athabasca  Lake.  Mackenzie's  I'oy., 
Ixxxvii.;  Martin's  Hudson's  Bay,  18;  I/.  B.  Co.'s  Iiept,3()o;  rrauktiu's  Aarr., 
i.  -;i7.     Fort  Assiniboinc  was  built  on  the  Athabasca.  //.  B.  Co.'s  Bipt,  ,305; 
\Siiiii's  Miss.,  l'_>4.     On  the  Assiniboine  and  its  tributaries  were  three  posts  of 
tlio  X.  W.  Co.  and  two  of  the  H.  B.  Co.   Lewis  and  Clarke's  Map.     East  Main. 
Factory  stood  opposite  Albany  Fort  at  the  foot  of  James  Bay,  in  about  lati- 
HlsT.  bail.  Col.    iO 


I  ;    ■ 
1  I    ' 


<   I' 


722  SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 

capital  in  1882,  "I  have  seen  the  Indians  of  ahnost 
every  tribe  throughout  the  dominion,  and  nowhore 

tudo  52°  30'  N.  Bonchftte,  Brit.  Dom.,  i.  33.    A  log  fort  was  built  by  Frank- 
lin in  1820,  at  Winter  Lake,  about  150  miles  north  of  Slave  Lake,  und  niiuieil 
Fort  Enterprise.     A  dwelling-house  and  storeliouse  weie  added.  FrmiL(iii\ 
Xarr.,  i.   1-14.     Here  Franklin  passed  the  winter  of  1821-2.  likhartUon't 
Polar,   148.     Fort  Franklin,  on  the  west  shore  of  Great  Bear  Lake,  wl'ero 
Lieut  Hooper  passed  the  winter  of  1849,  was  merely  a  log  hut  20  by  IS  fee*. 
lloojter^H  TentH  of  the  Tuxki,  305-6.     In  the  Athabasca  district  was  o.  post 
named  Fond  du  Lac.  //.  li.  Co.'n  Bept,  365.     Fort  Francis,  in  lied  lliver  dis- 
trict, consisted  of  a  number  of  buildings  in  the  form  of  a  square,  surrounilrd 
by  a  ten-foot  stockade.  Orant'a  Ocean,  46.     In  the  same  district  was  a  jioet 
known  as  Lower  Fort  Gurry.  //.  B.  t'o.'a  BrpI,  305.     This  was  one  of  tlio 
strongest  forts  in  the  H.  B.  territory,  the  walls  being  built  of  stone  and  with 
bastions  at  each  corner.     It  stood  on  the  north  baiik  of  Assiniboine  liiver, 
about  200  yards  from  its  junction  with  Red  River.  Kane's  Wanderimj':,  %; 
CormcatliH,  02;  Milton  and  Cheadleti'  X.  W.  Pamieigf,  30.     At  Georgetown,  on 
Red  River,  there  was  in  a  1808  a  warehouse  belonging  to  the  H.  1!.  Co. 
Coffin's  Seat  of  Empire,  79.     Fort  Good  Hope,  in  the  Mackenzie  district,  wiis 
moved  in  1830  about  100  miles  above  on  the  Mackenzie,  on  account  of  Hoods. 
II.  B.  C'o.'.i  Ucpt,  305;  likhnrdMn's  Jour.,  i.  213.     At  Green  Lake  post,  i:i 
English  River  district,  the  H.  B.  Co.  and  N.  W.  Co.  had  establiahnicnls  on 
opposite  sides  of  the  river  in  1820.  //.  B.  ('o.'h  liept,  305;  Franklin's  Aarr., 
i.  192.     For  mention  of  Fort  George  on  tho  Saskatchewan,  sec  Mackenzie'^ 
Voy.,  Ixlx.,  Ixxiii. ;  of  Fort  George  and  Great  Whale  River  post,  in  East,  Main 
district,  y/.  B.  Co.'h  llepl,  300;  of  Grand  Lac  post,  in  the  Tcmiscamiugiio 
district;  of  Godbout  post,  in  King's  Posts  district;  of  Fort  Halkctt,  in  the  Mac- 
kenzie district.     On  the  northern  branch  of  tho  Saskatchewan  there  was,  in 
1820,  a  post  named  Hudson  House.    On  the  cast  bank  of  Ilarricanaw  Rivci-  was 
a  small  establishment  boloni^ing  to  tho  H.  B.  Co.  BotichHIc's  Brit.  Dom.,  i.  SIS. 
In  tiic  Moose  and  Tcmiscaminguc  districts  were  posts  named  Hannah  liay  and 
Hunter's  Lodge.  //.  B.  Co.'x  BepI,  300.     On  He  il  la  Crosse  Lake,  near  lioavt  r 
River,  the  II.  B.  Co.  and  N.  W.  Co.  had  forts  in  1820.  situated  close  togctluT 
and  on  tho  south  side  of  tho  lake.     About  1S1.'>  tho  II.  B.  fort  was  cTpturcd 
by  the  N.  W.  Co.  Id.,  305;  Franklin's  Narr.,  i.  190;  Cox'.*  Advert,  227-8.    Tlio 
lake  was  named  after  an  island  therein,  where  the  Indians  used  to  play  tlio 
game  of  la-crosse.  Frankliii's  Xarr.,  i.  197.     In  the  King's  Posts  district  was 
the  Isle  Jeroniio  post.   //.  B.  Co.'a  Uept,  360.     Tho  Jasper  House  post,  oji 
the  Athabasca,  300  miles  above  Fort  Assiniboine,  contained  in  IS-Jo  only 
tlirce  log  huts:  but  was  tho  centre  of  communication  between  the  Cohimbia 
district  and  Fort  Edmonton.    In  1872  it  was  almost  abandoned.  Kane'n  II'oh- 
dcrimi.'),  15.'i-4;  Smet's  J/iw.,  124,   127,  130;   Orant'a  Ocean,  232.     In  Fort 
Coulongodistrict  was  the  Joachin  post;  in  Eskimo  Bay  district,  Kibokok]K)st; 
in  St  Maurice  district,  Kikandatch  post;  in  Temiscaminguo  district,  Kakabea- 
gino  post;  in  Rupert's  River  district,  Kaniapiscow  post;  in  tho  Kinoguinis.'^o 
dist^-ict,  Kuckatoosh  post;  in  Albany  district,  Lac  Seul  post;  in  Lac  la  I'luio 
district,  Lac  de  Ikinnet  and  Lac  dc  Bois  Blanc  posts;  in  Lake  Superior  dis- 
trict, Long  Lake  and  Lake  Nipigon  posts;  and  in  Lake  Huron  district,  Littio 
Current  post.  //.  B.  Co.'s  I'rpt,  305-0.     On  Green  Bay,  Lake  Michigan,  was 
a  stockade  much  dilapidated  wlicn  visited  by  Mr  Cars'cr  in  1700.     Aft'P  its 
surrender  to  tlie  English,  in  1703,  it  was  garrisoned  by  30  men,  wlm  wero 
made  prisoners  soon  after  the  surprise  of  Michillimackinac,  after  which  it  was 
neither  garrisoned  nor  repaired.  Carver,  22.      Lac  la  Pluio  was  a  Hudson's  Bay 
Co.'a  trading  post  on  the  height  of  land  dividing  the  waters  which  How  into 
the  St  Lawrence  from  those  which  fall  into  Hudson  Bay,  and  distant  some 
1,300  miles  from  Montreal.    Tho  N.  W.  Co.  had  a  post  here  in  1800.  .!/«)• 
tin's  llud.ton's  Bay,  123;  Cox's  Advent,  ii.  209-70;  Lewis  and  Clarke'"  May- 
La  Montte  was  a  N  W.  Co.'s  post  about  throe  miles  from  Carloton.  Frank- 


iUJ 


THE  GENTLE  SAVAGE. 


723 


can  you  find  any  who  arc  so  trustworthy  in  regard  to 
conduct,  so  willing  to  assist  the  white  settlers  by  their 

/I'nV  Nnrr.,  i.  1G2.    Leaser  Slave  Lake  and  Lac  la  Biuhe  posts  were  in  tha 
Sosliatchcwan  district.  Jl.  U.  Co.'m  Hfpt,  305.     Fort  La  Crosse,  on  the  border 
uf  Lung  Lake,  M'as  in  existence  in  1848.  Martin'n  Hiidsou's  liai/,  18.    Lapierre's 
iliiiisc  und  Fortaiix  Liards  were  in  the  Mackenzie  district.  J/.  li,  Co.  a  Hept, 
Sti't.     Liike  Nc])i8ingue  post  was  in  the  Tcmiscaniingiie  district;  Lncloelio  post 
in  Lake  Huron  district;  Lac  d'Oridnal  in  Lake  iSiiperior  district;  Little  Whale 
I'.ivcr  post  in  East  Main  district;  Lac  dca  AHutncttca  post  in  FortCoulong  dis- 
tricl ;  and  Locliinu  House  post  in  Lachine  district.    On  tlio  Saskatchewan  there 
was  in  1845  n  post  named  Fort  des  Montaignes.  Sincl'a  Alius.,  124.     MoosoFac- 
tory,  about  700  ndlcs  from  Montreal,  was  the  principal  dcpdt  on  the  south  shore 
of  Hudson's  15ay,  and  there  were  numerous  stations  connected  with  it.  Marlin's 
llmUoii'sUay,  \'1',\.    In  the  Cumberland  district  was  a  smnll  post  named  Moose 
Ldio.  //.  />'.  Co.^x  I'ept,  3Co.    The  trading  posts  on  Methye  Liiko  were  mere 
hills,  erected  in  1819.  FraiiklhCa  Narr.,  i.  UOl.     In  Red  lliver  district  was  the 
Manitobah  post;  in  Albany  district,  Marten's  Falls  post;  in  Kinogumisse  dis- 
trit,  Maluwagamingue  post.  11.  li.  Co.^s  I'ept,  300.    Michipicotou  pust,  on  the 
shore  of  Lake  Superior,  was  in  1840  the  chief  factory  in  Lake  Superior  district. 
Ibid. :  Martiii'ii  Hudnon^s  Bay,  123.     At  the  south  end  of  Lake  Winnipeg  was 
I'oi't  Maurepas;  on  the  north  branch  of  the  Saskatchewan  there  was,  in  1S20, 
a  pust  named  Manchester  House;  on  l!od  River  one  named  Marlboro'  House, 
and  on   Peace   River,  amid   the  Rocky  Mountains,  one  named  McLcud'n 
Fort.     At  a  council  held  at  Norway  House,  iu  1810,  it  was  resolved  to  estub- 
lisli  missions  at  that  point,  and  also  a  Lac  la  Pluicund  Edmonton.     A  catholic 
mission  was  established  at  He  h  la  Crosse  in  1840.  Murliu'n  Hudson  n  Bay, 
127-7;  liicharil.'iou'.^  Jour.,  i.  104.     Norway  House,  at  the  north  end  of  Lake 
Winnipeg,  was  in  1843  one  of  the  chief  depots  of  the  H.  li.  Co.,  and  it  was 
intended  to  make  it  the  residence  of  the  general  superintendent  of  missions. 
Martin's  Hudson's  Bay,  124.     It  was  founded  in  1819  by  a  party  of  Noiwe- 
giaua,  who  were  driven  from  Red  River  in  1814-lo,  and  took  up  their  abode 
at  Norway  Point.    Franldiii's  Nnrr.,  i.  07;   Bouchette'n  Brit.  Voui.,  i.  41. 
jMaiuainse  post  was  in  Lake  Superior  district;  Fort  Alacpherson  on  Peel  River 
near  the  Mackenzie;  Mississangee  post  in  Lake  Hurcn  district;  Mistasinny  and 
Mcciiiskau  [losts  in  Rupert's  River  district;  Matawa  post  in  Fort  Coulongc  dis- 
trict- Musquarro  post  m  Mingan  district;  Mingan  post  in  the  district  of  that 
name.  11.  B.  Co.'h  Itept,  SCO.     Long  before  the  conquest  of  Canada,  the  French 
had  a  settlcmentat  Nepawi,  on  the  Saskatchewan.     In  1 790  it  was  named  Ne- 
pawillouse.   Mackenzie.'H  ro;/.,lxix.,  Ixxiii.    Fort  Nascojiio  was  in  Eskimo  Ray 
district;  Natosquan  post  in  Mingnn  district;  and  Fort  Norman  in  Mackenzie 
(lisiiict.  II.  B.  Co.'x  ItPpl,  300.     Port  Nelson  River  post  was  captured  by  the 
French  in  1GC5.    The  French  port  on  Port  Nelson  River  was  named  iu  1097  Port 
Bourbon,  and  afterward  York  Fort.  Forater'n  Jluf.  Voy.,  377,  370.     In  1819  it 
6too<l  on  the  west  bank  of  Hayes  River,  five  miles  above  its  mouth,  on  the 
marshy  peninsula  which  separates  Hayes  and  Nelson  Rivers.     The  buildings 
funned  a  square,  with  an  octagoual  courc  in  the  centre,  the  servants'  houses 
being  outside  the  square,  and  the  whole  surrounded  with  a  stockade  20  Icet  in 
licigUt.  FranLlin'sNarr.,  i.  37-8.     Fort  New  Severn  w-as  on  the  south-eastern 
eliore  of  Hudson's  Bay.     North  West  River  post  was  in  tiio  Eskimo  Ray  dis- 
trict; Nitchequon  post  in  Rupert  River  district;  and  New  Brunswick  post  in 
Moose  district.   11.  B.  Co.'h  liept,SQ(i.    OldEstablishmcnt  wasbuilt  in  177S  ? 
on  I'eaco  River,  some  forty  miles  from  Athabasca  Lake,  and  was  the  only  fort  in 
that  region  till  1785.     In  1788  the  post  was  transferreil  to  the  southern  sidj 
of  Athabasca  Lake,  about  eight  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Athabasca  River,  its 
name  bcingchanged  to  Fort Chipewyan.  Mackenzie'H  Toy.,  Ixxxvii.     On  Peace 
River  there  was,  in  1820,  a  post  named  New  Establishment.     In  1819  Oxford. 
House  post,  in  York  district,  was  falling  into  decay.  Jf.  B.  Co.'h  Kept,  366; 
FraiiUin's  Natr,,  i.  57.     In  Albany  district  was  a  post  named  Osuaburg. 


r! 


, 


!i      I 


724 


8KTTLEMENTS,  MISSION'S,  AND  EDUCATION. 


. 


labor,  so  independent  and  anxious  to  learn  the  secirt 
of  the  white  man's  power.     While  elsewhere  are  nict 

//.  n.  Co.'n  lUpt,  306.     Fort  do  Prairies  belonged  in  1817  to  the  N.  W.  (  o,  in 
olso  l''ort  I'roviilenec,  nortli  of  OtiSlavo  Lake.  (  ox'h  Advcitl,  ii.  '-0.");  J'nt.l.iin'H 
A'arr.,  i.  313,     The  I'os  post  was  in  Cumberland  district;  I'ortuge  l.i  L.  lIio 
post  iu  English  lliver  district;  and  I'cel's  lliver  post  in  the  Mackenzie  disti  itt. 
J/,  li.  Vo.'h  He/it,  30.').     Fort  I'itt  lay  on  the  Saskatchewan,  in  lat.  i^r./j',  long. 
lOS".  Smiit'ii  Mils.,  r24.     Fort  I'elly  was  a  compact  post  on  tlie  route  In '.wnii 
forts  Garry  and  Carlton,  having   tlio  Assiniboino  Itivcr  in  front.  Murim't 
J/iidson'sJJai/,  17.     Formcntion  of  Fort  Churchill  or  Princo  of  W'ale.i  Furt,  t,ue 
Vox'h  Advent,  ii.  397.     Pike  Lake  post  was  in  lUiport'a  liivcr  district;  1'kk,ii 
Itiver  post  in  Lake  Superior  district;  and  Pic  post,  in  tlio  same  district,  om  llio 
ucjrlh  shore  of  the  lake,  belonged  in  1817  to  the  N.  W.  Co.   //.  Jl.  Co.'s  i:,j,i^ 
3()(j;  Cox'm  Adreiit,  ii.  '2t)0.     Pierre  an  Calumet,  also  a  post  of  the  11.  U.  ('  i.,  en 
a  high,  steep  baidc  on  the  Athabasca,  a  littlo  above  the  confluence  of  lliu  Lkar 
^\'ater,  was  so  named  from  the  place  where  the  stone  for  Indian  ]ii|ii  .s  wm 
obtained.     A  post  of  the  II.  li.  Co.  on  the  opposite  bank  w.is  abaniiuiml  in 
J8I9  for  want  of  supplies.  FranklitCii  Narr.,  i.  213.     Pembina  jiost  v.n.s  iu 
Keil  Kivcr  district;  Qu'uppcUo  Lakes  post  iu  Swan  River  district;  I'oit  Kac 
in  Mackenzie  district;  Kupid  Kivcr  post  iu  English  Ptivcr  district;  Kucky 
Mountain  House  iu  the  Saskatchewan  district;  and  Fort  Uesolutio:i  in  \[.c. 
Mackenzie  district,  11.  D.  Co.'s  Ilept,  305.     Red  Deer  River  Fort  \v:n  uinr 
near  Lake  Winnipeg.  Mackenzie's  I'oy.,  Ixv.     Rupert's  Fort  was  in  ITo.iut 
the  nioutli  of  the  river  of  that  name.  11.  B.  Co.  »  lieid,  300.     In  1710  tlie 
French  had,  ou  the  upper  waters  of  the  Rupert,  a  factory  which  seemed  uU 
the  trade  of  that  region.  Dobbs'  IJudKOH'n  Da;/,  oO.     Rigolct  post  was  i:i  t!ii; 
Eskimo  district;  Rivi6ro  Desert  post  in  Lao  dcs  Sables  district;  Rcc;l  Lal;u 
post  in  Red  River  district;  Rat  I'ortage  post  in  Lac  de  Phiio  district;  iiiul 
Shoal  River  post  in  Swan  River  district,  )/,  li.  Co.'s  lii'iit,  3U.>-0.     In  ITtiJ- 
03  there  were  five  principal  factories  on  the  Saskatcliewan,  and  one  naiiml 
the  South  Branch  House.  Mackenzie's  Vorj.,  Ixix.,  Ixxiii.     On  the  Swan  luvir 
was  a  jjost  of  the  same  name,  and  one  named  Somerset  House.     Fort  So  l.nun 
was  built  by  the  Canadian  viceroy  do  Tr.acey,  at  the  moulli  of  Riciieliai  d." 
Iroquois  River.     It  was  afterward  named  Sosel,  and  then  William  lienvy.    la 
1817  it  was  the  principal  entrepot  of  the  N.  W,  Co.  //.  U.  Co.'s  llc;'l,  IIUJ; 
Cox's  Advent,  '203-9;}.     Near  Swan  River  Fort,  on  Lake  Winnipeg,  \\eie  sev- 
eral detached  posts.  /(/.,  Ixv.     Shoal  Lake  post  was  in  the  Lao  do  I'luie  dij- 
trict,  unil  Sevei'n  post  in  York  district.  //.  D.  Co.'s  I'cpt.  305-0.     Sault  ''t 
Mairo  post  was  also  in  York  district,  at  the  point  where  Lake  Sup('ri<:r  di  • 
charges  into  Lake  Huron.     Iu  1817  the  N.  W.  Co.  had  large  stores  at  tli;5 
point.  //.  B.  (Jo.'s  licpt,  300;  Cox's  Advent,  ii.  290.     Lake  St  John's,  Tad.ia  ;at, 
and  Seven  Islands  posts  were  in  King's  Posts  district;  Touchwood  Hi  U  p"  5 
in  Swan  River  district;  Trout  Lake  post  in  York  district;  Tcmiskaniav  po  t 
in  Rupert's  River  district;  Temiscaminguo  house  and  post  wore  in  tliedisjict 
of  that  name;  Three  Rivers  post  was  in  St  Maurice  district;  and  \'e'.uu.i'a 
was  a  post  in  Athabasca  district.   //.  B.  Co.'s  Ilept,  305-C.     On  tlio  Saskati  In.- 
wan  was  a  post  named  Upper  Establishment.  Markcnzie's  I'oij.,  Ixix.,  ixNi.i. 
Tliorburne  House  was  a  post  ou  Red  River.     Fort  Frontenac,  originally  ea.kd 
Fort  Cataraconi,  founded  in  1070,  on  the  present  site  of  Kingston,  was  nljiiiis 
iu  1078.     In  1708  it  was  captured  by  the  English.  Monettc's  Hist.  Dii'Oi-.nut 
Settlement,  i.  120,  132-3.     Fort  George  was  iu  1842  a  laigo  trading  post  twelve 
miles  below  Fort  Lancaster  (Colo.),  and  was  under  St  Vrain's  mana,'eini'iit. 
Scenes  Rocky  iVts,   100.     The  N.  W.  Co.  had  in  ISOG  a  post  on   llu-  west  : 
shoi'o  of  Lake  Superior,  near  Grand  Portage.   Lewis  and  Clarke's  Map.     Foit  | 
Wedderburno  was  built  by  the  II.  B.  Co.  on  Coal  Island,  at  the  weSiern  ex 
treinity  of  Athabasca  Lake,  about  the  year  1815,  when  the  comiiany  liut  I 
begun  to  trade  in  that  region.  Franklin's  Narr.,  i.  236.     White  Horse  I'laai  [ 
post  was  in  Red  River  district;  White  Dog  post  in  Lao  la  Pluio  distriti; 


FORTS, 


78C 


constant  (Icmaiids  for  assistance,  your  Indians  have 
iiL'Vcr  asked  fur  any;  for  in  the  interviews  given  to 

WliitL'fisli  Lake  post  in  Lako  Huron  district;  Woswonatiy  post  in  Iliipcrt'd 
Ilivndiitrict;  and  Wcymoutaciiinguo  post  in  8t  Mauriuu  district.  //.  li.  I'o.'ii 
H'lil,  ."OJ-C.  Fort  Cass,  Ijiiilt  in  18l'0  at  tlio  month  of  Big  Horn  Ilivcr,  witii 
UuJ;  iiiniscsund  a  lo<rwull  18  feet  liigli,  wuasooniiftcrwiird  roniovt'd  ^iU  miles 
lux  rdown  tlic  Ytllovvatonc.  licrkwottrth'n  H/'cnntt  Ailirut.,  21'2-lH,  '2'JO,  ;!0;t. 
The  Froiieii  colonists  under  llolierval  and  ('artier  Imilt  Fort  Cliarlesboii-g 
.'lear  llio  [.resent  feito  of  Qucl)cc  al)0iit  loH.  It  was  tlio  lirst  Europian  Betlle- 
iMuiit  in  lliis  [art  of  America.  Ti/tlcr's  I'roijr.  cf  Dincov.,  07.  Fort  Caroiino 
was  erected  iiy  Lando-iniero  on  May  lliver,  just  above  tlio  spot  aftcrivaiil 
liiiuwii  lis  St  John's  Dluir  It  was  in  tlic  shape  of  a  triangle,  fronting  on  tiiu 
uwv,  with  Uie  woods  in  rear.  In  1. "jU5  it  was  destrcycd  liy  the  Spiiniarda. 
llnjaiii,  i.  198.  Fort  Campbell  was  in  tho  country  of  the  BlaoUfcet,  7U0  mdes 
(loni  Fort  Union.  Uo:lrr'ii  Amomj  the.  Indiaiix,  44.  Fort  Lancaster  was  on 
llic  8  ni  h  kink  of  the  I'latte,  OtO  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  3.")  miles  from  the 
llocky  Mountains.  Sceneit  Jt'ocLy  MIk,  1 04-5.  Fort  Laramie,  or,  as  it  was  soiiie- 
tiiiKs  termed,  l''oit  John,  .a  post  of  tho  American  Fur  Company,  was  one  mile 
siHitli  of  Fort  I'latte,  and  on  the  left  bank  of  I^ramio  Kiver,  and  was  named 
aft.r  .loseph  Laramie,  a  French  trapper,  killed  near  its  mouth.  It  stood  on 
a litiiig  ground,  was  picketed  and  bastioncd,  had  adobe  walls,  and  was  sur- 
iiio\ui'.eil  by  a  wooden  palisade.  Thonitoit'ii  Ornjoii,  ll'J-IU;  Van  TruKji'ii 
Pniirii'  and  Rocky  Ml.  Adi'fiit,,  300-1;  Sci-ma  Jlolb/  Ml.i,  00,  131.  Six  miles 
klow  Ft  tleorge  (Colo.)  was  the  post  of  Lock  and  Uundolph. 

TilIow  the  Simeon  branch  of  I'cace  Ilivcr  was  built  at  an  early  day  a  little 
fort  named  St  John.  About  1 823  it  was  atUickcd  by  a  band  of  lieaver  Indians, 
who  sliot  the  commander  and  four  men,  and  burned  tho  fort.  Another  i'ort 
St  John  was  built  at  the  bend  of  the  river  above.  The  N.  W.  Co.  had  a 
post  on  the  west  side  of  Buii'alo  Lake,  near  Beaver  Ilivcr.  FrankUn'c,  Nurr., 
i.  I!)9.  Fort  Eiic  was  on  tho  north  side  of  Lako  Erie,  near  its  outlet.  .Six 
miles  below  the  mouth  of  la  Fontaine  cjuiBouit  thei'c  existed  in  lS3otlic  ruins 
(jf  an  old  fort,  occupied  many  years  before  by  Cant.  Grant  as  a  trading  post. 
In  ISOO  the  fort  at  Miuetarees  was  occupied  by  Indians.  UoUer'i^  Amoinj  the 
Iiidiniis,  4H}.  In  1848  Michipicotcn  was  the  chief  factory  on  Lako  Superior. 
}l(ir/iii'ii  JIudsou'.i  Uay,  1'23.  Bcrcns  liiver  post  \>'as  in  Isorway  IJouse  dis- 
tiiu'i;  Big  Island  post  in  the  Mackenzie  district;  Batchcwana  post  in  Lako 
Superior  district;  Cliicoutimic  post  in  King's  Posts  district;  Buckingham  post 
in  Lac  de  Sables  district;  Abitibi  post  in  Moose  district.  //.  IJ.  C'o.'s  Itept, 
liUri-0.  Brochet  House  was  on  Lake  Winnipeg.  Mackcmitg  Voy.,\\\\.;  Man- 
lid's  Fort  on  tho  Yellowstone.  Lewi.i  and  Clurkc'i  Map.  Fort  Isle  au  Niox, 
or  I'ort  Lennox,  on  an  island  in  Richelieu  Ilivcr,  was  fortified  by  the  French 
in  ITdO,  and  by  Schuyler  in  1775.  Grcon  Lake  post  was  in  Lake  Huron  dis- 
trict, and  Egg  Lako  post  in  Swan  Ilivcr  district.  JJ.  li.  Co.'h  Jlfpl,  30.'>-0. 
Furt  Dauphin,  probably  near  Lake  Winnipeg,  was  established  by  the  French 
Ijofi.vn  Wolfe's  victory  atQuebec.  MacLenzic'n  I'oj/.,  Ixv.  Deer  Lake  post  was 
in  tlie  English  River  distiict,  at  the  southern  end  of  Deer  Lake;  Caweemau 
post  in  Columbia  district;  Fort  Ellice  in  Swan  district.  Jf.  JJ.  Co.'n  Hi'jil,  30."), 
3U7.  Fort  Charlesbourg,  built  by  the  French  about  1540-1,  neat  the  site  of 
Quebec,  was  tiic  first  settlement  in  this  part  of  America.  IJril.  N.  Amcr.,  10. 
The  lirst  fort  on  tho  St  Lawrence  was  built  by  Carticr  in  15;i5.  FortCliarlcs 
was  on  the  south  side  of  tho  Lake  of  the  Woods.  In  lOliS  Capt.  Gillain  built 
for  the  English  their  first  fort  on  Hudson's  Bay,  at  the  mouth  of  Ilupcrt  River, 
nulling  it  Fort  Charles.  Forster'a  Hist.  I'o?/.,  378.  Russell,  Hist.  Amrr.,  ii. 
2G4,  agrees  with  Forstcr  as  to  date,  but  says  that  Grosseliez,  a  Freucii  reiie- 
gailc  on  White  lliver,  80  miles  north-west  of  Fort  Platte,  was  a  fur-trading 
post.  Scenes  in  Docky  Mt.t,  72-3.  Tadoussac  post  stood  in  1050  at  the  mcmtli 
cf  Saguenay  River.  Shea'8  Miaain.,  xlv.  Fort  Platte,  at  the  junction  of  tho 
Laniuiio  and  Platte,  WC3  built  of  earth,  and  in  1842  contained  about  a  dozen 


i 


726 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


the  cliiefs,  their  whole  desire  seemed  to  bo  for  schoolg 
and  school-masters;  and  in  reply  to  questions  as  to 

buil(lin(;s  and  some  30  employes.  Scrnea  ltork>i  Mtn,  06;    Van  Tramp'nt  fruirie 
and  /I'or/'v  Ml,  AJwnt.,  3(iO-l.     St  Vrain's  Fort  was  on  thu  right  l>ank  uf  tlio 
Botitli  fork  of  the  I'lattc,  17  miles  east  of  Long's  Peak,   t'rtmont,  in  Id.,  .t,'i7. 
Fort  Alexander,  at  the  outlet  of  Winnipes  llivcr,  C(>nt4)ined  in  1817  only  tivo 
inmatrR.     Fort  AlMircromliio  was  ou  Ited  Tliver,  above  the  point  navigahlo  fi)r 
steamers.  C»ffin'n  Seat  of  Emitire,  79,     Fort  All)any  was  ot  the  foot  ofJiiiius 
Bay.  UouchHte'iiIirit.  Horn.,  i.  33.     It  was  cstablislied  before  1780.   .Sto  Fun- 
tfr'H  Hint.  To//.,  371).     Fort  Augiistns  was  in  Queen's  CO. ,  Can.     Fort  Uintah, 
on  a  tributary  of  the  Colorado,  and  one  day's  journey  south  of  Ashley's  Koik, 
was  also  known,  in   1825,  as  Eiibiduau's  Fort.  Sceiirn  Itochj  Ml»,  178,  'JO'.', 
Fort  Lawrence  wa«  a  seaport  of  Nova  Scotia.     On  the  ncrth-euHt  iiiiUi  uf  Atlia- 
buBCiv  Lake  was  Fort  Fond  du  Lac.     Pigoou  Lake  IIouso  was  at  th«  souroo  uf 
Itattlo  Hiver.     I'ike  Luke  ilouso  and  Oreo:.,  Lake  House  were  north  of  Stink. 
jug  Lake;  Rapid  River  llou.so  was  near  Lac  la  Rouge;  and  Sturgeon  IJivcr 
House  between  Sturgeon  and  Heaver  lakes.     Fairford  HoiisuNiuil  Mission  was 
between  Lakes  Winnipeg  and  Manitoba.     B'ort  Touch  wooit  Hills  lay  Utwcm 
the  Assiuiboino  antl  Qu'Apnello  rivers.     Mountuio  House  was  in  the  Itiding 
Mountains,  west  of  L:iko  .Nianitoba.     Fort  I'elley  was  on  the  AssiniliDiiic, 
Old  Fort,  on  Pelican  Lake,  was  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Black  or  West 
Road  ilivcr.     In  recent  maps  the  first  Fort  Simpson,  near  the  mouth  of  Nuss 
or  Naas  River,  is  also  termed  Old  Fort.     Josiicr  IIouso  was  at  t^io  head  wa- 
ters of  the  Athabasca;  Rocky  Mountain  IIouso  and  Victoria  House  at  lliu 
head  waters  of  the  North  Saskatchewan;  Salt  River  House  on  Slave  Wwn, 
south  of  Slave  Lake.     Robidoux  Fort,  in  the  Green  River  country,  was,  liko 
many  others  in  its  vicinity,  the  post  of  a  private  trader,  having  in  hisiiiiiiioy 
a  number  of  trappers  who  made  their  headquarters  at  the  fort.  Pi'ter.^  Kit 
Varnoii,  130.     On  the  cast  side  of  Okauagun  Lake  waa  a  catholic  nii.s.slun. 
Fort  liulklcy  House  was  at  the  north-east  Hide  of  Tacla  Lake.     Fort  Buchanan 
lay  south-west  from  Tuscon,  near  the  Santa  Cruz  branch  of  the  GilaKiver. 
Near  the  head  waters  of  the  Cila  were  forts  Bayard  and  Mimbies.     Kort 
Staunton  was  at  the  source  of  the  Rio  Bonito,  which  discharges  into  the  I'ico, 
and  on  the  Pico,  above  the  former  river,  was  Fort  Summer.     Fort  Bascum 
was  on  the  Canadian  Ilivcr,  east  of  Santa  Fe;  Furt  Breckenridge,  on  the  San 
Pedro  branch  of  the  Gila,  near  the  mouth  of  the  former.     Of  Fort  McPlurson 
Abaaraka  says  that  it  consisted  originally  of  shabby  log  cabins,  but  siih.'.c- 
fluently  became  a  well-1    .It  fort.  Home  of  the  Crows,  46.     Kcamy  or  Kcaiiiey 
tort,  built  on  Pincy  fc.  k  of  Powder  River,  at  the  base  of  Big  Horn  Mountains 
in  ISGO,  was  pronounced  one  of  the  best  stockades  in  north  western  Anurita. 
Fort  Reno,  originally  Fort  Connor,  near  Salt  Lake  City,  and  so  called  alter 
Gcneml  Connor,  was  built  in  18iJ5,  and  Nesv  Fort  Reno,  40  miles  to  the  west- 
ward, in  1800.     Fort  Mitchell,  a  Kub-post  of  Fort  Laramie,  was  in  coni[act 
and  rectangular  shape,  the  sides  of  tlie  buildings  doing  duty  for  walls,  aiul 
their  windows  loopholed  for  defence.  Id.,  70.     La  Pierre's  House  was  on  the 
west  side  of  the  liocky  Mountains,  near  Peel  River.  Smithsonian  liept,  ISOl, 
59.     Fort  Wright  was  in  the  western  part  of  Round  Valley,  100  miles  from 
Chico.  Ind.  Aff.  Rept,  1803,  402.     Fort  Crocket,  also  called  Fort  Misery,  Horn 
itr  appearance,  stood,  in  1839,  ou  the  left  bank  of  Green  River,  two  ilays' 

i"ourncy  from  Henry's  Fork,  Col.  Wizliwnu^H  Awfliig,  94.  For  dcsicriptn'n  of 
I'ort  Astoria,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  in  181 1-39,  see  C'oar's  Advnl.,  i. 
8.3,  109-10;  t?ray'«  Or.,  20-1;  Farnham's  Travels,  105;  andof  Fort  BoLsi,  Or., 
in  1832.  For  mention  of  forts  Yukon,  St  Michael,  and  Wrangell,  Alaska,  see 
Jlist.  Alaska,  passim,  this  scries.  Fort  Goodwin  was  in  Tularoso  valley 
three  miles  from  Gila.  Land  Off.  Rcpt,  18C5,  11.5-10.  Fort  Cummingswasfti 
the  road  between  Santa  ¥6  and  Cubac,  CO  n\iles  from  Las  Cruces,  New  .Mcx. 
/(/.,  1805,  115.  For  mention  of  forts  I.iaramio  and  Leavenworth  in  IS  10-7, 
■ee  Hint,  Utah,  passim,  this  series;  Parkman's  Cal,  and  Or.  Trail,  caps,  iii,, 


ION. 

0  for  schools 
ations  as  to 

1  Tramp'*  I'ruirie 
riglit  Ijank  of  tho 
moiit,  in  /(/. ,  .^."l7. 
[ill  1817  only  tivo 
oint  imvigalilu  for 
the  foot  of  Juiiicg 

0  1780.  Hvolvrn- 
111.  Fort  Uintah, 
of  Ashley's  Folk, 
■ky  Alts,  178,  L'O'J. 
•eustHiiUiiif  Atlia- 
IS  at  thro  souico  lit 
le  north  of  Stink- 

1  Sturgeon  Itivcr 
L-:in>l  Mission  uua 
Hills  lay  bitwcm 
vaa  ill  the  iiiiling 

tho  Assinilioiiu". 

10  Black  or  West 

ho  mouth  of  Nass 

at  t^io  head  \\a- 

ria  House  at  tho 

on  Slave  I'avcr, 

iountry,  was,  liko 

ing  in  hiaimiiloy 

fort.   Peter  ^  Kit 

catholic  mission. 

Fort  Buclianaii 
f  tho  Gila  Hiver. 
Mimbi'cs.  l''oit 
gcs  into  the  I'ito, 
;r.  Fort  liascom 
ridge,  on  the  Saii 
Fort  MoPhtMson 
abius,  but  stiljsu- 
eamy  or  Kcainey 
Horn  Mountains 
western  Aiiifi ica. 
\  so  called  after 
niles  to  tlie  west- 
was  in  coiiii'aet 
ty  for  walls,  ainl 
louse  was  on  tlio 
nian  lie}it,  I  SGI, 

100  miles  from 
i'ort  Misery,  troiii 
River,  two  ilavj' 
or  description  "f 
Vox's  Advent-,  i. 
f  FortBokse,  Or., 
iScU,  Alaska,  see 
Tularoso  valley. 
ummingswason 
ruccs,  New  -Mex. 
worth  in  ISlli-". 
Trail,  caps,  iii., 


POETS. 


727 


whether  they  would  assist  themselves  in  securing^  such 
institutions,  they  invariably  replied  that  they  would 
be  glad  to  pay  for  them." 

ix.  Fort  Whipple  was  on  Granite  Creek,  one  mile  below  Frcscott,  Ar.  Land 
of.  Iffpt,  180."),  121.  Fort  Bowie,  in  Now  Mex.,  was  on  the  road  between 
^anta  F<Sund  Tubac,  ISO  miles  from  tho  latter.  Id.,  lHQo,  115-10.  FortOwcn 
was  built  by  a  trader  of  that  name  on  the  site  of  a  mission  at  St  Mary  or  Flat- 
JK.id  village.  Wont.  Par.  It.  A',  llepf,  i.  iiOl,  21)2.  Fort  Lane  was  in  18J5  a 
eavalry  station  on  Rogue  River,  near  its  junction  with  Stewart  Creek.  Camp 
Worth,  also  called  Fort  Worth,  and  Camp  Graham  wero  in  Texas.  Wilhdmt 
Kl'jhlh  U.  8.  III/.,  ii.  22,  28.  Fort  Bliss  was  at  El  Paso,  New  Mejr.  /(/.,  ii. 
<X  Fort  Orford  was  on  the  Or.  coast;  Fort  Harmony  on  \Voo<l  v^.  '• .  Utah. 
/-/(/.  Af.  Itept,  18o4,  270;  18.'6,  233.  For  list  of  posts  occujiicd  by  i  oijjhth 
infantry  with  location  about  1849,  see  WUhilm'a  Eiijhlh  U.  S.  Inf.,  ii  20^-82, 
In  Id.,  ii.  32-50,  is  mention  of  a  number  of  posts  in  New  Mex.  and  IVxas,  but 
they  are  dillicult  to  locate.  In  tho  Meteor.  I'cj.,  )84;)-54,  58  '  'J4,  is  .i  list  of 
U.  S.  military  posts,  including  those  on  the  I'acitic  coast  th  geographic 
position  in  liS40-54.  In  tho  Navajo  country,  New  Mex.,  there  was  i  i  18.'.  >  j, 
tort  named  ,  utiancc,  soon  afterward  al>andoncd,  and  in  Utah,  on  'no  Sta 
Clara  Li<.'  i.  as  Fort  Clara.  Ind.  Aff.  Urpt,  1859,  348:  1808,  104  1. .«_:,  231. 
Fort  Sinicoe,  in  east  Wrsliington,  Mas  abandoned  as  a  luilitar^  |jjst   in  185U 

before,  tiio  Yakima  Indian  agency  taking  po°so3siou  thereof,  lort  West 
was  in  1803  on  tho  lieatl  waters  of  the  Giia.  liul.  Aff.  Jt.  Com.  Ilcj't.  1807, 
111.  In  Colo,  stood  in  1805  forts  Riley,  Lamed,  and  Lyon.  Fort  Kaudall 
was  in  Todil  co.,  Uak.;  Fort  Wingate  in  the  Navajo  country,  No<y  Mex.  [lut. 
A}}'.  liepl,  1807,  336,  412.  For  list  of  forts  in  New  Mex,  lu  180;>.  see  Ind. 
Aff.  Jt.  Corn.  Rept,  1807,  passim.  For  list  of  U.  8.  forts  and  military  b'ations 
in  1825  see  iSVii.  Doc.,  i.  vol.  i.  180,  10th  Coiiu.,  2dtiess.;  in  1851,  llomi-  L'x. 
Doc,  2,  vol.  ii.  pt.  ».,  3.2d  t'omj.,  lut  Sena.  Tho  names  and  locations  of  70  U.  S. 
forts  in  existence  in  18.37,  with  number  of  guns  and  garrisons,  are  givun  in  Iii, 
3.  ro/.  ».  201-8,  25th  Voiitj.,  2d  Sens.  For  description  of  H.  B.  Co.'s  forts  in 
Wash.,  Or.,  and  Id.  in  1854,  see  Stn,  Dor.,  no.  37,  vol.  vii.  33dComj.,2d>ie.\s, 

AdacB,  14  miles  from  Natchitoches,  was  a  military  post  founded  in  1800, 
Monctte,  nut.  Dltcov.  and  Settli'menl,  ii.  341.  Adams  Fort  was  foundid 
in  1 70S  on  the  Mississippi,  in  Natchez  district,  a  few  miles  bi-yond  th-) 
Spanish  line.  A  stockade  fort  of  the  same  name  was  built  in  1 704,  on  or 
near  St  Mary's  River,  47  miles  from  Greenville,  O.  Albany  was  so  named 
by  the  English,  after  its  capture,  in  1004,  from  the  Dutch,  by  whom  it  was 
termed  Fort  Orange.  ISninut,  ii.  200.  Altona,  captured  from  tiio  Dutch  in 
1(J55,  was  originally  called  Fort  Christina.  Id.,  ii.  102.  Amite  River,  Fla— a 
Bniall  foit  on  this  river  was  surrendered  to  Spaiu  in  1779.  Moiiette,  i.  438. 
Amsterdam  P'ort  was  founded  in  1020;  for  mention  sec  liri/ant,  i.  300-7;  ii. 
'Ji:0,  341,  348-9,  3.')4.  Arbucklo  Fort  was  on  the  Washita  branch  of  Rod 
liivcr,  Tex.  A  little  to  the  east  of  it  was  Fort  Washita.  Arkansas  Fort  was 
established  in  ICSO  by  the  chevalier de  Tonti,  near  the  mouth  of  tho  Arkanjas. 
I'latz,  i.  5,  7;  Monette,  i.  map.  Another  post  of  the  same  name  was  l)uilt  by 
the  French  in  1721,  about  00  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas.  On 
the  upper  waters  of  tho  Arkansas  there  was,  in  1800,  a  block  lionse  ami  U.  S. 
factory.  Lewis  and  Clarke,  map.  Assumption  Fort  was  built  by  tiie  French  us 
n  depot  in  1739,  on  tho  east  bank  of  tho  Mississippi,  near  the  month  of  Mar- 
gi;*-.  or  Wolf  River.  The  following  year  it  was  dismantled.  Monette,  i.  200 -I ; 
Ln/ant,  ii.  549.  Atkinson  Fort  was  built  at  Mie  villa;,'e  of  Mund.  before 
1S5S.  In  1800  it  was  named  Fort  Berthold,  ..nd  during  that  .  car  was 
(le-itroyed  by  tho  Sioux.  Boiler,  37,  72,  358.  On  tho  Arkansas  River, 
below  the  Fort  Bent,  were  forts  Aubrey,  Dodge,  and  Zaran.  Augusta  F^ort 
was  on  the  right  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  opposite  the  mouiii  of  tiic  west 
liianch.  Fort  St  Auyustino,  for  mention  sec  Monette,  i.  09;  Bfijaiit,  i.  213. 
Axucaii  Mission  was  founded  in  1570,  on  the  Rappahannock  River,  by  a  party 


I  i  ■  I 


is!; 


■    ■ 


iii  *■ 


728 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


m 


With  churches,  charitable  societies,  schools,  libra- 
ries, and  local  journals,  British  Columbia  has  always 

of  priests,  friars,  and  Indian  converts,  among  them  beinj;  P.  Segura,  head  of 
the  Jesuit  mission  of  Florida,  and  Don  Luis,  brother  of  tlie  cacique  of  Axacan 
or  Jaean.  The  latter  relapsed  into  savagisni,  anil  aiiled  in  the  massacre  of 
tise  party,  nf  whom  only  one  Indian  boy  waa  saveil.  Baker's  Station,  a 
stockade  on  the  east  hide  of  the  Ohio,  at  the  head  of  Cresap  IJottoni,  waa 
built  for  protection  against  Indians  in  17S'2.  MoncUv.  ii.  140.  Barancas,  a 
stockade  built  at  Pcnsacola  in  J79J,  and  termed  by  the  Spaniards  Fort  Sail 
Ferdinando  do  Barancas,  was  blown  up  by  the  British  in  ISlo.  Baton  lloiige, 
a  post  on  the  Mississippi,  about  half-way  between  lied  River  and  New  Orleans, 
was  surrendered  to  Spain  in  1779.  Bedford  Fort  stood  about  lUU  miles  south- 
east from  Pittsburgh.  Benton  Fort  was  at  the  head  of  steam  navigation  on 
the  Missouri,  just  above  Nasi.t  River.  Bent  Fort  on  the  Arkansas,  above 
Sand  Creek,  was  occupit-d  by  Bent  and  St  Vruin  as  a  trading  post.  Among 
their  hunters  was  Kit  Carson.  Fort  St  Bernard  was  built  by  La  Salle  ia 
1085  at  the  mouth  of  a  river  which  he  termed  the  St  Bernard,  west  of  tlio 
Mississippi.  J'latz,  i.  ii.  Bcvers;  lo  Fort  was  built  by  a,  Dutchman  about 
10J4,  near  the  banks  of  the  Schuylkill,  but  was  not  long  in  exiatenco.  Bri/nnt, 
ii.  ir)l.  Big  Falls,  a  trading  post  above  St  Anthony's  Falls,  on  the  Jlissia- 
sippi,  remained  standing  in  ISOC.  Black's  Station  stood,  in  1770,  on  the  sito 
ot  Abington.  Va.  Moii<  tie,  ii.  82.  Bledsoe's  Station,  in  Cumberland  River  Val- 
ley, was  I'oundeil  about  1778.  LL,  ii.  '200-0.  Boonesborough  Fort  was  founded 
by  Daniel  Boone  ia  177."),  on  the  sito  of  the  present  town  of  Bounesborouyli. 
Ky.  Bowycr  Fort,  built  at  Mobile  Point  ia  1813.  was  so  named  after  the  lirst 
lieutenant  in  command.  Brewerton  Fort  was  at  the  west  end  of  Oneida  Lake. 
Brown's  Station,  six  miles  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  was  ia  existence  in  ITUi!, 
and  15ryant'a  Station,  a  stockade  fort  on  the  south  bank  of  Elkhorn  Creek, 
between  Lexington  and  Marysville,  in  1782.  Buford  Fort  was  being  erectid 
by  the  U.  S.  government  in  1800,  on  the  site  of  the  old  Fort  Williams  trading' 
post.  UoUer,  42,  41o.  Bute  Fort  was  built  in  1705  on  the  north  bank  of  LJayou 
JIancliac,  near  its  juactioa  with  the  Mississippi.  Within  a  few  bundled 
yards  of  it  the  Spainiards  built  a  small  fort,  in  1770,  for  ^jroteetion  against 
sinugL^lers.  Moitclte,  i.  403,  400.  Cadot  Fort  stood,  in  1770,  at  tlic  south- 
east end  of  J^ako  Superior,  near  the  falls  of  St  Marie.  Cahokia,  three  miles 
below  St  Louis,  was  in  1770  a  small  post  dependent  on  Fort  Gage.  Campus 
Martius,  the  !irst  fortified  settlement  west  of  the  Oliio,  was  built  in  17SS  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum  River,  Fort  Carolina,  named  after  Charles  IX., 
was  founded  by  Ril):iult  in  1.'302,  ia  South  Carolina,  a  few  miles  above  .'St 
Helena  Sound.  In  1504  it  was  abandoned,  and  the  same  year  a  new  one, 
with  the  same  name,  was  built  by  a  French  colony,  on  the  south  liank  of  May 
River,  six  leagues  al)ovc  its  moatb.  The  latter  was  destroyed  by  the  SpaniaiiU 
ia  1.505.  Cassiinir  Fort  was  built  by  the  Dutch  in  1053  on  a  bluIF  in  the  iKla- 
ware,  four  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Christina,  to  take  the  place  of  I'oit 
Nassau,  which  occupied  the  present  site  of  Newcastle,  Del.  In  1054  it  was 
captured  by  the  Swedes  and  named  Trefalldigheet  (Trinity  Fort).  It  was  le- 
takenby  the  Dutch  in  1055.  JJryaiit,  ii.  153,  L'lO,  158.  Chagwa;;eman  Mission, 
foundeil  in  lOO'J  by  Father  Mcsnard  on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Suiicrior, 
but  soon  afterward  abandoned,  was  reestablished  in  1085  by  Father  AUouiz. 
Bnjaiif,  ii.  501.  Charles — of  the  three  forts  so  named,  one  built  in  ioOJ  ly 
Ribault,  at  Port  Royal,  Fhv,  was  soon  afterward  abaiidoned;  another  waj 
built  by  the  Spaniards  at  Pensacola  in  1000,  and  a  third  stood,  in  171)5,  ahovu 
Council  Bliitrs.  Li'irlt  and  ('larL'n  Travis,  3.'J.  Charlotte  Fort  (originallv 
Fort  Coudu),  built  on  the  site  of  Mobile,  controlled  until  1813,  when  il  Mas 
surrendered  to  the  U.  S.,  a  considerable  region  cast  of  the  Mississippi.  Momlir, 
i.  84,  10.'!;  ii.  389.  Cliarlotte  Cair.p,  x  stoek.ado  enclosure  with  citadel,  on  the 
cast  .side  of  th'j  .Scioto,  was  built  in  1774.  Chartrcs  Fort,  founded  in  I72(i.  (a 
the  left  bauk  of  the  Mississippi,  and  considered  one  of  the  strongest  po.,ts  iu 


FORTS. 


729 


been  abundantly  supplied  —  somewhat  over-abun- 
dantly, as  it  would  appear,  in  proportion  to  the  popu- 

Xorth  America,  was  a  century  later  a  massive  ruin.  Cherokee,  or  Old  Chero- 
kee Foit,  4D  miles  uliovo  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  was  in  exisLcucc  in  1773. 
(  Inistina  Fort  was  foundcil  by  the  Swedish  West  India  Co.,  in  1U;5S,  ut  the 
junction  of  Christina  Creel;  witli  the  Urandywiiie,  ne:ir  \Vi!niin;jt(in.  linjant, 
i.  40J-7.  lort  iStCluir,  un  the  Miami,  'JO  miles  north  li  I'oit  Hamilton,  was 
liuilt  in  1701.  MoHctle,  ii.  400.  Cl.drburne  Fort,  imilt  in  ISl.'lon  Weather- 
ford  Uluir,  on  the  cast  side  of  Alabama  Uiver,  Sj  miles  abovo  L'ort  Stod- 
(Ir.rd,  wa.i  a  strong  sloeUade  with  three  block-houses  and  a  ludf-moon  bat- 
tery. Clark  Fort,  named  after  the  explorer,  was  in  1S5S  a  ddapidatcd 
ti\idi'ig  jiost  on  the  Missouri,  near  the  llicearcc  village,  and  belonged  to 
tlic  American  Fur  Co.  liollrr,  .'IJ.  Conception  Mission  was  fjundi  il  among 
t!io  lliinois  in  April  l(J7o.  Shea's  Mi'tsiis.,  M  Concoid  Fort  wa.-j  built  by  the 
Spaniardi  on  tho  site  of  the  village  of  Vidalia,  on  tlio  we:>t  bank  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Moiictic,  i.  040.  Crawford  Camp,  on  the  Chattahoochy,  jii«t  above 
t'uo  i'lorida  line,  was  established  in  IHIO.  Cieve-Coeur  Fort,  built  liy  La 
.S.illo  in  1070,  near  the  head  of  Illinois  llivcr,  and  so  named  on  account  of  the 
liaancial  misfortunes  that  overtook  the  founder  at  this  time,  appears  to  have 
li;en  aliandoncd  tho  same  or  the  following  year.  Dijidiil,  ii.  ,511;  J'rtiiz,  i.  ">. 
Cundtcrland  Fort  was  built  by  the  English  about  I7t)4,  on  Will's  Creek,  near 
tho  present  town  of  Cumberland,  Md.  Dcdancc  Fort  was"  a  slrong  stockade, 
built  ill  1004  at  tho  junction  of  An  (ilaize  ami  Maumce  Rivers.  Moncttc,  ii. 
3i)t,  ."OS.  Denham  Station,  near  Nashville,  Tcnn.,  was  in  cNistcncc  in  1702. 
Detroit  was  in  1707  a  large  stockaded  village  with  about  eighty  houses. 
C  irnrH  TiawJi,,  \o'l.  Dover  Fort,  N.  II.,  contained,  in  lUSO,  live  garrison 
houses,  into  which  all  tho  inh.abitants  witlidrew  at  night.  In  I7.')4  the  Fug- 
li.sli  began  to  erect  a  fort  and  trading  jiost  at  the  '  forks,'  a  point  of  land  just 
iiliova  t!ic  junction  of  the  .'Vlloghauy  and  Monongahela,  wliere  now  stands  Fitts- 
burgh;  but  they  were  driven  olF  by  French  under  Contrecoeur,  who  at  once 
built  a  fort  and  named  it  Du  Qucsnc,  after  the  governor  of  Cmada.  in  17."<8 
it  was  attiicked  by  tho  English,  when  the  French  set  tiro  to  it  and  fle  I,  the 
former  naming  it  Fort  I'ict.  lOaslcy  Station,  at  tho  forks  of  tho  Aluban^a 
and  Tombigbec,  was  built  in  1813.  Edward  F'ort  was  on  the  left  bank  of  tlie 
Hudson,  near  its  northern  bend.  Ellsworth  Fort  was  on  tho  .Smoky  Hill 
IVirk  of  the  Kansas.  Elfsborg  or  Elsinglxjrg  Fort,  built  by  the  Swedes  at 
t!io  mouth  of  Saloui  Crock,  Md,  was  abandoned  about  1(>.')'_',  when  tlie 
Hutch  erected  a  fort  near  its  eite.  Dri/aiit,  ii.  lo'J.  Ely  and  Curtis'  trading 
jKwt  was  in  IS21  on  the  Missouri,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kansas.  Jicckiroitii/i, 
31.  Mission  St  Esprit  was  near  to  tlie  western  corner  of  Lake  Superior. 
Estill  Station  was  on  the  south  side  of  Kentucky  River.  .}foiiPtlc.  ii.  I  •.'4. 

Fairfield  Fort,  in  Maine,  was  in  existence  in  1810.  Farmers' (Ja.ilo  Sta- 
tion, a  stoekado  with  block  house  on  tho  Ohio,  twelve  miles  below  tho  mouth 
of  the  Muskingum,  was  erected  in  17S0.  MoneVe,  ii.  '247  8.  Fincastlo  Fort, 
afterward  named  Fort  Henry,  on  the  cast  bank  of  the  Oliio,  near  the  site  of 
Wheeling,  was  built  in  1774.  ii.  00,  05.  Fiulcy's  trading  post,  in  the  present 
('laiko  CO.  in  Kentuciiv,  was  in  existence  in  1700.  Florida  Fort  was  iouiidcd 
in  ISOL  a  few  miles  uoove  Fort  Stoddard,  on  Mol)ilo  River.  Florida  Mission 
was  a  Franciscan  estalilishmcnt  in  central  Florida,  in  existence  in  l."i8l  or 
earlier.  Floyd  Station,  on  15ear-grasa  Creek,  about  six  miles  from  tlio  falls 
of  tho  Oiiio,  was  established  in  177.'i.  Fort  .St  Francis  was  built  in  17.'>0by 
the  French,  on  tho  west  bank  of  tho  Mississippi,  near  the  mouth  of  the  .St 
Francis. 

(Jadsden  Fort,  on  the  Appal.achicola,  below  Fort  Scott,  was  in  existence 
ill  1818.  A/oiiellc,  i.  03.  Gage  Fort,  a  stockade  on  tho  cast  bank  of  the  Kas- 
kaskia,  opposite  'lie  town  of  that  name,  was,  after  177'2.  tlio  headiiuai  ters  of 
tlie  comuiiindautof  Illinoia.  George  Fort  was  built  on  tho  southern  extremity 
uf  Lake  George.     F'ort  King  George  was  erected  by  the  English  ou  tho  Alt*- 


730 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


lation,  estimated  in  1886  at  not  more  than  60,000. 
At  the  capital  there  wa.s  a  Jewish  .synagogue;  the 

nmha,  Ga,  about  1732,  Bryant,  ii.  560.  Gloucester  House  was  on  the  Albany 
River,  nuar  Osnaburgh  House,  llaifnons'  Jour.,  map.  Good  Hope  Fort  was 
built  in  1G.13  by  the  Dutch  West  India  Co.,  on  the  present  site  of  Hartfonl, 
Conn.  Bryant,  i.  547.  Gore  Fort  was  erected  in  1774  at  tlie  mouth  of  Hock- 
ing River.  Monette.  i.  .381.  Gosnold  Fort,  on  Elizabeth  Island,  Mass.,  was 
built  in  1G02  by  Uartholomew  Gosnold,  who,  under  instructions  from  the  carl 
of  Southampton,  examined  the  coast  southward  from  Capo  Cod.  Bryaul.  i. 
202  ct  scq.  Gottenburg,  or  Now  Gottcnbnrg,  was  a  fort  built  by  the  Swedes 
in  the  17th  century,  on  Tinicnm  Island,  Del.  After  being  captured  by  tlio 
Dutch  in  IG55,  it  was  known  as  Kottenbcrg  Island.  Gratiot  Fort  lay,  iu 
1835,  at  the  south  end  of  Lake  Huron,  about  75  miles  from  Detroit.  Green 
Bay  Mission,  in  Wisconsin,  was  opened  in  10G9.  Monelle,  i.  121.  Greenville 
Fort  was  built  near  the  present  town  of  Greenville,  0.  /(/.,  ii.  297.  Hallett 
Fort  was  on  Liard  River,  west  of  the  great  bend.  Hfvrmar  Fort,  built  in  17S5 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  was  the  first  U.  S.  military  post  in  Ohio. 
Monette,  ii.  213,  223.  Ilarrod  Station  was  a  military  post  founded  about 
1774,  near  the  present  Harrodsburg,  Ky.  Id.,  i.  .1G4.  Hawn  Fort  was  on 
Gullet  DlufT,  near  the  Tombigbee.  Hayes'  Station,  near  Nashville,  Tenn., 
was  in  existence  in  1792.  Henry  House  was  near  and  east  from  Moose  Lake; 
Hoy'a  Station,  on  the  Ohio  frontier,  was  some  20  miles  from  Upper  ]51iie 
Ijicks.  Mission  St  Ignace  was  built  on  Michilimackinac  Strait  in  1G70,  and 
near  to  it  the  Hurons  built  a  palisade.  Monette,  i.,  map  1;  Sliea'<i  Misninn.  hi, 
Ignatius,  St,  or  St  Imigoe,  as  the  common  corruption  is,  was  a  Jesuit  mission 
founded  in  Md  in  1G4;{.  Bryant,  i.  497,  512-13.  Jackson  Fort  was  built  iu 
1814  on  the  site  of  old  Fort  Tallassoe,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Coosa.  Monette, 
ii.  425.  James  River  had  on  its  banks  two  forts  iu  1G70,  and  the  Potomac, 
Rappahannock,  and  York  one  each.  Jetlerson  Fort,  built  in  1791,  was 'JO 
miles  north  of  Fort  St  Clair,  and  about  0  from  Greenville,  O.  Joseph  Fort  was 
at  the  south  end  of  Lake  Michigan.  Kaskaskia,  about  five  miles  from  tlio 
mouth  of  Kaskaskia  River,  and  the  oldest  settlement  in  the  Illinois  country, 
was  in  1770  a  missionary  station,  containing  a  Jesuit  college.  Monette,  i.  KiJ, 
lGG-7.  Kcnhawa,  at  the  mouth  of  Great  Kenhawa  River,  was,  in  1770,  a 
military  post,  in  command  of  Capt.  Arbuckle,  and  then  known  as  the  '  Point.' 
Kennebec  River;  the  Popham  colony,  arriving  in  1007,  in  the  ship  Oi/t  of  God, 
build  here  a  fort  mounting  I2gnns.  Labargo  Fort  was  a  little  above  Fort 
Benton,  on  the  Missouri.  Li  Baye  Fort  was  at  the  southern  extremity  (,f 
Green  Bay.  Laurens  Fort,  a  military  post,  was  built  in  1778,  on  the  riglit 
bank  of  the  Tuscarawas,  just  below  the  month  of  Sandy  Creek.  Moneif'',  ii. 
107,  218.  Lo  Boeuf  Fort  was  built  by  the  French  in  1753  on  Lake  Lo  I'loiuf, 
15  miles  from  Presque  Isle.  Leech  I^ako  Post  was  a  block-house  belonfrin^ 
to  the  N.  W.  Co.  Liard  Fort  was  on  Liard  River,  above  the  Nahanni.  Ligo- 
nier  Fort,  GO  miles  east  of  Fort  Pitt,  was  in  existence  in  1 7G3.  Lisa  Fort,  a 
trading  post  belonging  to  Manuel  Lisa,  of  the  Missouri  Fur  Co.,  was  abuiit 
five  miles  below  Omaha.  Logan  Fort,  in  Lincoln  co.,  Ky,  near  the  Ken- 
tucky River,  was  founded  in  1775.  London  Fort  was  a  stockade  post  built 
by  the  English  in  1757,  on  the  north  bank  of  Little  Tennessee  River,  on  tlio 
present  site  of  Fort  Winchester,  Vu.  Lookout  Fort  was  built  on  the  Mis- 
souri, near  Council  Bluffs.  Ueckwourth,  85.  Fort  St  Louis  lay,  in  1719,  mm 
the  mouth  of  Mobile  River.  Pratz,  i.  1.38.  Another  fort  of  that  name  w:id 
founded,  between  IG30  and  1G83,  near  the  junction  of  Illinois  River  and  Liko 
Peoria.  Monette,  i.  135,  140.  A  third  was  built  by  La  Salle,  in  1085,  on  Ml- 
tagorda  Bay,  Texas.  Bryant,  ii.  517-18.  Madison  Fort,  Iowa,  was  establishcil 
in  1803  as  a  frontier  post.  Monette,  ii.  501.  Manchester  Fort,  with  its  stock- 
ade, was  founded  in  1790,  12  miles  above  Limestone,  in  the  Va  military  ilii- 
trict.  Id.,  ii.  314.  Mission  St  Mario,  founded  in  lOGJ  among  tlio  Cliipi^cwaji, 
was  the  oldest  settlement  in  Mich.  S/ma'a  Minina.,  xlvii.     St  Murk  \\>m 


FORTS. 


7S1 


presbyterians  were   represented   by  seven,  and   the 
iiiethodist  church  of  Canada  bj'  sixteen  ministers,  while 

in  1818  a  post  six  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Appalachy  River.  Moufttf,  i.  94. 
Martin  Station,  on  Stoner  fork  of  Licking  River,   was  destroyed   by  tlio 
English  in  1070.     Massac  Fort  was  a  stockade  built  by  the  Frencli,  in  IT.'iO, 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  Ohio,  about  40  miles  above  its  mouth.     Mateo,  Fort 
San,  was  erected  by  the  Spaniards  soon  after  their  capture  of  Fort  Caroline, 
in  15Cj,  and  probably  close  to  its  ruins.  Bryant,  i.  214.     McAfee's  Station 
was  in  1781  a  frontier  post  near  the  Ohio.    Monette,  ii.   121.     McClellau's 
Station  lay,  in  177C,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Elkhorn,  near  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Georgetown,  Ky.     McConnell's  Station  was  in  1782  near  the  town 
of  Lexington.     McDowell  Fort  was  on  the  Rio  Verde  branch  of  the  Salado, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  former.     M'Intosh  Fort  was  built  in  1778,  on  tlie  north 
bank  of  the  Ohio,  near  the  mouth  of  Jiig Beaver  Creek,  Pa.     Fort  8t  Michael, 
near  Pensacola,  was  in  existence  in   1815.     Of  the  numerous  forts  in  tho 
state  of  Michigan,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  great  lakes,  most  of  them 
erected  by  tho  H.  B.  Co.,  may  bo  mentioned  the  following:    The  fort  of  tho 
Miamis  was  built  by  La  Salle  in  1079  as  a  trading  post,  on  St  Joseph  River, 
near  its  entrance  into  Lake  Michigan.     Fort  Laurimie,  on  tho  head  waters  of 
Great  Miami  River,  was  in  existence  in  1745.     In  1752  the  French  hud  a 
stockaded  trading  post  on  Mad  River,  a  tributary  of  the  Great  Miami.     A 
British  post  named  Miami,  on  tho  north  bank  of  Maumec  River,  about  two 
miles  below  the  rapids,  was  built  before  1763.     In  1783  it  was  abandoned, 
and  in  1793  reoccupied.     Columbia,  a  settlement  with  block  house,  was  com- 
menced in  17S8,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Ohio,  three  miles  below  the  Little 
Miami.     Fort  Hamilton,  on  the  Miami,  20  miles  from  Fort  Washington,  was 
in  1791  an  advanced  post.     Fort  Deposit  was  built  in  1794  as  a  military  store- 
house, near  tho  head  of  Maumee  Rapids,  seven  miles  from  Fort  Miami.  Mo- 
velte,   Hist.   Discov.  and  Settlement,  i.   134;  ii.  214,  218,  210,  257,  290,  204. 
Fort  Mackinaw  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  strait  of  Michilimackiiuio,  be- 
tween lakes  Huron  and  Michigan,  and  was  a  repository  and  place  of  departure 
for  the  upper  and  lower  country.     The  stockade  enclosed  nearly  two  acres 
and  about  .SO  houses,  and  was  garrisoned  by  about  95  men,  the  bastions  being 
jirotceted  by  brass  guns.     In  1703  it  was  captured  by  Indiana.  /(/.,  i.  3;!0. 
in  1700  Fort  Michilimackinac,  at  the  junction  of  lakes  Huron  and  Michigan, 
enclosed  by  a  strong  stockade,  and  garrisoned  by  about  100  men,  was  tho 
most  remote  of  English  posts.     The  name  signifies  a  tortoise,  and  applies 
probably  to  an  island  a  few  miles  to  the  north-east,  whicli  in  appearance 
resembles  a  tortoise.    The  place  was  captured  by  Pontiao  in  17(!3,  but  was  re- 
stored tho  following  year.  Carver,  ix.  19.     Miro  Post,  on  the  Washita  Itivcr, 
was  built  in   1795,  on  the  site  of  the  town  of  Monroe.  Moucfte,  i.  488  9. 
Mitchell  Fort,  on  the  Chattahoochy,  Ga,  was  in  existence  in  1815,  and  Mont- 
gomery Fort,  near  Pensacola,  in  1818.     Nashville  was  a  trading  post  erected 
by  the  French  near  the  present  city  of  Nashville  about  1778.  Mone.lte,  ii.  200. 
Nassau  Fort,  a  large  trading  post  erected  by  Hendrick  Christiansen,  a  Dutch 
captain,  in  1014,  on  Castle  Island,  near  Albany,  was  the  first  one  built  on  tho 
Hudson  lUvei.   Bryant,  i.  .359.     Natchitoches,  (m  Ri.'d  River,  was  occupied 
iu  1712  as  a  trading  post,  and  in  1717  as  a  military  post.  Monette,  ii.  400. 
Necessity  Forh  was  built  by  the  English  in  17.")4,  a  few  miles  west  of  Union- 
town,  but  was  surrendered  the  same  year  to  the  French.     Nelson  Fort  was 
built  in  1780  on  the  Ohio,  near  Bear-grass  Creek,  anil  Newberry,  a  settlement 
with  block  house,  in  1789  on  tho  same  river,  22  miles  below  the  Muskingum. 
Niagara  Fort  was  built  by  the  French  in  1720,  near  the  mouth  of  Niagara 
lUver.     Old  Fort,  or  Redstone  Old  Fort,  on  the  Monongahcla,  was  named 
Pirownsville  when  tho  latter  town  was  laid  out  in  '785.  Monetle,  ii.  194. 
Orleans  Fort  was  built  by  the  French  in  1720,  on  an  island  above  the  mouth 
of  Osago  River.     Oswego  Fort,  at  the  mouth  of  Oswego  River,  wns  oaiitured 
by  tho  French  iu  1750.     Ouiat&aon  or  Ouatouou  Fort  stood,  in  1707i  on  che 


»(•  "! 


'I; 


m 


SETTLKMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


the  bajtiist  ami  refurined  episcopal  churches  wore  cn- 
y;age(J  in  oigaiiizing  various  branches  throughout  the 

left  bank  of  tliu  Wabash,  near  the  junction  of  its  soiiroes.  I'annime  Fort.  ' 
NiitL-lici!,  suiTcndi'icd  to  tlie  Spaniards  in  177'.'.  MoiicUe,  i.  4;!.S.  IVnil.-  , 
Fort  \v;:s  (lu  lliil  liivor,  near  tho  nioutii  of  the  IVuibina.  Pensaeola  Fort  wa^ 
ca|itiirtMl  by  tliu  French  in  171'.',  and  Hour,  -ifterward  recaptured  by  tiie  Sjian- 
i.irds,  and  iigaiii  captured  by  the  Frcncli.  J'ralz,  i.  'Xi  ct  kcij.  It  was  occii- 
pieil  liy  the  Americans  in  ISIS.  Fort  St  I'ctcr  stood,  in  17-'>,  near  tiio 
mouth  of  the  Vuzoo  lvi\  er.  Moiiettv,  i.  L'J.'l.  I'iclccring  Fort  was  near  Meni|ihis, 
below  Wclf  Uivcr.  I'icrre  Fort,  on  the  Missouri,  1,100  milcsabovc  St  Loui.s, 
was  formerly  one  of  tlio  lar>,'est  forts  in  tlio  Siou.x  country,  l)ut  in  KSG(»  n<» 
vcstiyoof  itiemained.  liatlii;  '2'J,  417.  On  licarinyof  thcuiasbacrein  Virginia, 
in  Ui_'J,  t!ie  pilgrim  fathers  built  a  fort  witliin  the  palisades  that  surrounded 
the  iMuo  houses  then  comprising  the  town  of  I'lymoulh.  i'rescpr  Isle  wan 
on  tho  houthcrn  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  near  l'res(]u'  Isle  Bay.  I'rimeau  Foi-t  wa.s 
in  1S,")S  a  dilapidated  post  on  the  Missouri,  near  tho  village  of  the  Iticcarees. 
JluJi'i;  ;<■!.  I'rince  George  Fort,  abou  1 10  miles  east  of  I'ort  London,  was  in 
existence  in  I7.">7.  Moiielle,  i.  .'il4.  I'ueblo  Fort,  a  trading  post  at  tlio  junc- 
tion of  the  Fontaine  ijui  ISouit  and  Arkansas,  was  built  in  1S4"J  by  a  con)pahy 
of  tiader.s.  Sri  iiiit  JiOcLy  Mts,  17-.  llccovery  Fort  was  built  in  171)4,  on  the 
scene  of  tSt  C'lair'.s  defeat,  between  St  Mary  Itiver  and  Greenville,  O.  JIu- 
■)iutti,  ii.  ;!UO-li.  Ivcil  Cedar  Lake  Post,  belonging  to  the  N.  W.  t.'o. ,  is  laid 
down  on  Lcivi.i  am/  darkens  map.  llice  Fort  was  on  BulTalo  Creek,  about  I- 
miles  north  of  Wheeling.  MoiidU\  ii.  140.  Kobertson  Station,  founded  in 
17S0,  near  the  site  of  Nashville,  afterward  became  the  centre  of  the  I 'umber- 
land  settlements,  llosalic  Fort  was  built  by  the  French  in  17 Hi,  on  the  blulf 
where  Natchez  now  stands.  Fort  St  Rose,  near  I'ensaeola,  was  in  existence 
in  IS  15. 

iSackville  (the  old  French  Fort  St  Vincent)  lay,  in  1770,  on  tho  left  baid; 
of  the  Wabash,  loO  miles  above  its  month.  Moiictle,  i.  413.     Sandusky  Foit 
was  built  on  the  site  of  Sandusky  City. 
1Gji">;  for  mention,  see  JhyanI,  i.  i"i,)0,  ojo. 
bank  of  tho  Niagara,  opposite  Grand  Island, 
tier,  was  in  existence  iu  ISIG.  Moncltf,  i. 

located,  in  1070,  at  Great  Manitounin  Island,  Lake  Huron.  A/.,  i.  map,  p.  I. 
South  River  I'ost  was  built  in  1024  by  settlers  belonging  to  the  Dutch  West 
India  Co.  They  soon  .afterward  abandoned  it  for  Manhattan.  Jiri/aiil,  i. 
300-7.  Stanwi.x  Fort,  also  known  as  Fort  Schuyler,  was  on  the  right  bank  of 
the  Mohawk,  near  its  source.  Station  I'rairie,  on  tho  Scioto,  was  built  iu 
1700,  near  the  site  of  the  town  of  Ciiillicothe.  Momttc,  ii.  31.">.  Steuben  Foit 
stood  in  17S2  near  the  falls  of  the  Ohio.  Stoddard  Fort  was  founded  iu  ISO), 
on  Mobile  River  near  the  Spanish  line,  and  .Strothcr  l''ort  on  the  Coosa,  near 
Ten  Islanils,  about  1S13.  Talasseo  Fort,  six  miles  above  the  mouth  of  tliu 
Coosa,  and  builton  tho  site  of  Fort  Toulouse,  the  latter  being  erected  in  1711, 
was  reconstructed  iu  1814  as  Fort  Jackson.  il/oHc^c,  i, '21.1,  415.  Thompsou'.s 
Creek  I'ost,  a  small  fort  in  west  Fla,  was  surrendered  to  the  Spaniards  iu 
1770.  Tombi>;by  Fort  was  built  by  the  French  iu  1730  on  tho  river  of  that 
name,  about  2i)0  miles  above  tho  site  of  Mobile.  Union  Fort,  on  the  Mis- 
Bouri,  six  miles  above  the  Yellowstone,  and  in  1830  tho  heaihjuarters  of  the; 
American  Fur  Co.,  was  ono  of  the  oldest  and  best  equipped  of  the  company's 
forts.  UuUir,  9,  43;  Ueckwourth,  300.  Valle's  Post,  on  tho  Missouri,  ju^t, 
above  Cheyenne,  was  occupied  in  1801  by  the  French  trader  V'allc.  Li'wis  'iml 
Clarke,  70,  Venango  Fort  was  built  by  the  French  in  1753,  on  the  silo  vi 
Franklin,  Pa.  Moiictlc,  i.  108,  171.  Vincent,  Post  St,  on  the  Wabasii,  aouiu 
distance  above  White  lliver,  w.is  in  existence  in  1745.  /(/.,  i.  map.  Washin:^- 
to)\  Fort  was  founded  in  1789,  on  tho  Ohio,  opposite  tho  mouth  of  the  Lick- 
ing. Moiu'llr,  ii.  2-jU2.  Washita  Post,  builtin  1713,  on  tho  site  of  the  town 
of  Monroe,  was  iu  cxisteuco  iu  1700.     Wayuo  Fort,  uamed  after  Gen.  Wayne, 


Saybiook  Fort  was  built  aliout 

Schlosser  Fort  was  on  the  right 

Scott  Fort,  on  the  Georgia  frou- 

91,  93.     Siniiin,  Mission  St,  was 


m 


mm 


CHURCHES. 


788 


province."'  Two  years  before  tliorc  were  five  catholic 
and  other  episcopal  dioceses,  with  nearly  sixty  clergy- 
men."" At  Victoria  there  were  throe  hospitals,"'  an 
orphans'  houie,"^  several  benevolent  societies,""  and  the 

was  built  in  1704  at  tlio  coiidiuMicu  of  St  Mary's  and  St  Jdscph'a  liviTS. 
Weatlierfoi-d  was  in  1813  a  Btroht,li<>lil  and  town  nuar  the  south  lianic  of  the 
Alabama,  in  a  swamp  known  as  Kt'cliJinaciiaca,  or  Jloly  (Jrounil.  Williams 
l'"ort,  tlirco  mik's  below  tiie  Yellowstone,  was  moved  in  lS.")8hO  miles  above 
on  the  Miasouri.  Holler,  42,  Winoliester,  on  the  site  of  a  stoikadc  lort  built 
in  17.')0  in  the  valley  between  the  JUiie  ilidge  and  Alleghany  ranges,  was 
declared  a  military  fort  in  17.>7.  William  Henry  I'ort  was  built  in  17."'"i,  oa 
the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  (ieorge.  A  fort  of  the  same  name,  situated 
at  remagiiid,  Mc,  was  demolished  by  the  Krenth  in  lO'.Hi.  Bryant,  \'\.  41!). 
Misfion  St  Francis  Xavier  was  founded  on  Cireen  Hay,  Illinois  Lake,  in  1()70. 
SluuH  Miaslns.,  11,  xi.,  vii.;  Momlti',  i.  map,  p.  I. 

Without  venturing  to  present  the  reader  with  bibliogra|)hical  notices  of 
the  various  authors  from  whom  this  resume  has  been  written,  it  may  not  bo 
out  of  place  to  notice  a  manuscript  handed  to  mo  at  Victoria  in  1H7S,  and 
entitled  Furia  anil  Fort  Life  in  Kinu  ('aluloiiia,  umler  J/ii(Uoii'n  Btij  (011111(1111/ 
Rcijiinv,  III/  I'.  N.  Comptoii,  MS.  In  a  few  pages  Mr  Compton  has  condensed 
more  information  as  to  the  subject-matter  of  his  manuscript  than  can  be 
fouiiil  elsewhere  in  such  brief  space.  Landing  at  Victoria  in  IS.')'.),  in  the 
service  of  the  H.  IJ.  Co.,  Mr  Coini)ton  was  ordi;red  to  Fort  Simjison,  where, 
us  he  says,  '  the  daily  routine  was  10  get  up  at  six  o'clock,  dig  potatoes,  chop 
wood,  clean  furs,  and  shovel  snow.'  After  three  years'  service  he  travelled 
in  Kuro))c,  principally  in  Servia  and  Turkey,  returnjjig  to  Victoria  in  I87G. 
In  'J'/k;  IhtdsoiiH  Ban  Tcrrilnritis  (iiid  I'ttiiroiivcr'ii  latuul,  u-ith  an  e.r/iosiiioii 
(■/  tlif  C/i(irU-rcd  lihjhtu.  Conduit,  ami  Folirif  of  the  lion.  Iliidnon's  Ban  Cor- 
poration,  hi/  It.  M.  Martin  (Fjondon,  ISlOj,  the  author  gives  a  good  general 
description  of  the  geography  and  physical  features  of  the  company's  territory 
in  the  north-west,  together  witii  information  as  to  site  and  coniliti(U»  of  their 
forts  and  stations.  Aluch  of  the  work  is  devoted  to  the  constitution  and 
working  of  the  corporation  at  lioiiu)  ami  aliroiul,  their  policy  and  system  being 
contrasted  with  tiioao  of  American  fur-tradeis.  Most  of  the  leading  authoii- 
ties  then  extant  have  been  consulteil,  among  them  being  parlianientaiy  pa- 
pers, tiie  reports  of  missionary  socieliea,  the  ollicial  papeis  deposited  at  tho 
colonial  oflice,  the  board  of  trade,  and  the  admiralty,  and  tiio  soveial  charters 
granted  to  tiio  company.  Tiie  book  is  fairly  and  impartially  writUMi,  though 
tioinewhat  tedious  and  uninteresting  in  style.  Facing  the  frontispiece  is  a 
mai>  showing  thclocatioii  of  the  company's  forts  and  stations  tiiroughout  the 
territory 

•'•■"T!. ere  were  also  three  "(ranches  of  tho  upper  Canada  auxiliary  of  thif 
1  I'ud  Foreign  Hil)lc  Society.    It.  ('.  Inform,  for  L'mii/raiit^,  5(>  7. 

'•■  in  IS.S4  Archbishop  .Seghers  of  Oregon  was  appointeil  to  the  episcopacy 
of  V.  1.  cn<l  Alaska.  Sac.  Iticordl'nioii,  Marcii  18,  18S4. 

"'The  (!oyal  hospital,  the  expenditure  of  which  a' eraged,  between  IS70 
Riid  1 880,  about  $."),. 'jtJO  a  year,  the  .Maiaon  de  SantiS  Fi-anjaise,  and  St.Joseph's, 
tiie  last  being  in  charge  of  tho  sisters  of  St  .Vnn. 

"'I'lio  U.  C.  Protestant  Orphans'  Home,  estab'.ishcd  in  1872,  and  of  which, 
in  ISS."),  A.  A.  Green  was  piesideiit,   11.  C.  Dirert.,  1884-"),  01. 

^*  Among  them  may  be  mentioned  tiie  15.  C  Henevolent  Soeiety,  wliich 
disbursed  alH)ut  $!i)00  in  charities,  the  insignirK'anco  of  the  amount  iliie  rather 
to  the  small  number  of  deserving  poor  than  to  lack  of  funds.  In  the  supple- 
ment"ry  estimates  for  188.")-0,  the  sum  of  §J.")0  was  votetl  in  aid  of  this  soci- 
ety. Stat.  B.  C,  1885,  I'Jl.  The  St  Andrew's  Society,  organized  in  1800, 
and  tho  Caledonian  Ucnevolent  Association,  in  1803,  were  consolidated  in 
1870  into  one  association,  named  the  St  Aiulrew's  and  Caledonian  Society. 
There  were  also  several  secret  societies,  including  the  Far  West  Lodge  of  the 


I 


734 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


i 


inevitable  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and 
Young  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union.  At 
New  Westminster,  Nanaimo,  Yale,  Cariboo,  and  else- 
where, there  were  also  institutions  for  the  care  of  the 
sick,  for  mutual  aid,  and  for  charitable  purposes  similar 
to  those  in  operation  at  the  capital.*" 

Although  an  act  for  the  establishment  of  public 
schools  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of  Vancouver 
Island  as  early  as  1865,  and  by  that  of  the  united 
colonies  in  18G9,"  it  was  not  until  several  years  later 
that  provision  was  made  for  an  cflBcicnt  educational 
system.  In  the  estimates  laid  before  the  former  for 
18GG,  the  sum  of  $15,000  was  included  for  school  pur- 
poses; but  on  August  31st  of  this  year  the  assembly 
of  Vancouver  practically  ceased  to  exist.  At  that 
date  no  appropriation  had  been  made  by  the  legisla- 
ture, and  thereafter  none  could  be  made.  The  chief 
magistrate  therefore  informed  the  superintendent  of 
education  that,  as  there  were  no  means  at  his  disposal, 
he  could  not  further  guarantee  the  payment  of  rent, 
salaries,  or  other  items.  Thus  the  responsibility  of 
maintaining  the  public  schools  was  thrown  on  the 
board  of  education,  and  for  several  months  they  were 
maintained  by  that  body  under  some  arrangement 
unknown,  as  the  colonial  secretary  remarked,  to  the 
executive.*'^  In  a  supplementary  message,  dated  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1867,  Governor  Seymour  states  that  on  the 
island  an  attempt  had  been  made  to  lay  the  burden 

Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Victoria  Lodge  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  the  American  Legion  of  Honor,  the  Independent  Order  of  Chosuii 
Friends,  Dominion  Lodge  No.  4,  and  Columbia  Lodge  No.  2,  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd-Fellows. 

*"  At  New  Westminster  was  the  Royal  Columbia  Hospital,  of  which  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  inquire  into  its  condition  in  1883  reported  favorably.  Sen 
Scsn.  Pa/,ei-s,  B.  C. ,  1834,  283-4.  There  were  also  branches  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W. 
and  Ancient  Order  of  Foresters.  Of  the  Nauaimo  Hospital,  J.  Pawson  was 
president  in  188o,  and  in  this  town  were  also  lodges  of  the  A.  O.  F.  and  A. 
O.  U.  \V.  For  masonic  statistics  of  B.  C,  see  Proceediwj»  Grand  Lodge  oj 
Nfw  Mex.,  1879,  55. 

"Tlie  latter,  which  was  entitled  the  Common  School  ordinance,  18C0, 
repealed  the  Common  School  act,  1865,  of  tlie  former  colony  of  Victoria. 
This  was  again  altered  by  the  Common  School  Amendment  ordiaance,  1870. 
For  text  of  Iwth,  see  the  revised  Laws  li.  C,  1871,  392-6,  434-7. 

*''Jour.  Lerid.  Council,  B.  C,  1867,  app.  xi. 


I:;,  I 


SCHOOLS. 


735 


of  expense  for  educational  purposes  on  the  community, 
while  he  was  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  on  the 
mainland  the  population  was  yet  too  sparse  and  scat- 
tered to  admit  of  any  regular  and  organized  system. 
The  state,  he  considered,  might  aid  the  parent,  but 
ought  not  to  relieve  him  of  his  natural  responsibility, 
"else  it  might  happen  that  the  promising  mechanic 
might  be  marred,  and  the  country  overburdened  with 
lialf-educated  professional  politicians,  or  needy  hang- 
ers-on of  government."  But  unto  Governor  Seymour 
was  not  vouchsafed,  as  we  have  seen,  the  wisdom  of 
a  Solomon,  and  his  views  must  be  accepted  for  what 
they  are  worth.  Under  his  administration  the  con- 
dition of  the  public  schools  was  deplorable.  Between 
September  1866  and  the  close  of  1868  their  total 
cost  in  the  several  districts  of  Vancouver  was  about 
§15,000,  of  which  sum  more  than  $4,000  remained  un- 
paid at  the  latter  date,  mainly  on  account  of  teachers' 
salaries,  although  there  were  but  five  teachers  in  all 
Vancouver,  none  of  them  receiving  more  than  $75, 
and  the  average  being  $65,  per  month.  During  1867 
and  1868  six  out  of  the  eleven  schools  established 
under  the  act  of  1865  were  discontinued  for  want  of 
funds,*'  and  of  the  425  children  receiving  instruction 
early  in  the  former  year,  nearly  one  half  were  turned 
adrift,  while  to  several  of  the  teachers  discharged  or 
suspended  there  were  still  due  sums  varying  from 
§109  to  $253,  and  to  all  of  those  retained  from  $215 
to  $588. 

In  1869  matters  were  but  little  improved.  During 
that  year  only  twelve  public  schools  were  maintained 
in  the  several  districts  of  British  Columbia,  seven 
beintj  on  the  island,"  and  five  on  the  mainland.**^  A 
giant  of  $10,376  in  all  was  made  by  the  government, 

"The  Esquimalt,  South  Saanich,  Cowichan,  Cedar  Hill,  Salt  Spring,  aiul 
tlic  central  school  for  girls  at  Victoria.  Tiioae  still  in  operation  were  the 
central  school  for  boys  and  the  district  school,  Victoria,  the  Oraif;llower,  Lake, 
and  Nanuimo  schools.  Sesn.  Papern,  in  /t/.,  1869,  ap;).  vii. 

*'  Those  mentioned  in  the  previous  note,  and  one  at  Saanich,  and  one  at 
Cedar  Hill.  Id.,  1870,  npp.  ix. 

*''  One  each  a.t  y  «w  Westminster,  Longley,  Yale,  Lytton,  and  Sappcrtop. 


r  I  f  I 


11'  :  f 


1(.P 


"\-r.r 


730 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


of  which  $5,900  was  devoted  to  the  pa3'mont  of 
teachers'  salaries."  The  entire  amount  received  from 
local  aid  was  but  $330.  In  six  out  of  the  twelve  dis- 
tricts no  local  aid  was  voted,  and  i'rom  three  otliers 
no  returns  were  received.  The  average  attendance 
at  each  school  was  less  than  30,  and  at  all  the  schools 
about  350,*'  out  of  a  school  population  probably  littlo 
short  of  2,000.  No  regular  accounts  were  kept  by 
the  local  boards.  Teachers  were  appointed  without 
examination  as  to  fitness,  and  sometimes  without 
inquiry  as  to  character.  There  was  no  inspection,  as 
there  were  no  funds  wherewith  to  pay  inspectors'  sal- 
aries, ind  there  were  no  regulations  as  to  the  manage- 
ment other  than  those  framed  by  the  local  boards. 

In  this  condition,  or  very  nearly  so,  the  educational 
affairs  of  the  colony  and  province  remained  until 
1872,  when  an  act  was  passed  providing  that  a  board 
of  education  should  be  appointed  for  the  province, 
defining  the  duties  of  such  board,  and  also  those  of 
school  trustees,  school-teachers,  and  the  superintend- 
ent of  schools,  and  authorizing  the  lieutenant-gover- 
nor to  create  additional  school  districts.*^  After  this 
date  there  was  a  marked  improvement,  and  in  1874 
we  find  1,245  names  enrolled  on  the  various  registers, 
or  more  than  double  the  number  contained  in  1872, 
provision  having  now  being  made  for  annual  in- 
spections and  for  the  examination  of  teachers.*"     For 

*•  For  each  school  $500,  except  the  one  at  Sapperton,  for  which  §400  waa 
appropriatotl. 

"At  ton  of  them  tlie  total  attendance  gives  an  average  for  the  year  of  290, 
and  from  others  no  returns  were  received,  fbut. 

"For  text,  see  Stat.  B.  C,  1872,  39-49.  By  this  act  the  ordinances  of 
1  SCO  and  IS70  were  repealed.  In  the  report  of  a  select  committee  on  the 
act  of  1872,  it  wiis  recommended  that  compulsory  education  be  made  general 
tliroughout  the  piovincc,  taking  as  a  precedent  the  compulsory  clauses  of  tlio 
Ontario  school  act,  whereby  all  children  between  seven  and  twelve  years  of 
ago  were  rutjuircd  to  'attend  some  school  or  be  otherwise  educated  for  four 
months  in  tlie  year.' 

*'The  superintendent  reports  a  scarcity  of  efficient  teachers,  only  8  out  of 
30  employed  in  tlie  dcpai'tnient  during  the  school  year  ending  July  31,  IS74, 
having  undergone  a  regular  training.  Many  of  them  failed  to  pass,  oi'  iliil 
not  attempt  to  pass,  tlio  teachers'  examination,  as  will  be  seen  in  Jour.  LnjU. 
Ann.  B.  C,  187."),  03-9,  where  is  a  copy  of  the  examination  papei'S.  The  (|ue3- 
tions  put  Avere  exceedingly  simple.  A  full  report  of  the  superinteudeut  (or 
this  year  will  be  found  iu  Id.,  1S75,  14-73. 


yment  of 
ivcd  from 
velve  dis- 
ee  othora 
ttendaiioo 
le  schools 
ibly  littlo 
kept  by 
i  without 

without 
ection,  as 
ctors'  sul- 
3  manago- 
oards. 
lucatioual 
ned  until 
it  a  board 
province, 
)  those  of 
Dcrintend- 
int-gover- 
/^fter  this 

in  1874 
registers, 

in  1872, 
nnual  iu- 
rs/'     For 

hich  §400  was 

le  year  of  290, 

ordinances  of 
rnittee  on  the 
made  general 
clauses  of  tlio 
reive  years  of 
catcd  for  four 

only  8  out  of 
July  31,  1874, 

0  pass,  or  diil 

1  Jour.  LvijUL 
•8.  The  I  pies. 
riuteudeut  (or 


PUBLIC  MEASURES, 


787 


the  year  ending  the  31st  of  July,  1876,  there  was  a 
school  population  of  more  than  2,500,*°  of  which  1,685 
attended  the  public  schools  during  a  portion  of  1875, 
the  average  attendance  for  all  parts  of  the  province 
being  984,  while  there  were  still  385  children  who  did 
not  receive  instruction  of  any  kind.  During  the  five 
preceding  years  the  number  of  schools  had  increased 
from  14  to  45,  and  of  teachers  from  13  to  50,  the 
average  cost  being  $22.38  per  capita  of  the  pupils." 

On  the  19th  of  May,  1876,  an  act  was  approved 
for  the  maintenance  of  public  schools,  whereby  each 
male  resident  of  the  province  was  required  to  pay  an 
annual  tax  of  three  dollars  for  educational  purposes." 
On  the  same  date  the  Consolidated  Public  School 
act,  1876,  received  the  governor's  signature.  The 
latter  was  repealed  by  the  Public  School  act,  1879,"^ 
and  after  some  further  legislation,"  the  laws  then  in 
force  were  consolidated  in  the  Public  School  act, 
1885,  wherein  there  were  no  salient  features,  except 
that  clergymen,  of  whatever  denomination,  were  in- 
eligible for  appointment  as  superintendent,  teacher, 
or  trustee,  and  that  all  children  from  seven  to  twelve 
years  of  age  were  required  to  attend  one  of  the  public 
or  private  schools,  or  otherwise  to  receive  an  educa- 
tion, for  not  less  than  six  months  in  the  year."^ 

Turning  to  the  thirteenth  annual  report  of  the 
superintendent  of  education  for  the  school  year  ending 
July  31, 1884,  we  find  57  public  schools  in  operation," 

^The  number  actually  reported  to  the  superintendent  was  2,434.  Fifth 
ann.  rept  of  the  supt  of  educ.,  in  Sean.  Papers,  B.  C,  1877,  87. 

"  For  full  text  of  aupt'a  report,  see  Id.,  87-li'59.  At  this  date  high  schools 
had  been  established  at  Victoria  and  New  Westminster;  but  wiMi  the  ex- 
ception of  these  two  cities  anil  South  Cowichan,  none  of  the  settlements  con- 
tained more  than  one  public  school  building. 

"S<rt«.  D.  C,  187G,  Ul-12.  For  petition  signed  by  Bishop  Seghei-s  and 
6.{  others,  protesting  against  all  taxation  for  the  support  of  non-sectarian 
schools,  and  particularly  against  this  special  tax,  see  Seaa.  Pajjern,  U,  C, 
187G,  725. 

'^Stat.  B.  C,  1879,  111-23.  It  was  first  amended  by  acts  of  1877  and 
1878,  for  copies  of  which,  see  Id.,  1877,  111;  1878,  71-2. 

»« Amending  the  act  of  1879.  Id.,  1882,  77;  1884,  131-5. 

5*  Under  penalty  of  lino,  not  exceeding  J5  for  the  first  wilful  ofTence,  and 
$10  for  each  subsequent  offence.     For  text  of  act,  see  Id.,  1885,  125-41. 

'^Of  which  49  were  common  schools  (this  being  the  phrase  usually  applied' 
Hist.  Bbit.  Col.    47 


Hi:  I 


m 


!  11 


.!.!l! 


I!  .liMi^ 


liHiii 


If  I  ! 


738 


SETTLEMENTS,  MISSIONS,  AND  EDUCATION. 


with  75  teachers  and  3,420  pupils  enrolled,  the  aver- 
age daily  attendance  being  1,809 — an  increase  of  420 
over  the  preceding  year,  and  of  1,234  over  the  scho- 
lastic year  1872-3.  The  total  expenditure  for  educa- 
tion proper  in  1883-4  w&s  $58,361,'^  the  sums  appro- 
priated for  buildings,  repairs,  insurance,  and  similar 
items  being  considered  a  portion  of  the  government 
assets.  The  actual  outlay  for  all  educational  purposes 
was  $G6,G55.15,  and  the  amount  voted  in  the  estimates 
for  the  year  $68,415,  leaving  an  unexpended  balance 
of  $1,751^  25.  At  no  period  in  the  history  of  the  pro- 
vincial schools  had  so  much  interest  been  shown  in 
the  cause  of  education,*®  and  at  no  period  was  the 
standard  of  education  so  high.  Among  the  six  per- 
sons to  whom  were  awarded  teachers'  certificates  of 
the  first  grade  in  the  first  class,  at  the  examination 
held  in  July  1884,  were  four  university  graduates/" 
although  the  highest  salary  paid  was  but  $110,*'°  and 
the  average  salary  $60.64,  per  month. 

While  the  public  schools  of  British  Columbia  com- 
pared not  unfavorably,  considering  her  scant  popula- 
tion, with  those  of  her  sister  provinces  and  of  the 
neighboring  states  and  territories,  it  must  be  admitted 
that  as  yet  her  educational  system  was  but  in  its  in- 
fancy. As  late  as  1886  there  was  no  university  in 
existence,  and  there  was  not  even  a  normal  school 
or  a  teachers'  institute.  Much,  however,  had  been 
accomplished,  and  at  moderate  expense." 

in  the  home  country  to  what  are  termed  public  schools  in  the  United  States), 
7  were  graded  schools,  and  one  a  high  school  (at  Victoria).  Seas.  Papers,  li. 
C,  18S3,  151,  1G9. 

"  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  of  this  sum  $50,762.55  was  expended  for 
teachers'  salaries,  while  only  $2,988.07  was  appropriated  for  the  education 
office,  and  $4,610.02  for  incidental  expenses,  including  rent. 

''  The  total  number  of  visits  to  the  various  achooLs  in  the  province  increased 
from  2,922  in  1882-3  to  0,480  in  1883-4. 

'•Of  whom  two  were  granted  renewals,  the  holder  of  a  first-class  certili- 
cate  having  the  privilege  of  renewal  without  further  examination.  There 
were  three  classes,  and  to  each  class  two  grades. 

•"To  the  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Victoria,  the  principal  of  the  boys' 
Bchool  at  New  Westminster,  where  the  high  school  liad  now  been  abolished, 
receiving  $100  per  mouth.     For  text  of  report,  see  Id.,  1885,  151-236. 

"In  the  report  of  a  select  committee,  appointed  in  1881,  it  was  recom- 
mended that  a  tuition  fee  of  $5  per  quarter  should  be  charged  for  scholars  in 


rovince  increased 


rEwsPAPERs.  m 

"This,"  said  Amor  de  Cosmos,  handing  me  a  green- 
papcr-covcrod  file  of  the  Victoria  Gazette,  printed  be- 
tween June  25  and  July  25,  1858,  "was  the  first 
newspaper  publislied  in  Victoria."  In  December  of 
that  year  was  issued  the  first  number  of  the  British 
Colonist,^'^  continued  until  the  autumn  of  18G3  by 
the  ex-governor  of  British  Columbia.*'  In  1885  the 
Daibj  and  Weeklj  Colonist,  established  in  1858  byD. 
W.  Higgins,  who  was  still  the  proprietor  at  the  former 
date,  was  one  of  the  prominent  newspapers  of  the' 
jirovince,  among  others  published  at  the  capital  being 
the  Daily  and  Weekly  Standard,  Times,  and  Daily 
Evenimj  Post.  At  New  Westminster  was  issued  the 
British  Columbian  and  the  Mainland  Guardian,  at 
Nanaimo  the  Free  Press,^  at  Kamloop  the  Inland 
Sentiiicl,^^  and  at  several  of  the  mainland  interior 
towns  were  weekly  or  semi-weekly  publications.*"  The 
Mechanics'  Literary  Institute  at  Victoria  contained 
in  1886  about  7,000  well-selected  volumes,  and  at 
New  Westminster  at  Clinton,  and  other  of  the  main- 
laud  settlements,  were  smaller  libraries,  all  of  them 
well  su]3i)lied  with  periodical  literature. 

tho  high  school.  Jour.  Leginl.  Ait.  B.  C,  1881,  72.  For  other  rcparts  of  the 
Bupcrintendcnt  of  education  and  of  committees  on  public  schools,  see  Sena. 
Papers,  li.  C,  1878,  7-08;  1870,  179-239;  1880,  159-227;  1881,  447-9,  455- 
64;  1S82.  249-322;  1883, 183-270;  1884,  91-150;  Jour.  Legid.  Aas.  B.  C,  1877, 
ajip.  xxvi. ;  1880,  app.  iii. 

''The  last  issue  of  tho  Victoria  Oazette  was  dated  Jnno  23,  1859.  During 
ISoS  was  published  tho  Vancouver  Island  OazeUc,  by  Frederic  Marriott  of  the 
Neirs  Litter.  It  passed  through  eight  or  ten  numbers,  and  enriched  its  owner, 
by  his  well-known  process  of  money-making,  to  tho  amount  of  some  $8,000. 
He  was  then  advised  to  remove.  A  French  newspaper,  published  by  Paul  de 
Gura,  expired  almost  still-born.  In  tliis  year  also  was  published  for  a  few 
weeks  the  North  American. 

'^Meanwhile  a  newspaper  was  published  named  the  Press.  Then  fol- 
lowed the  Evening  Express,  Prices  Current,  and  oUier  minor  publications, 
Botuo  fifteen  in  all  up  to  1865.  De  Cosmos'  Oovt,  MS.,  3. 

"A  semi-weekly,  established  in  1874  by  George  Norris.  B.  C.  Direct., 
1884-5,  119. 

'^  A  weekly  paper,  formerly  published  at  Yale.  Id.,  1884-5,  202. 

"For  list  of  publications  in  1878,  see  Pettingill's  Newspaper  Direct,,  255. 


n 


1; 

;■ 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCEL 

1880-1886. 

AoRicnLTCKAi,  Areah — Pdblio  Lands — Stock-raisino— Fruits— Fisiikkiks 

SaLMON-CAN.NINO  —  MANnFACTURES  — OOLD-MININO  —  C')AL-MINIM1  — 

Tub  Alaska  Boundary— Exports  and  Imports— Comparison  with 
Otuer  Provinces— Bankino—Insukance — Suippino— Inland  Navi- 
CATION— Revenue  and  Expenditure— Public  Debt- Comparison  ut 
Customs  Returns- Elemknts  or  Prosperity — Bioorapuiual— Biulio- 

GRAPHICAL. 

In  188G  British  Columbia  was  not  adapted  to  any 
large  immigration  of  poor  families.  Abundant  as 
were  her  resources,  there  was  lack  of  funds  wherewith 
to  develop  them;  and  for  persons  without  moans, 
excepting  laborers  and  perhaps  a  limited  number  v( 
mechanics,  there  were  few  openings.*  But  Ibr  nica 
possessing  even  a  small  capital  there  were  few  more 
profitable  investments  than  a  cereal  farm  or  cattle 
rancho  within  her  borders.  As  an  agricultural  region 
the  mainland  is  divided  into  sections  by  tlie  Coast 
Range,  the  interior  having  a  climate  of  extremes,  the 
coa  t  a  mild  and  equable  temperature,  and  the  soiitli- 

'  It  '861  immigrants  were  in  demand  in  B.  C.  5.  F.  BnUetiii,  Oct.  i'S,  isiil. 
In  186'  e  legislative  council  rccomincnded  that  the  department  of  laiiils  luid 
works,  .  dditiou  to  its  otiicr  fuuctions,  be  used  as  an  iiinnigrutioii  (li'|>:u't- 
irent,  am.  ':at  in  ti)P  absence  of  power  to  make  free  grants  of  himl  h<h,,ha, 
Jide  settle,  'a  bounty  be  offered  to  actual  settlers  equivalent  to  tliv  luv- 
emption  pri  of  the  land  that  they  may  be  liulileto  pay  under  the  iainl  c  lii- 
nance.'  Jout  Cer/ul.  Council,  1867,  66.  For  immigration  statistics  in  \St>0, 
see  U.  S.  Bn  nu  v/  Statistics,  no.  2,  1879-80,  175,  88.  In  ISHl  tlieic  «:isa 
scarcity  of  laborers.  S.  F.  Bulletin,  Oct.  24,  1881.  While  tiie  constnictiou 
of  the  C.  P.  R.  P.  was  in  progress,  laborers  and  mechanics  could  iilway-i  liml 
cmplcyment  at  fair  rates.  In  the  first  annual  report  of  tho  irnnii^T.-itina 
agents  for  1883,  it  is  stated  that  about  .3,000  Chinese  arrived  in  tlie  pioMifO 
during  that  year,  and  some  5,850  white  persons.  Sess.  Pajieri,  Ji.  C'.,  1S!34, 
297. 

(  740  ) 


ATTRACTIONS  FOR  SETTLERa 


741 


CE. 


luiTS— Fisnr.RiKS 
-  c')al-minim1  — 
omparison  with 
—Inland   Navi- 

— CoMI'AKISON  (IF 
M'UIOAL— BlllLlO- 


iptetl  to  any 
abundant  an 
H  wherewith 
lout  means, 
(J  number  uf 
•ut  i'or  men 
re  few  more 
m  or  cattle 
tural  rej^ioa 
y  the  Coast 
jttremes,  the 
d  the  soutli- 

'<«•»,  Oct. -28,  I  SOI. 
iient  of  laiiilsiuiJ 
iiiij;riitimi  il(]iart- 
ts  of  hiiiil  t"  Ix'na 
iiU'iit  to  till'  pro- 

Icr  till'  Imiil  I'lli- 
tatistics  in  IS(W, 

llSHl   there  Nvasa 

the  coiisti-iictioa 
could  alwayn  lii"! 

thv)  iiiiiiiiyi:ili"'> 
(1  ill  the  iiioviiice 
«'r.s   Ji.  v.,  1SS4, 

(710) 


ern  portion,  with  its  wide,  trough-Hke  valleys^  requir- 
in;^  irri'^'ation  during  the  summer  months." 

Though  containing  large  tracts  of  good  arable  land, 
the  entire  province  is  better  adapted  for  stock-raising 
than  f(jr  the  production  of  crops.  Even  of  the  delta 
lands  of  the  iVaser,  with  their  rich  clay  loams,  whero 
forty  bushels  of  wheat  or  barley  to  the  aero  and  sixty 
of  oats  were  no  uncommon  yield,  but  a  small  portion 
was  under  cultivation  as  late  as  1884.^  In  the  south- 
ern portion  of  the  mainland  interior,  east  of  the 
Frazer,  were  500  square  miles  available  for  agricultu- 
ral jjurpo.ses,  the  most  valuable  portion  being  in  the 
Chilliwhack  municipality,  where  an  average  crop  gives 
about  twenty  bushels  of  wheat  and  forty  of  oats  or  bar- 
icy  to  the  acre.  Near  the  estuary  of  the  Fraser,  and 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Hope  and  of  Okanagan  Lake, 
are  areas  in  all  of  about  the  same  extent.  North  of 
the  fifty-first  parallel  and  west  of  the  Fraser,  in  the 
basin  of  the  Nechacco  and  its  tributaries,  is  an  area 
of  about  1,230  square  miles  available  for  tillage, 
though  partially  covered  with  forest,  and  without 
means  of  conmiunieation.  In  the  Peace  River  coun- 
try are  immense  tracts  of  land  which,  though  in 
part  densely  wooded,  are  fertile  of  soil,  one  of  them, 
west  of  Smoky  River,  and  known  as  Grand  Prairie, 
containing  at  least  230,000  acres  capable  of  produc- 
tion.*    In  all  Vancouver  Island  there  are  not  more 

'  For  further  mention  of  climate,  see  p,  40-.3,  this  vol. ;  Dom.  Can.  Onide- 
Booh;  1885,  71;  DawKou's  N.  ir.  Terr,  wid  li.  (7.,  50,  C2-4.  For  act  relating 
to  irrigation,  drainage,  and  diking,  sec  SUit.  D.  C,  1882,  4;  for  account  ol 
Fiascr  Itivor  dikes  and  diking  enterprises,  see  W.  T.  IideUiy nicer,  Juno  5, 
IST'J;   Wi'Htcni  Oreijonian,  Juno  14,  1879. 

^  B.  C.  Inform,  for  i^^niyrantii,  1SS4,  .35.  These  were  the  average  returns 
of  several  well-known  farms.  In  a  few  favorcil  spots  as  much  as  80  biislicla 
per  acre  of  wheat  has  been  harvested,  and  in  one  locality,  where  tlic  surface 
Was  a  light  sandy  loam,  mixed  with  alluvial  soil,  the  yield  was  40  bushels  of 
oats  or  barley  and  2o  of  wheat. 

' '  My  observations  tended  to  show,'  remarked  Macoun,  the  botanist  of  the 
P.  R.  survey,  '  that  nearly  all  the  Peace  River  district  was  just  as  capable  of 
Buccessful  settlement  as  Manitoba.'  Dom.  Can.  Inform,  for  Sellkrn,  1884,  '2,). 
lu  his  evidence  before  a  parliamentary  committee,  Dawson  states  that  the 
Peace  liivcr  country  contains  an  area  of  agricultural  laud  which,  if  all  of  it 
were  sown  in  wheat,  would  produce  over  470,000,000  bushels  a  year,  or  at  tho 
rate  of  20  bushels  an  acre. 


-M  I 


Sit 

mi 


742 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


than  300,000  acres  of  farming  land/ of  which  less  than 
15,000  were  under  cultivation  in  188G,"  though  on  the 
southern  and  eastern  sides  of  the  island  there  was  a 
considerable  farming  population. 

In  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  believed,  like  most 
of  those  adjacent  to  the  north-west  coast  of  the  conti- 
nent, to  be  merely  the  mountain  tops  of  a  submerged 
tract,  frcMu  which  they  have  been  separated  by  volcanic 
action,  there  are  some  15,000  acres  of  flat  and  un- 
wooded  land,  but  of  this  only  a  few  hundred  are  suit- 
able for  agriculture,  the  largest  patches  of  cleared 
arable  land  not  exceeding  twenty  acres.^  Of  level 
pasture  land  tiie  area  is  also  limited,  a  tract  of  some 
400  acres,  south  of  the  entrance  to  Skidegate  Inlet, 
being  the  largest,  and  this  containing  only  a  scattered 
growth  of  coarse  beach-grass.^ 

^  Dom.  Can.  Inform,  for  Xetllt'rs,  1SS4,  24.  In  his  Vancouver  Idand,y\i'>., 
r)5,  Mr  liaylcy  remarks:  '  Of  all  the  poor  apolOj^ies  for  an  agricultural  cir.in- 
try,  V.  I.  exceeds  anytliiiig  that  I  have  as  yet  beheld.  Its  surface  is  diver- 
siiicd  with  rocks,  and  for  a  change,  swamps,  and  swamps  and  rocks.'  In  tlio 
Earhj  Lift'  on  Vancouver  Island,  by  O.  A.  Baijliy,  MS.,  to  whicli  reference  lias 
l)cen  made  in  former  chapters,  I  have  been  furnished  with  some  interesting' 
annals  touching  V.  I.  and  the  mainland  during  the  r(5ginie  of  tlie  H.  IJ.  Co. 
Reaching  Victoria  in  May  ISJl,  tlie  autlior  says  that  tliero  were  tlien  no  si  jiu 
of  cultivation  in  its  neighborhood.  Landing  on  the  beach,  near  to  which  sI.hkI 
the  old  fort,  ho  found  in  its  neighborhood  only  a  few  log  shanties  tcnantcil  Ijy 
Iroquois,  French  Canadians,  and  kanakas.  Employed  first  as  a  schoul- 
teacher,  and  then  appointed  coroner  by  Dougliis,  he  relates  many  reniarivaljlu 
adventures  among  the  natire  tribes  during  his  sojourn  in  the  north-west. 
lie  auerward  became  a  member  of  the  legislative  assembly  for  V.  I. 

"In  18S1  there  were  only  about  10,000  acres  in  tilth. 

'Tliero  arc,  however,  several  thousand  acres  of  lightly  timbered  spriieo 
and  alder  lands,  bordering  on  tlie  bays  and  streams,  wliich,  if  there  shouM 
ever  be  a  homo  market,  miglit  lie  cultivated  for  root  crops  and  dairy  purimsus. 
Chillfndcn'n  Ej:plor.  Qurcii  Chnrlotln  I.-tlmuLH,  34. 

'Almost  the  entire  surface  of  the  Queen  Cliarlotte  Islands  is  covered  with 
dense  forests  of  spruce,  hemlock,  and  cedar,  containing  large  tjuantitiea  uf 
valuable  timlicr,  and  many  spots  wliero  spruce  can  be  obtained  i  .  abuiiilaiico, 
but  none  where  large  saw-miiU  can  bo  prolitably  worked.  Tl<e  DoUL;lud  lir 
and  yellow  cedar  were  in  ISOO  tlie  only  timber  which  could  be  p;  jlitaMy  ex- 
ported from  the  province,  ami  the  former  was  not  found  on  this  group,  wliili! 
tlie  latter  did  not  grow  south  of  Skidegate  Inlet  in  sullicient  quantity  tn  lur- 
uish  a  good  supply  of  logs.  Nearly  all  the  best  varieties  of  fish  taken  in  tlio 
waters  of  B.  (J.  aboundeil  in  tliose  of  the  Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  lletuecii 
I8S;J  and  IS8(J  the  Skidegate  Oil  Company  produced  from  35,000  to  40,00;J  j^A- 
lona  of  fish-oil  a  year,  giving  employment,  during  summer,  to  a  large  nuiiilrcr 
of  Indians.  For  many  previous  years  the  uatis'es  had  extracted  oil  siiiijily  liV 
throwing  heated  stones  into  hollow  logs  filled  with  dog-fish  livers;  but  tlie  oil 
tliu?  obtained  was  barely  marketable.  By  the  use  of  retorts  the  coiiip  lu.v 
manufactured  an  oil  so  pure  and  clear  that  it  met  with  ready  sale  iil  tair 
prices,   being  especially  in  demand  for  lubricating  purposes.     Fur  beaiiiiij 


'im 


fi'li 


ffCE. 

bich  less  than 

hough  on  the 

there  was  a 

a^d,  Hke  most 
;  of  the  couti- 
a  submerged 
id  by  volcanic 
flat  and  un- 
Ired  are  suit- 
is  of  cleared 
s/  Of  level 
bract  of  some 
degate  Inlet, 
ly  a  scattered 


couver  Island,  MS., 

agricultural  (.omi- 
ts surface  is  diver- 
ind  rocks.'  In  the 
which  reference  lias 
I  some  interesting 
e  of  the  H.  li.  Co. 

were  tiien  no  si'^'us 
lear  to  which  studil 
antics  tenanted  liy 

first  as  a  schoul- 
3  many  rcniarUaUu 
in  the  uorth-wost, 

for  V.  I. 

y  timbered  spnieo 
if  there  siiouM 
uil  dairy  puriioacs. 

ds  is  covered  with 
arge  qnantitiua  of 
ned  i -.  uljunihuicf, 
The  Uoui^l.is  lir 
1  1)0  p;  jlituhly  u.v- 
I  this  group,  whihi 
it  (juantity  to  I'ui- 
f  lish  taken  in  tho 
[slauds.  Uctuocii 
>,000to40,0U;)g.il- 

to  a  large  nmiil)cr 
icted  oil  Binijily  liV 

livers;  hut  lae  oil 
,orts  the  compiuy 

ready  sale  nt  iair 
J8CS.     l''ur  bcaiiiij 


AGRICULTURE. 


743 


Of  Texada  Island,  acquired  under  circumstances 
that  called  for  an  official  investigation,^  it  may  be  said 
that  it  contains  no  area  adapted  either  to  agriculture 
or  pasturage,  or  none  that  is  appreciable.^" 

With  such  areas  of  available  agricultural  land,  suf- 
ficient to  maintain  more  than  ten  times  her  popula- 
tion, it  may  not  be  unv/orthy  of  note,  that  in  1884 
current  retail  market  prices  at  Victoria  were,  for  oat- 
meal more  than  six  cents  a  pound,  for  flour  nearly  3^ 
cents,  and  foi  wheat  ^2.50  the  cental,  other  articles 
of  consumption  selling  in  the  same  proportion,  and 
this  in  a  community  where  wages  were  not  above  those 
paid  in  the  metropolis  of  the  Pacific  coast,  in  which 
most  of  the  necessaries  of  life  could  be  purchased 
at  little  more  than  half  the  rates  demanded  in  the 
metropolis  of  British  Columbia." 

Public  lands  in  British  Columbia  were,  with  tho 
exception  of  the  railroad  belt,  vested  in  the  provincial 

animals,  especially  bears,  land-otters,  and  martins,  were  very  plentiful,  while 
fur-seula  were  killed  in  considerable  numbers,  and  a  few  sea-otter  were  taken 
every  scas' a.  With  minerals  the  islands  were  poorly  supplied.  Baiiley'a 
V.  I.,  MS.,  9-11;  though  it  has  been  stated  that  gold,  silver,  iron,  and  copper 
were  discovered  between  1852  and  ISriO.  See  S.  F.  Alta,  March  8,  lSo2; 
BtdlHlii,  Dec.  9,  IS.'.S;  April  15,  .SO,  1859.  The  only  discovery  of  gold  worth 
naming  was  that  iKule  at  MiichcU  Harbor  in  18.j2,  for  which  sue  p.  '.]l'>,  this 
Vol.  From  tho  Official  NepoH  of  tlie  Exyloratioiio/the  QiieeiiC/uirloIti'  /■i!ands 
for  the  Oooernment  of  lir'Uh'k  Columbia,  bi/  yewlon  II.  ('hiUrudfii,  Victoria, 
ISU,  and  tho  GeDlrnjictil  Savvey  of  C'lnadti,  Alfred  li.  C.  8<iu:yn,  /'.  U.  S., 
F.  (I.  S.  Diri'ctor,  Report  of  Proij  rent  for  1S7S-0,  Montreal,  1880,  tiie  reader 
will  gather  all  tlie  information  of  which  ho  may  be  in  search  as  to  the  .soil, 
climate,  geology,  fauna,  llora,  and  resources  of  tho  Queen  Charlotte  group. 
I'crhaps  the  most  interesting  portions  of  both  works  are  those  relating  to  tlio 
physical  peculiarities,  social  cu.stonn-,  and  traditions  of  the  Ilaidalis;  but  as 
I  have  alieady  treated  of  these  subjects  in  my  Natice  Ilaren,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  mention  them  further. 

"  For  papers  in  tho  ease,  see  Jour.  LerjUl.  Aks.  D.  C,  187'>,  181-'240. 

'"Its  main  valui  was  a  deposit  of  rich  magnetic  iron  ore,  varying  from  2 
to  2.">  feet  in  thickness,  and  assaying  in  spots  as  much  as  (58  per  cent  of  metal. 
The  mine  was  within  20  miles  of  Como.x  harbor,  whence,  in  188t't,  a  small 
quantity  was  shipped  to  the  eastern  states  for  treatment.  UrU.  (.'oloiii.it,  8ept. 
I'J,  188;t. 

"In  Drit.  Col.  Inform,  for  Emigrants,  1884,  17-18,  is  a  list  of  retail  prices  at 
the  Victoria  markets  in  ilareh  of  that  year.  For  furthci'  items  as  to  .igricul- 
tiirc  in  1$.  C,  sec  JJom.  Caii.  Inform,  for  Sftflers,  1884,  20  5;  JJoiit.  Can. 
a  aide- Book,  1885,  74  5;  Chiltewlen'it  TraveU  in  B.  C,  passim;  Jlon-.-iun'-i  X. 
ir.  yVr.  and  B.  C,  50-2,  o,")-''!,  G4,  passim;  .S\  /•'.  Bulletin,  0.:t.  12,  Mar.  24, 
ISSj;  Chronicl,;  July22,  1878;  Allti,  May  21,  1S(J2;  May  l:l,  1.S71;  Maich;il, 
1S72;  Oct.  25,  1870;  Hac.  litcord- Union,  Jan.  1,  1884;  Portland  \V<:iit  Shore, 
June  i,  1880. 


.Ih 


ii'l- 


M 


744 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


government.  British  subjects,  or  those  who  had  de- 
clared their  intention  of  becoming  such,  could  pre- 
empt, at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  per  acre,  a  half- 
section  north  or  east  of  the  Cascade  Range,  or  a 
quarter-section  elsewhere  in  the  province,  the  prico 
being  payable  in  four  annual  instalments.  Unsurveyed 
or  unreserved  crown  lands,  and  surveyed  lands  not 
being  town  sites  or  Indian  settlements,  could,  after 
being  offered  for  sale  at  auction,  be  purchased  for  one 
dollar  an  aero,  payable  in  cash.*^  As  elsewhere  in 
British  colonies,  it  was  the  policy  of  the  government 
to  reserve  its  domain  for  actual  settlers — men  who,  by 
developing  and  in  part  consuming  the  resources  o.  the 
province,  added  to  its  wealth,  rather  than  to  dispose 
of  it  for  a  nominal  price  to  speculators  and  capitalists. 
Moreover,  the  public  lands  were  a  source  of  revenue 
which  could  be  utilized  to  better  advantage,  as  from 
year  to  year  the  population  gradually  increased. 

For  stock-raising  purposes  the  mainland  interior, 
and  especially  its  southern  portion,  east  of  the  Fraser, 
was  considered  the  most  favorable  region.^^  The 
higher  plateaux  of  this  district,  though  little  culti- 
vated on  account  of  summer  frosts,  are  for  the  most 
part  covered  with  nutritious  bunch-grass,  which,  uii- 

""The  fee  for  recoriUiig  was  two  dollars  an  aero.  The  first  instalment  for 
pruiiinptioii  cluinia  noeil  not  1)o  paid  nntil  two  yuars  after  date  of  reconl. 
AftiT  wurvL'v,  and  on  \>ri)oi  that,  from  date  of  occupation,  improvements  hi'l 
heen  made  to  the  amount  of  not  less  than  .S2.ij0  an  acre,  the  settler  was  entitled 
to  a  '  eertilicate  of  improvement, '  and  ou  full  payment  to  a  grajit  in  fee  simple. 
Naval  and  military  oiLccrs  eould,  after  seven  years'  service,  obtain  free  grants 
of  laml  under  the  Military  and  Naval  Settlers'  act,  1803.  Lands  and  iiii- 
rrovenients,  duly  registered,  could  uot  be  attached  for  debt  up  to  a  value  uf 
SJ.'iOO,  and  gaods  and  chattels  up  to  $,')00.  Dom.  Can.  InJ'vrm.J'or  Siitlcrf, 
1884,  'JG-8;  l>om.  Can.  Cuide-Book,  188"),  77-8.  For  reports  of  connnissionurs 
of  lands  and  works,  see  JJ.  C.  Lands  and  Workn  Depart.  New  \Vestniint:t.tr, 
ISOCJ.  Jour.  Lfijid.  Ak.^.,  1875,  301-481;  Se.^ii.  Pajierx^B.  C,  1870,  41'J-."iO:i, 
iii.-xxii.;  1877, '-'4!)-;j.3C,  i.-xxxvi.;  1878,  2G:)-;{78,  4.')j-<J3;  187U,  "247-04;  18^0, 
i!05-310;  1881,  ;)8'.)-418.  For  land  acU,  see  Utttt.  B.  C,  1877,  114;  188-.',  U, 
l;)-18;  1883,  17,  77-8;  1884,  10. 

'^  Dawson's  evidence,  in  JJom.  Can,  Iii/o)Tn.  for  Scttltrs,  1884,  23;  B.  <'. 
Inform  j'ijr  r.m'Kjrani a, '!'.).  (Jood  is  of  opinion  tliat  the  section  forming  tlii; 
basin  of  the  Thompson,  Nicola,  Bonaparte,  and  Spillenicechen  rivers,  and  hor- 
dering  on  lakes  La  Jiache,  Kandoop,  Nicola,  Shuswap,  and  Okuuagan,  was 
the  best  licld  for  pastoral  enterprise.  Brit,  Col.,  MS.,  77-8. 


CE, 

svlio  had  de- 
1,  could  pre- 
icre,  a   lialf- 
Rangc,  or  a 
ce,  the  price 
Unsurveyed 
3d  lands  not 
i,  could,  after 
based  for  one 
elsewhere  in 
i  government 
-men  who,  by 
sources  oi  the 
lan  to  dispose 
[id  capitalists. 
;e  of  revenue 
tage,  as  from 
icreased. 

land  interior, 
of  the  Fraser, 


•errion 


13 


The 
culti- 


h  little 
for  the  most 
ss,  which,  uu- 

first  instalment  for 

ter  ilato  of  ruconl. 

iiniirovcmonta  lii'l 

settler  was  cutitleil 

grant  in  feesiinijle. 

e,  obtain  free  graiita 

j3.     Landa  and  im- 

jbt  up  to  a  Naluc  uf 

Inform,  for  Sctllcrf, 

rta  of  coniniissioneis 

New  Wustniinslcr, 

.  C,  1870,  411)-.".G:1, 

1870, '247-54;  IbbO, 

1877.  ll^l;  188-J,  (i, 

trx,  1884,  23;  U.  <'■ 
section  forming  tlie 
elien  rivers,  and  lior- 
and  Okauagau,  wiU 
l-S. 


GRAZING  LANDS. 


745 


less  eaten  closely,  and  not  allowed  to  seed,  never  ceases 
to  grow,  its  heart  remaining  green  througliout  winter, 
when  the  exterior  is  dry  and  withered."  On  this 
pa.sl'.iro  cattle  and  sheep  thrive,  grass-fed  beef  and 
mutton  being  of  excellent  quality;  while,  with  some 
provision  of  winter  food,  in  case  of  severe  weather, 
sheep  and  cattle  I'cquire  only  the  protection  of  a  shel- 
tered spot  with  little  depth  of  snow. 

Extending  from  the  railroad  line  to  the  heart  of 
the  northern  interior,  the  Yale  and  Cariboo  wagon- 
road  passes  through  or  near  considerable  areas  of  rich 
grazing  land,  in  which,  beyond  the  52d  parallel,  the 
grasses  are  mainly  what  are  known  as  the  red-top 
and  blue-joint,  interspersed,  on  the  southern  slopes  of 
hills,  with  the  pea-vine.  Although  these  grasses 
could  doubtless  be  cut  and  i)reserved  for  future  use, 
thus  saving  the  necessity  of  wintering  stock  elsewhere, 
the  experiment  has  never  yet  been  tried  on  any  con- 
siderable scale.  In  the  Peace  River  district,  and  in 
the  north-east  angle  of  the  territory,  are  vast  areas  of 
land  too  remote  ibr  agricultural  settlement,  and  which 
as  yet  are  but  little  utilized,  even  for  stock-raising. 
In  the  coast  region  the  richest  lands  for  pasture,  as 
for  agriculture,  are  found  in  the  delta  of  the  Fraser, 
although  for  the  former  purpose  their  greater  value 
and  limited  area  render  competition  with  the  interior 
almost  impossible. 

In  Vancouver  the  area  available  for  pasture  is  some- 
what limited,  the  Hat,  untimbered  region  in  the 
southern  and  eastern  [)ortions  of  the  island  being 
turned  to  more  j)rofitable  use  for  agricultural  pur- 
poses. In  many  parts,  however,  there  are  patches 
of  soil,  covered  with  short,  thick,  nutritious  grasses, 
where,  as  in  the  more  thinly  wooded  sections  of  the 
hill  country,  small  herds  may  thrive  the  year  round 
without  shelter,  except   protection  for  the  weaklier 

"Bunch-grass  is  found  at  intervals  between  tho  western  slope  of  tlio 
lllaek  Hills  and  the  eastern  slope  of  tho  Sierra  Nevada.  For  dusei  i|)tiun,  see 
niy  Hist.  IVankiitijloii,  Idaho,  and  Montana,  and  Hist.  Nevada,  Colorado,  and 
Wyoming. 


746 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


stock  from  excessive  rains.  Among  the  islands  be- 
tween  Vancouver  and  the  mainland,  in  all  of  which 
agriculture  and  pasture  lands  are  of  small  extent,  may 
be  mentioned  that  of  Salt  Spring,  adjacent  to  the 
Cowichin  district,  and  sharing  in  its  geologic  for- 
mation, where  herbage  is  abundant  and  of  excellent 
quality.^^ 

Indigenous  to  island  and  mainland  are  many  of 
the  excellent  berries  and  small  fruits,"  while  in  the 
orchards  of  Victoria,  New  Westminster,  and  other 
towns  and  villages  may  be  seen  most  of  the  fruits  that 
thrive  in  temperate  climates,  the  crops,  especially  in 
the  district  of  New  Westminster,  forming  no  incon- 
siderable source  of  profit." 

Among  the  most  valuable  resources  of  the  province 
are  its  fisheries,  the  seas,  bays,  lakes,  and  rivers 
swarming  with  excellent  food-fish.  Besides  the  sal- 
mon, tlie  herring,  bass,  flounder,  halibut,  sole,  smelt, 
sardine,  and  eulachon  are  found  in  abundance,  and 
sturgeon  weighing  more  than  500  pounds  have  been 
caught  in  the  livers,  estuaries,  and  larger  lakes.  The 
silver  salmon  begins  to  arrive  in  March  or  early  in 
April,  the  run  lasting  till  the  end  of  June,  their  weight 
usually  ranging  from  four  to  twenty-five  pounds, 
though  some  have  been  captured  that  weighed  moie 

"  For  further  items  as  to  stock-raising  and  cattle-ranges,  see  GoofVx  Brit. 
Col.,^\.^.\  Bai/lci/'ii  I'aii'ouver  Idiuid,  MS.,  passim;  Chlttendeii'i^  TravrU  in 
Brit.  Col.,  G-S';  S.  F.  Bulletin,  Sept.  "22,  1S81;  Alta,  July  11,  ISB.I;  Victoria 
StaiHiiird,  Dec.  10,  187t>.  In  the  lie/mrti  of  the  MiniMer  of  Aijricultiire 
for  the  Dominion  of  Cancula,  one  almost  turns  in  vain  for  informalioii,  tln'ir 
8ulij(!ct-matter  relating  principally  to  imniitjration,  patents,  quarantine  ro;,'- 
ulations,  plagues,  plcnro-pneumonia,  public  arcliives,  art  statistics,  coiiy- 
rij;lita,  stalialiques  criinincllus,  statistics  of  insolv(^ncy,  and,  in  briif,  to  all 
conceivalilo  st;itistic3  except  tlioso  wliicli  tlie  n^ports  sliouKl  contain. 

'"On  v.  I.  are  found  the  strawberry,  barberry,  blackberry,  raspberry, 
gooseberry,  mulberry,  cranberry,  blueberry,  bilberry,  wiiortlcl)crry,  yellow 
plum,  cherry,  and  several  kinds  of  currants.  B.  C.  Inform,  for  Emiijrciiits 
(1SS4),  ;i-J;  JJnylci/'.'i  V.  I.,  MS.,  (J3  fl. 

"  B.  0.  Dirrc/.,  1882-.S,  200.  For  mention  of  the  flora  and  fauna  of  tlio 
province,  see  cap.  ii.,  this  vol.;  Oood'x  B.  (-'.,  MS.,  passim;  .'iin/li'i/'.i  I'.  /., 
ilS.,  (io-S;  Chittenden's  Traviisin  B.  C,  passim;  JJmeson^t  N.  IT.  Terr,  and 
Brit.  (.'oL,  (JJ-71.     For  Game  Protcctiou  act,  1883,  see  SltU,  B.  C,  1883,  37-8. 


FISHERIES. 


747 


than  seventy  pounds.  From  June  until  August  are 
taken  the  finest  varieties,  while  in  the  latter  month 
every  second  year  commences  the  run  of  the  hump- 
back salmon,  followed  by  the  hookbill,  which  contin- 
ues until  winter.  Herring  and  haddock  are  caught 
during  the  winter  months;  anchovies  in  the  autumn; 
trout  weighing  from  three  to  seven  pounds  are  found 
in  the  lakes ^*  and  sf reams;  and  dog-fish,  valuable  for 
their  oil,  in  many  of  the  bays  and  inlets.  The  eula- 
chon,  a  delicate  table-fish,  about  seven  or  eight  incbea 
in  length,  and  yielding  »n  excellent  oil,  eiiters  the 
Fraser  in  vast  quantities  during  spring.^"  For  shell- 
fish there  are  oysters  on  many  parts  of  the  coast, 
small,  but  of  excellent  flavor,^"  and  there  are  crawfish, 
crabs,  and  mussels. 

Of  late  years  the  salmon-canneries  and  other  enter- 
prises in  connection  with  the  fisheries  of  British  Co- 
lumbia  have,  notwithstanding   low  prices,  increased 

'^  On  Salt  Spring  Island  is  a  large  lake  about  l."0  feet  aliove  the  soa-lcvel, 
with  ileop  water  up  to  its  edge,  aiul  in  the  middle  of  which  no  bottom  lias  been 
found.  Herii  are  siieckled  trout  over  three  feet  long,  and  weigliing  moio 
tlian  40  pounds.  They  will  not  take  bait,  but  are  speared  by  the  Indians 
during  winter.   Jiai/lei/'n  V.  /.,  MS.,  C9. 

"At  certain  seasons  it  is  the  chief  business  of  some  of  the  tribes  to  catch 
and  euro  these  fish  for  winter  use.  Erecting  lodges  near  the  bays  ami  inlets 
where  they  abound,  their  iishing  is  done  by  nioonliglit,  for  it  is  then  only 
that  the  eulachon  conies  to  the  surface.  For  taking  tlie  fish  a  large  rake  ia 
used,  witii  teetli  of  bone  or  iron,  four  inches  long  and  one  incli  apart.  In 
tlie  stern  of  each  canoe  sits  an  Indian,  who  propels  it  toward  tlie  slioals  of 
eulachon,  wliile  another,  holding  it  (irmly  in  both  hands,  sweeps  it  through 
the  m;iss  of  lish,  bringing  it  to  the  surface  with  one  or  more  on  each  tooth. 
After  being  loa<lod  tlie  canoes  arc  pad<lled  to  land,  drawn  on  the  beach,  over- 
turned, and  again  launched  for  another  catch.  This  work  continues  until 
the  setting  of  tiio  moon,  when  the  iish  disappear.  Tlie  take  is  thcQ  handed 
over  to  the  women  to  be  cured  and  dried,  and  the  oil  tried  out.  See  jSn/im 
Iltu-i'j*,  tliis  series.  Daivsous  Xivlhiri'st  Tfrr.  and  lirlt.  C'nl.,  98-9.  In  ]>S,S1 
eulachon  oil  was  believed  tobeagood  substitute  for  coddiveroil.  Ctili/nniinn, 
Aug.  1881,  177.  Later  ex])erieiico  has  shown  it  to  be  of  little  valuo  for  me- 
dicinal purposes.  For  furllur  iti'iiia  touching  ]J.  ('.  fisheries,  Bee  Bmjli  i/'x  V. 
/.,  MS.;  Ciioil'.t  B.  ('.,  MS.,  passim;  Cliittcn<liii\'<  TntnU  in  Ji.  C,  '29,  passim; 
Daimnii'x  X.  )»'.  Trn:  find  IS.  C,  78-113;  Jour.  J.<'/i4.  .(v.i.  B.  C,  ]8,S2,  2,  5, 
7;  J/oiit<;  Ej.  Doc.,  4''(h  ^'oikj.,  3d  Sens.,  L,  pt.  1,  ."i.)!;  /i'»ji/<.  Con, in.  /'i</icrii:i 
(Ottawa),  with  supplements,  1874-80;  5. /'..')/<'(,  Apr.  IG,  JS82;  BidHi,,.)my 
21),  ISSl;  Stnchim  IndvjMiidint,  Aug.  19,  1881;  11'.  T.  Iiiti-llijoiccr,  .]:\.i\.  V.\, 
1879;    yirtoi-ii I  Standard,  .July  25,  Oct.  31,  1877;  Brit.  ('<iloiii.<f.,  Dec.  Z\,  1S77. 

"  At  Oyster  Bay,  in  the  L'owichan  district,  were  found  the  be.'t  oyster- 
beds,  l)ut  the  limited  demand,  and  the  difhculty  in  landing  the  product  at 
Victoria  in  good  condition  and  at  small  expense,  preventod  tlieir  extensivo 
u.se.  B.  C.  J)ir<r',.,  1882-3,  i:\S.  As  early  as  1853,  oyster-beds  wen;  poin.cd 
out  by  the  Indians  at  Nitinat  ]<ay.  Hancock's  Thiiiixn  Years,  !MS.,  289. 


l?l 


748 


INDUsiTPIES,  COMMERCE,  AND   FINANCE. 


.4 


largely  the  exports  of  the  province.  In  187G,  tlierc 
were  but  three  canneries  in  operation,  the  total  out- 
put being  only  8,247  cases  of  48  one-pound  tins  each. 
In  1881  the  number  had  increased  to  twelve,  with  a 
yield  of  177,270  cases;  and  in  1882  to  twenty,  with  a 
production  of  255,001  cases,  valued  at  .$1,402,8.35. 
The  total  yield  of  the  fisheries  for  the  latter  year  was 
estimated  at  !?1,842,075.'"^  The  estimate  for  the  catch 
of  fur-seals  was  $187,250.  At  that  date  the  various 
industries  in  this  connection  gave  employment,  during 
the  seas-^on,  to  more  than  5,000  men,  and  to  a  fleet  of 
14  steamers,  12  schooners,  and  nearly  1,000  boats  and 
canoes."  Thus,  since  1851,  when  fresh  salmon  sold 
at  San  Juan  Island  at  the  rate  of  sixty  for  a  four-dol- 
lar blanket,""''  smoked  salmon,  curea  at  Fort  Langley, 
was  wortli,  in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  $10  a  barrel, 
and  canned  salmon  was  exported  in  small  quantity 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Fraser,"*  the  fisheries  of  British 
Colund)ia  have  given  rise  to  one  of  the  leading  indus- 
tries of  the  province. 

A])art  from  lumber  and  canned  salmon,  manufactures 
in  1800  were  inconsiderable,  though  all  that  might 
be  expected  in  a  new  country.  With  concentration  of 
labor  and  capital,  it  follows,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that 
the  home  country,  where  four  dollars  a  week  are  ])roba- 
bly  more  than  the  average  earnings  of  operatives,  out- 
does her  colonies.  There  were,  in  the  province,  at  that 
date,  boiler  and  machine  shops,  iron  and  brass  works, 
flour-mills,  biscuit-factories,   saw-mills,^^  book-binder- 

'■"  Including  §50,14(5  worth  of  barrelled  and  smoked  salmon,  .814,291  of 
baiTuUud  and  aiiuikod  herrings,  §10,400  of  fresh  tish,  .*il08,113  of  tiah-t)il,  and 
$58,tiO>)  for  various  items.  Si'xx.  Pajwr.i,  B.  C,  1883,  370. 

'-Id.  l''or  additional  items  concerning  the  canneries,  see iS.  /''.  Bulletin,  Aug. 
20,  1881;  ir.  T.  IiiU'lliicmrr,  Sept.  .S,  1870;  Virtnrii  StJinlnnl,  April  2"),  1877; 
New  Wc.^tiiiitiatrr  Hcrni.l,  i\\  PoHlitiid  SlJiidartl,  Aug.  10,  1877. 

''■'^  Bi-illfh  Cnliimliia  Slcctrhcx,  MS.,  22.  At  this  date  there  was  a  small 
estahli.shnieut  on  the  island  for  the  curing  of  salmon. 

^JS.^e  p.  i;!2,  this  voh 

2'' The  first  saw-mill  was  huilt  in  18C1  at  the  Sooke  copper  mines.  Bni/ln/'s 
V.  /.,  MS.,  (il.  Among  the  flour-mills  may  be  mentioned  the  one  at  Chilli- 
whack,  (if  which  in  ISS.")  Kobert  Stevenson,  a  native  of  WillianistoM'ii,  Out., 
was  Iho  projiriotor.  Mr  Stevenson  arrived  in  Victoria  on  board  tlio  Oriztilm 
in  1859,  and  two  years  later  tried  his  fortune  at  the  Cariboo  mines,  being  one 


MANUFACTURES  AND   MINES. 


749 


ics,  breweries,  tanneries,"^  and  factories  for  the  inalc- 
ing  of  boots  and  shoes,  furniture,"'  pianos,  saslies 
and  doors,  soap,  matches,  and  cigars,  Nevertlieless, 
most  of  the  wool  and  other  raw  material,  wiiicli  in 
California  were  largely  made  up  into  goods  of  homo 
production,  were  in  British  Columbia  almost  entirely 
exported,"*^  to  be  returned,  for  instance,  as  textile  fiilj- 
rics,  with  the  added  charges  of  freight,  connnission, 
and  manufacture. 

In  the  report  of  the  minister  of  mines  for  the 
year  1884  there  arc  statistics  which  may  not  be  with- 
out interest  to  the  reader.  At  that  date  the  yield  of 
gold  had  fallen  to  $730,105,  or  an  average  of  only 
$390  for  each  of  the  workers  engaged  in  gold-mining. 
Between  July  1858  and  the  close  of  1884  the  total 
output  was  estimated  at  $48,072,128,  and  the  average 
at  about  $1,900,000,  that  for  1884  being  the  smallest. 


ill 


of  the  first  white  men  to  winter  there.  Prominent  among  the  himhcr  mer- 
chants of  Victoria  was  William  Parsons  Sayw,aril,  the  ]>roi)rietor  of  thu  Kiick 
Bay  saw-mill,  a  native  of  Thoinaston,  Mo.,  and  a  Cal.  pioneer,  arrived  in  the 
colony  in  ISaS. 

'^^In  1SS4  there  were  six  tanneries  in  operation — one  at  Rock  15ay,  the  Ray 
tannery  in  close  pro.xiinity,  one  at  Belmont,  seven  miles  from  Victoria,  oiio 
near  Parson's  hriilge,  tive  niih^a  from  tlie  capital,  and  one  each  at  Nanaimo  and 
New  Westminster.  In  connection  with  the  Rock  Bay  and  Belmont  tanneries 
wore  boot  and  shoe  factories.  T!io  hiiles  and  skin.s  were  of  local  pniiliiction, 
the  surplus  being  mainly  exported  to  S.  ¥.  Hendock  bark,  from  the  Sooko 
and  Otter  di.stricts,  was  chielly  used — though  oak  bark  was  imported  fmni 
<Jal.  llealliornn  Indu.ttriM  of  li.  C,  ^IS.  Tiie  Rock  "Bay  tannery,  Imilt  in 
18(52  by  W.  Hartley,  was  tlie  first  one  established  in  Vanecmver,  and  in  Ksh5 
was  the  largest  in  the  province.  At  tlie  latter  date  it  was  producing  .some 
400  si.les  of  B(de,  and  200  of  U))pir,  leather  per  month,  besides  call,  kip,  seal, 
coat,  sheep-skin,  harness,  bridle,  and  aparejo  leather.  Most  of  tiie  j)ro(liu't, 
however,  was  used  in  the  boot  and  slioe  factory.  In  1875  the  business  was 
purcliased  by  William  lleathorn,  a  native  of  (Juildford,  Kngland,  who  arrived 
at  Victoria  ill  1802,  and  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  this  information. 

'■"  In  Victoria  tliero  were  three  furniture  factories — tln)se  of  .lohn  Weiler, 
Jacob  Sehl,  and  Joseph  Somner,  the  two  lirst  being  for  household  and  the  last 
for  odice  furniture.  WeiliT  and  Sehl  arrived  in  tlie  colony  at  an  early  date, 
the  former,  a  native  of  Nassau,  (iirmany,  reaching  Victoria  in  IM  d,  and  tlio 
latter,  a  native  of  L'oblentz,  in  1S,"/,S.  Both  came  by  way  of  ( 'al.,  v  lure  \\'eiler 
engaged  in  mining,  and  fSehl  was  a  manufacturer  iuid  general  dealer  in  furni- 
ture. 

■■""In  1884  a  premium  of  t$.'?,000  w.as  ofTered  by  the  government  for  the  lirst 
ono-set  mill  erected  in  the  province  witli  a  capacity  for  manufacturing  not 
less  than  50,000  jiounds  of  wool  into  yarns,  blankets,  Hannels,  and  tweeds. 
Slut.  li.  C,  1884,35.  Formenlitmof  Moodyvillo Saw-mill  Co.,  i^t;o< '/lit/i'iii/cii's 
Travcit  in  B.  C,  60;  and  for  further  items  couccrning  manufactures,  aeo  Jirit. 
Colonist,  June  17,  Oct.  13,  Nov.  (5,  1879. 


I  y 


750 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


The  largest  earniDg.s  per  capita  were  in  1875,  when 
they  reached  $1,222,  and  the  average  for  the  25;^  years 
covered  by  the  report  did  not  exceed  $600.  Of  those 
working  for  wages  during  the  season  there  were  402 
white  men  and  1,3GG  Chinamen,  rates  for  tlie  former 
averaging  about  $3.75  a  day,  and  for  the  latter  $2.75. 

OfV'oal,  the  total  yield  for  1884  was  394,070  tons, 
the  output  for  that  year  being  the  largest  so  far  re- 
corded, and  showing  an  increase  of  4G  per  cent  over 
that  of  the  preceding  year.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that, 
according  to  an  accepted  commercial  authority  in  San 
Francisco,  then  the  best  available  market  for  the  sur- 
j)lus  coal  of  the  province,  the  imports  of  that  city  and 
of  Wilmington  included  291,546  tons  of  British  Col- 
umbia coal  out  of  a  total  of  1,035,076  tons,  and  against 
77,485  tons  of  California  coal,  Vancouver  Island  thus 
furnisliing  nearly  30  per  cent  of  the  entire  supply."" 

In  his  message  for  1885,  the  president  of  the 
United  States  mentioned  that  her  ^lajcsty's  govern- 
ment has  been  requested  to  consider  the  question  of 
settling  more  definitely  the  boundary  line  between 
Alaska  and  British  Columbia,  su<T<xestin<j:  that  it  "  be 
established  by  meridian  observations,  or  by  known 
geographical  features,  without  the  necessity  of  an 
expensive  survey  of  the  whole.  As  yet,  indeed,  it 
may  be  said  that  no  exact  line  of  demarcation  exists, 
for,  through  lack  of  geographical  knowledge  of  this 
region,  the  one  determined  in  the  convention  between 

*  The  local  consumption  of  B.  C,  for  1884  was  87,388  tons,  and  If),  13G  tons 
were  shippod  to  various  countries,  mainly  to  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Tliu 
text  of  tlie  report,  preceded  by  tables  of  statistics,  will  be  found  in  iScw. 
Papers,  B.  C,  1885,417-30.  For  acu  to  consolidate  and  amend  laws  relat- 
ing to  minerals,  see  Stat.  D.  C,  1882,  8;  1883,  10;  and  for  act  to  encourage 
prospectinj{  for  coal,  Stat.  B.  C,  1783,  5.  In  18o5  C.  A.  Bayley  first  dis- 
covere<l  copper  near  Sansome  narrows,  and  in  1860  the  vein  was  opened,  Imt 
OS  the  ore  did  not  assay  more  tlian  23  per  cent,  it  could  not  be  worlicd  at  i\ 
profit,  and  the  mine  was  abandoned.  Bai/ley's  V.  /.,  MS.,  01.  For  additional 
items  as  to  mining,  mineral  yield,  and  mining  enterprise,  see  the  reports  of  the 
commissioner  of  mines  for  each  year,  in  Sesi.  Piipern,  B.  C;  CliitleiKlcii'.i 
Travels  in  B.  C,  3-5,  20-2;  Scid move's  A lasL-a,  6-15;  Brit,  t'oloniil,  passim; 
Portland  Tfleqram,  Oct.  31,  1879;  Wa.'^^r.'iiqlon  Intelliqencer,  Jlay  22,  Sept. 
10,  July  2.3,  1879;  S.  F.  Bulletin,  May  25,  1875;  May  22,  June  24,  July  1,  20, 
Auj;.  25,  Oct.  17,  Sept.  29,  Oct.  1,  Nov.  9,  1881,  May  6.  1884;  Alta,  July  3, 
1884;  Jour,  of  Com.,  May  23,  1877;  Com.  Herald,  July  0,  1877. 


PORTS  OP  ENTRY. 


731 


Russia  and  Great  Britain  in  1825  was  so  vague  that 
it  is  impossible  to  follow  the  text  of  the  agroenicnt.'"* 
So  long  as,  apart  from  her  fur-seals,  fisheries,  and 
land  peltry,  Alaska  was  considered  practically  worth- 
less, and  the  northern  part  of  British  Columbia 
nearly  so,  the  boundary  question  was  of  little  moment; 
but  the  discovery  of  mineral  wealth  in  both  territo- 
ries, and  in  more  than  one  instance  near  the  limits 
agreed  upon  in  1825,  would  seem  almost  to  render  it 
necessary  that  those  limits  be  defined  more  clearly, 
in  order  to  avoid  future  complications.  Moreover, 
the  trade  of  the  province  is  seriously  disturbed  by  the 
present  condition  of  the  matter.  The  mouth  of  the 
Stikcen  River,  for  instance,  is  in  American  territory, 
Fort  Wrangell  being  the  nearest  port  of  entry. 
There  goods  intended  for  the  mainland  interior  must 
be  transshipped,  or  an  officer  placed  on  board  the  ves- 
sel, a  part  of  whose  duty  it  is  to  see  that  they  are  not 
landed  on  American  soil  in  transitu.  Some  thirty 
miles  toward  the  south  a  port  of  entry  could  be  estab- 
lished within  the  British  line,  and  one  which  sea- 
going vessels  could  enter  without  breaking  bulk;  but 
until  the  line  of  demarcation  is  territorially  defined, 
it  may  not  be  advisable  to  select  the  site  for  a  port 
of  entry  on  the  verge  of  the  northern  boimdary. 
Meanwhile  complaints  have  been  made  of  the  illib- 
eral and  sometimes  inexcusable  conduct  of  the  custom- 
house officers  at  Wrangell.'*^ 

For  1884  the  exports  of  British  Columbia  amounted 
to  $3,099,814,  and  of  the  dominion  to  $80,521,175; 
while  imports  were  for  the  former  $4,142,280,^"  and 

'Tor  description  of  the  boundary  line,  see  IlUt.  Alaska,  543,  tliis  series* 
Sess.  Papers,  li.  C\,  1885,  453-4. 

"  llcpt  of  Comm.  Ex.  Council  B.  C.  on  the  Alaska  Boundary  Question, 
in  SesH.  Papcru,  1885,  451-60,  where  it  is  stated  that  Capt.  Irving,  manager 
of  the  Canadian  Pacific  Steamboat  and  Navigaticm  Company,  was  on  one  occa- 
sion subjected  to  such  treatment,  liis  vessel  being  illegally  seized,  and  a  loss 
tiius  incurred  of  several  thousand  dollars,  for  whicii  lie  was  compelled  to  seek 
redress  in  the  U.  S.  courts.  In  1878  a  conditional  boundary  line  in  tlie  val- 
ley of  tlio  Stikeen  River  was  temporarily  accepted  by  the  governments  of 
Canada  and  tlie  U.  S.   House  Ex.  Doc,  J^^Jlh  Coiuj.,  3d  Sens.,  ♦.,  3,'',9-48. 

"Of  dutiable  goods,  ?.3,445,409,  and  of  goods  exempt  from  duty,  princi- 
pally railroad  material,  $090,877. 


■  1  f 


70S 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


for  the  latter  $108,282,001.  Thus,  apart  from  domes- 
tie  trade  the  commerce  of  this  province,  with  a  pop- 
ulation then  estimated  at  00,000,  was  nearly  four  per 
cent  of  that  of  the  en  'ominion,  with  a  popula- 

tion of  about  4,500,000,  tlit  ratio  of  population  beinj,' 
as  one  to  seventy-five,  and  of  imports  and  exports  as 
one  to  twenty-five.  Due  allowance  being  made  for 
the  fact  that  competition  in  trade  was  less  severe  on 
the  Pacific  than  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  that 
between  them  there  was  a  vast  and  almost  unpeopled 
interior,  it  must  be  admitted  that  thus  i'ar  the  young- 
est offspring  of  the  moth'-r  country  has  not  been  slow 
of  growth.  Comparing  British  Columbia  with  Que- 
bec, for  instance,  we  find  for  the  latter  province,  with 
a  population  in  1884  of  about  1,500,000,  an  external 
commerce  of  $82,545,184,  the  ratio  of  population 
being  as  twenty-five  to  one,  and  of  imports  and 
exports  as  one  hundred  to  nine. 

Exports  in  1884  consisted  maitdy  of  coal  and  gold, 
fish  and  fish-oils,  peltry,  hides,  and  lumber,  of  which 
Great  Britain  purchased  to  the  value  of  $878,883,  in- 
cluding canned  salmon  valued  at  $070,758,  the  United 
States  $1,091,707,  and  Australia  $257,202.  For  the 
fiscal  year  ending  June  30,  1872,  the  twelvemonth 
following  the  confederation  of  the  colony,  the  total 
exports 'amounted  to  $1,912,107.^*  That  with  the 
completion  of  the  railroad  and  her  advantages  for  inter- 
oceanic  communication,  the  commerce  of  the  province 
will  develop  yet  more  rapidly,  is  almost  beyond  a  per- 
adventure.  Supported  by  British  capital,  it  would 
seem  that  British  Columbia  luay,  in  the  not  very 
distant  future,  be  no  inconsiderable  factor  in  the  traf- 
fic, not  only  of  the  dominion,  but  of  the  mother  coun- 
try.«* 

»0f  which  G.  Brit,  took  $224,944,  and  the  U.  S.  $1,405,217.  Tabkn  oj 
Trwie  and  A'no.  Dom.  Can,,  187'-. 

'•  For  statistics  and  items  as  to  trade,  see  Tables  Trade  ami  Nav.  Dom. 
Can.  Aim.  lie  lit  k  li.  C.  Hoard  of  Trade,  passim.  In  the  Acts  of  Incorporation 
and  By-l'iws,  U.  C.  Board  of  Trade,  Victoria,  1879,  ;U-.5,  are  tariffs  of  fees 
that  coinpnre  somcwlmt  to  the  disadvantage  of  tliose  collected  in  San  I'Viui- 
cisuo.  Sau  Diego,  Portland,  Port  Townsend,  Sitka,  and  Wrangell.     For  adJi- 


BANKS  AND  BANKING. 


708 


With  baiikini;  and  insurance  facilities  T^riti.sli  Co- 
Imiibia  was  but  poorly  suj)pliccl.  In  1885  thero  wero 
but  throe  banks  in  the  entire  j)rovince — the  bank  of 
British  Columbia,  with  a  capital  of  $500,000,  with  its 
head  office  in  London,  with  branches  at  San  Francisco, 
Portland,  Victoria,  and  Now  Westminster,  and  agen- 
cies in  iNlexico,  South  America,  India,  China,  and 
Australia;  the  bank  of  British  North  America,  with 
its  main  office  at  the  capital;  and  the  Dominion  Sav- 
ings Baidi,  with  its  head<|uarters  at  New  Westmin- 
ster,^' and  with  numerous  branches.  There  was  not 
at  this  date  a  single  local  insurance  company,  though 
there  were  several  agencies  of  Canadian,  Briti>^h,  or 
foreign  companies,  the  British  Columbia  Insurance 
Company,  incorporated  in  1877,^"  having  then  ceased 
to  exist.  In  this  respect  British  Cohunbia  contrasted 
somewhat  unfavorably  with  her  sister  provinces,  and 
with  the  Australian  colonies,  in  which  latter  there 
were  few  settlements  mustering  say  500  inhabitants 
wherc;in  there  could  not  be  found  one  or  more  brandies 
of  colonial  banks,  and  several  agencies  of  colonial  lii'e, 
tire,  or  marine  insurance  companies. 

During  the  fiscal  year  ending  tlio  .30th  of  June, 
1880,  there  arrived  at  the  [)ort  of  Victoria  471  sea- 
going vessels,  with  a  total  measurement  of  3G5,(;40 
tons,  and  of  which  135  were  British  or  Canadian,  319 
belonged  to  the  United  States,  and  the  remainder 
sailed  under  the  flags  of  various  foreign  nations.  The 
clearances  for  the  same  3'ear  numbered  4G5,  of  which 
118  carried  the  British  and  333  the  United  States 


m 


;l 


( t 


tional  information  as  to  trade  and  cmnmcrco,  sec  l/oiixe  Ex.  Dor.  .^th  Confj., 
2d  .SV.v,f.,  XXI.,  no.  90,  '^8-72,  i;!4-7C;  Jd.,  xx!:i.,  no.  103,  507;  hi,  4>J"i 
Com/.,  21  .SV.s?.,  a-vi.,  no.  7,  30-7S,  1 1'2-'.)8,  'JG4-;i(K);  Jour.  Lcijid.  Coiuial, 
ISO!),  I,'),  app.  ii-iii.;  (/..<?.  niinnn  ofSla'.,  no.  2,  lt>70-S0,  pp.  143,  10_',  104, 
ISO.  Jirit.  Colonii'',  IWay  14,  1878;  Apr.  II,  July  1-',  Oct.  24,  1879;  Vl-ioria 
Slandar.l.  Apr.  '20,  1870;  Standard,  Jan.  28,  iMnrcli  10,  1880;  5.  /'.  Ilulirtui, 
June  7,  1858;  May  14,  ISOO;  Aug.  18,  180.1;  Oct.  24,  1804;  July  22,  1874;  Alia, 
May  21,  1800;  Feb.  22,  1800;  Feb.  10,  1807;  Supt.  12,  1871;  Feb.  "A,  1877. 

"y;.  (.'.  nirect.,  1884-5,  88,  108;  1882-3,  xxiii.  For  further  items  aa  to 
banking,  sec  S.  F.  Alia,  July  20,  1804,  May  5,  1873;  Com.  Herald,  Aug.  20, 
1S08. 

•''For  act  of  incoi-poration,  see  Stat.  B.  C,  1877,  141-7. 
HiBT.  Bkit.  Col.    18 


784 


IXDUSTIMKS,  COMMKltCi:.  AND  FINANCR 


i]i\<X,  Ihfir  ;iLr'j:ri'<;;it(5  iu('asur(Mn»'iii  hiiiiig  .Tfj.'J.GS?  tons, 
or  ilic  jurivals  (»nly  7M,  and  (»!'  tlio  (Icparturcs  only 
63,  \v(  ro  sailinjj  whips,  and  of  those  a  larj^o  projutrlinn 
sailed  or  I'cachod  port  in  hallast.  Tho  j)n'|)on(l(!rant'(i 
of  Anu'ricaii  vessels  is,  of  course,  explained  hy  the 
traflic  between  Victoria,  San  Francisco,  I'ortland, 
and  other  i>oirits  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  the  United 
States,  all  of  it,  or  nearly  so,  l)ein<^  in  the  hands  of 
American  ship-owners."'  There  wereahout  this  tinx^ 
five  steanu>rs  plyinjjf  on  the  Fraser,  between  New 
Westminster  and  lale,  Victoria  and  Yah;,  Soda 
Creek  and  Qnesnello,  Kandoop  and  Savona's  ferry, 
all  of  them  Ix^lonirinuf  to  the  Pioneer  Line,  which  sue- 
ceeded  to  the  British  Cohunbia  Naviijfation  Company, 
then  umler  the  mana<^ement  of  John  Jrvin-jf."'"*  liefoie 
the  line  of  the  overland  railway  was  lo(ated,  Mk; 
Thompson  lliver,  containinjjf,  with  its  atllnents,  some 
nOO  mikis  of  navi«ifal)le  water,  held  in  its  mountainous 
basin  a  population  suffici(>nt  to  support  s(>veral  small 
pteaniers."'  On  the  com[i!etion  of  the  pi-ojectcnl  canal 
between  Okanaj^an  and  Shuswap  lakes— the;  two  be- 
ing almost  on  the  same  level,  scjiarated  only  by  a 
pin<;le  valley,  and  with  the  Thompson  as  tlu;  outlet,  of 
the  latter — more  than  100  miles  wouUl  be  added  td 
the  navigable  channel  of  this  stream. 

Thus,  since  the  days  when  the  little  black  steamer 
Beaver — the  first  to  perform  such  an  exploit — roun<le(l 
Capo  lIorn>)i.  her  voyage  from  London  to  Esquimalt, 
bcinir  u  >^'d  {jr."- ,  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to 

"Complei.i,  iia*  igation  returns  for  tho  province  will  bo  found  in  tlio  Tahlat 
of  Trntlf  ami  Aa».  V>07«.  Can.  for  ISSO,  7J«-7,  802-:t,  S.TO. 

'"Tlio  only  son  of  Win  Irvin^j,  who  nrrivcil  in  S.  V.  in  1848,  in  cliiirgc!  I'f 
tho  liark  John  IT.  Cnton.  In  18.)'J  tlio  luttcr  engaged  in  tho  stcainlmat  Imsi- 
ncss  on  (ho  Columbia,  whence,  in  I8."ift,  ho  removed  to  tho  Fraser  to  take 
cliaij;u  of  tho  affiiira  of  tho  15.  O.  Nav.  Co.  Tlio  names  of  the  fivo  stcaiiu  rs 
wcro  till!  WiHiaiii  Irvimj,  the  Jtiliaiirr,  tlio  I'irlorin,  tho  /Ver/f^s,  and  the  A'. 
J.  liriii',1,  tlio  last,  a  fino  vessel  of  G-5  tons,  bein^  burned  at  Hope  in  Sept. 
I8SI.  Tho  entire  capital  invested  in  them  was  §175,000.  In  1882  two  mw 
steamers,  ono  of  600  ftud  tho  otlicr  of  400  tons,  wcro  being  built  for  tho  Pion- 
eer liiio.    Uiltrll'ii  Com.  and  Iiid.  Par.  Coaxt,  198. 

'•Huilt  by  Mara  and  Wilson,  of  which  firm  J.  A.  Mara  was  ono  of  tlio 
leading  men  iii  tho  Kaiulor'p  district,  and  a  member  of  the  provincial  parlia- 
ment. 


RRVKNUK. 


7fiS 


3,087  tons, 
rturt's  only 
proporl  ion 
|)on(l(!ran('(i  . 
n(>(l  l>y  tlio 
l'orlliin<l, 
tlu!  United 

0  h.'iiuls  of 
it  tiii.s  (inn? 
vvcH>n  New 
iTalc;,  Soilii 
DMii's  iV'iTy, 

which  suc- 

1  Complin V, 
^^="'  Uc;loro 
Xiitocl,  thi5 
;louts,  sonu! 
lountiiinons 
voi'jil  .small 

jcctcil  CiUlill 

:1k;  two  l)t!- 

only  by  a 

lo  ontlot  (if 

10  uddud  to 

Lck  steatntT 
-roiindiMl 
Esquinialt, 
otnjjany  to 

nd  in  the  Tables 

48,  in  clinrgi^  of 
steamboat  Itiisi- 
Frascr  to  Uiko 
ic  five  stoaimr.i 
Icif,  and  tin-  £. 
b  Hope  in  Sept. 
n  188J  two  iiiw 
ilt  for  the  I'ioM- 

was  ono  of  tlio 
rovincial  pailia- 


collect  ju'ltry  and  convoy  Hupplios,  then  as  a  gov- 
«'rnmont  survcyin<jf  voHmd/"  and  ondiii;*  lior  career 
an  a  tn<^,  vast  strides  have  Leon  niado  in  the  shipping 
interests  of  tho  tiirritory.  From  ono  supply-ship  a 
year,  with  an  occasional  visit  from  some  storm-hound 
or  dismantled  craft,  ir»  1840,  to  an  average  of  at  least 
lour  vesstils  a  day,  cleared  or  entered  in  J  880,  is  a 
somewhat  startling  contrast.  Why  it  is  that  British 
(Jolumhia  never,  as  yet,  ranked  ship-building  among 
hei-  industries,  does  not  at  present  appear.  If,  within 
this  century,  Sitka  could,  to  a  sniall  extent,  compete 
with  Okhotsk"  and  l*ort  Townsend  with  liath  and 
]Jangor,  then;  would  seem  to  be  no  good  reason  why 
Vidoria  and  i/ort  Moody  should  not  enter  into  coiu- 
petion  with  Halifax  and  St  John." 

For  the  fiscal  year  ending  Juno  30,  1884,  tho  total 
revenue  of  ]Jritish  Columbia  amounted  to  $887,080, 
of  which  $207,01)0  was  received  from  tho  dominion 
government/''  $01,4.3.3  on  account  of  land  sales,  $48, 
080  for  provincial  revenue  tax,  and  $384, f)  12  for  tho 
transfer  to  tho  dominion  of  tho  graving-dock,  and  for 
money  expended  on  its  construction  by  tho  province. 
For  the  same  period  tho  expenditure  under  all  heads 
was  $.'300,020,  of  which  $81,053  was  on  account  of  the 

*"In  wliiclj  capacity  bIic  did  cxcollent  service.  Dayky'n  V.  I.,  MS.,  70. 

*'S(!o  /list.  Alank't,  this  scricH,  p.  091,  note 4.5. 

'^  Additional  information  aa  to  shipping  matters  will  bo  found  in  Tables  of 
Truth'  and  Aav.  l>om.  Can.,  piis.siin;  liai/lnj'H  V.  I.,  MS.,  75-7;  Coo/ktb 
Miiiilimf  .MiiUcrH,  MS.,  passiinj  S.  F.  Call,  Juno  4,  8,  1800;  Apr.  21,  1870; 
Jliiltctlii,  .limo  11,  1801;  /'oiilniid  IVext  S/iure,  July  1877.  For  account  of 
wriH^lc  of  till!  Btcanicr  Uenrqe.  S.  ti'riijh/,  and  massacre  of  her  crew,  hco  iV.  F. 
Jliillrlln,  March  :i,  4,  19,  187;»;  July  2»,  1877;  C(UI,  Apr.  0,  July  'J.'l,  1877; 
J'osf,  Apr.  7,Jtinc4,  1877;  yl/'re,  Marcii  .'J,  187^!;  Vir(jininCi(iiChrtmii)lK,  A'pr. 
7.  1877;  S/filaninm(  IT.  'J'.)  L'xprcsH,  July  '20,  1877.  For  loHsof  tho.SVo-aHfte, 
SCO  N.  /'.  /'ohI,  June'2'2,  '2'>,  187.");  ('a//,  June  22,  187."i;  and  f"»  otlierdi.iajtcrg 
hy  Kca,  ,S'.  /'.  Alia,  .fane.  20,  1872;  ('(ill,  \h-c.  20,  1874;  Didlclin,  8.pt  30, 
Oct.  1,  1>S81.  I'ilotivgo  reKulation.s  will  1)0  found  in  tho  Virtoriaand  Fnqui- 
mall  I'ihlwjr  /hz-lairs,  Victoria,  1880;  //.  C.  Direct.,  1882  . I,  39;J  0.  I'or 
iuforiiMtionaa  to  rules  and  customs  of  port  and  harhor  niastcrR,  port-wardens, 
and  quaranline  regulations,  see  //and-Jiookt  of  the  Board  of  Tiadi-.  Att  lato 
as  187")  there  were  but  three  lightdiouses  in  the  entire  province,  one  eiich  at 
llaco  Rocks,  at  tho  entrance  of  l']s(|uimalt  Harbor,  and  on  SouUi  Sand  lluod, 
at  tho  ent.anco  of  tho  Fraser.  LUt  of  LirjIU^,  Dom.  Can.,  Wl. 

«»0f  the  latter  sum,  $24,990  was  for  interest,  $.35,000  for  subsidy,  $48,000 
for  grant  per  capita,  and  $100,000  for  lands  conveyed.  Scsa.  Papers,  li.  C, 
1885,  44. 


I-:  \ 


750 


INDrSTlIIKS,  COMMKRCH,  AND  FINANCR. 


I 


puMio  (l('l)t,  847,;]i!n  lor  tlic  civil  service,  $1)7,1  SO 
i'ov  tlio  adriiinistiation  of  justice,  and  $"217,11)1  I'er 
public  works.  At  that  ilate  there  were  debentures 
outstanding  to  the  amount  of  $747,500.'**  Coujiuired 
with  other  provinces,  and  considerin<^  the  large  per- 
centage of  expenditure  devoted  to  ])ublic  works,  it 
must  bo  admitted  that  finances  were  in  a  heallhy 
condition,  one  of  the  most  noticeable  features  in  the 
comparison  being  that  the  average  di-bt  jii-r  capita 
was  for  the  province  little  more  than  $12,  and  lor  the 
dominion  about  $4(5. *'  In  the  amount  of  customs 
paid  into  the  consolidated  revenue  fund  of  the  domin- 
ion, jiro  rata  of  population,  the  contrast  was  still  more 
remarkable.  Taking,  for  instance,  the  liscal  year 
1878-1),  for  which  there  are  exact  returns  at  hand 
for  all  the  provinces,  we  fiml  that  Uritish  Colund)ia, 
with  a  ]K)pulation  amounting  only  to  12^  per  cent  of 
that  of  Nova  Scotia,  paid  more  than  43  per  cent  of  tin! 
sum  contributed  by  the  latter;  nearly  1 1  per  cent  of 
the  sums  contributed  by  Ontario  and  Quebec,  where 
the  ratios  of  population  were  respectively  as  40  ami 
30  to  one;  88  per  cent  more  than  was  paid  by  INTani- 
toba,  with  about  an  equal  population;  and  150  percent 
moi'e  than  was  paid  by  Prince  Edward  Island,  with 
double  the  population. 


4(1 


In  presenting  to  the  reader  the  annals  thus  far  i(>- 
corded  of  iJritish  Columbia,  I  have  spoken  of  a  people 

*'A  KtuteiiH'iil  of  tlio  public  nccouiita  for  oaoli  year  will  bo  f<)\iinl  in  llie 
l'i!))(irts  of  lliu  iniuistiT  of  liminco,  in  .Sets.  l'<t/)n\i,  li.  ('.  Si'o  iilso  ,/()";•. 
J,c(li.sl.  Ass.  li.  ('.;  Slut.  It.  ('.,  passim.  For  187v!  tin.'  rcvonuu  was  lS>.l'_'7,''il  I; 
l.si;i,  $;t7(),IM);  l,S74,  S;!7'-\«I7;  187.'),  $;ir)l,-JH ;  lS7(i,  $:!M,I'J();  KS77,  $ltiH, 
.'{|;i;  LS7S,  $i;iO,7S();  for  tlio  lilst  six  inonlliaof  1S7!»,  S!-'i;i,()r)7;  lor  tlio  lisoal 
y.'ar  July  I,  KS7'.>,  to  .Inno  ;)0,  KSSO,  If.'HKMWS;  ISSO  1,  s;i!)7,(i;{..;  IS8I  J, 
S!l,>:!,'Jll;  ISSJ-;!,  S!|-,',-),S()S.  Tin.  oxpondituru  was,  for  IS7l.',  §:4;!-',().S'.';  1.^7:!, 
5i.i!ta,!l!ll;  IS7i,  ,'iii..SI,'J8L';  187ri,  inoluiiinj^  S!-l.'!.IUO  of  tlio  siiin  raised  wvl-t 
llio  I!,  c;.  loan  act  of  1871,  $8v'!t,'J77;  I87(i,  including  Jlil),(it)0  for  balume  ..' 
loan.  f7'.t(>.7l();  1S77,  {!li'.tS.:il,");  1S78,  $.-)18,'J70;  l87!)-80,  l5;4:)7,02(i;  1880-1, 
|;f7!),7!)il;   I88I-'J,  §174,41)1.';   188-2  ;(,  S,V.)4,I()'_'. 

'•' i'or  fintlier  ilenis  as  to  rovenno  and  tinuncc,  seo  M(iih-)izii''ii  Mem.  Can. 
Piic  llaihrdij,  Ms.;  CaiuuUi  I'uhtic  Avcount.i,  1870-7;  ('(iiiadii  liilaml  lifi'. 
Ji'r}ils,  l87()-80,  passim. 

^'Spi'eiilidf  Do  (JosnioH  in  the  duniiiiion  liouso  of  cuniinunB,  Apr.  10,  18S(). 
8oe  JlniisuiWs  IkbiUes;  ])uwson'aN.  W.  Ten:  and  li.  t'.,  178-1>. 


GKNKIIAL  DKVKLOl'MKNT. 


7r,7 


L>,    $1)7,-1  SO 

17,41)1  I'or 
iK'ljcntiuTs 

Coinpari'd 

lar<^c  pir- 
;  \v*)rks,  it 

a  healthy 
ires  ill  Ihi: 

\)x.r  capila 
iiid  i'or  lln' 
)!'  oustoius 

the  (loniin- 
s  still  inoio 

liseal  year 
UH  at  hand 
.  Colundiia, 
per  cent  ol' 

COllt   Ol"  tilt! 

per  cent  of 
L^bec,  whrii" 
r  as  40  and 
d  hy  ^Fani- 
50  per  ci'iil- 
sland,  with 


thus  far  re- 
oi"  a  jHuipK; 

)o  f()<iinl  in  till) 

Soil  also  Jiiif. 

10  was  !j.!'J7,'il  I; 

:0:  1S77,  ii^ll■■'^. 

■|7;  lor  till.-  li^v:il 

,!)7,();t..;    I.SSl  ■-', 

§i;'.J,(I.S-J;  lN7:i, 
iiin  raised  tiiidrr 
0  for  baluiu'c  if 

:>7,0J();   ISSO  I, 

izic\H  Mem.  '''Ill- 
iild  liitaiid  /.'"'• 

^.  Apr.  IG,  IbSO. 
7.S-1). 


whi(']i,  if  not  aiHoiij.^  the  lichest,  is  ainoiisif  the  most 
contented,  hopeful,  and  thrifty  communities  of  tho 
I'aciiie  coast.  The  younj^est  olfspriiiL^  of  the  mother 
ui'  nations,  this  province  contains  a  [)(»pulation  whoso 
nu'inhers  rej^ard  their  ado[)ted  country  as  one  not 
m  rely  as  a  place  in  which  to  j^rasj)  at  wealth,  hut  as 
oni!  in  which  they  are  content  to  live,  in  whi(;h  tlii^y 
are  proud  to  live.  And  in  their  adopted  country  tlu; 
impaitial  observer  may  iind  niucli  that  is  worthy  of 
admiration.  The  territoiy  comprises  within  its  area, 
entirely  or  in  part,  the  streams  which  Ix^yoiitl  the 
forty-ninth  parallel  ilow  westward  into  the  l*acilic, 
and  the  tributaries  of  the  Mackenzie  that  ilow  north 
toward  the  Arctic.  With  a  shore  line  ol'  more  than 
7,000  miles,*^  containiiii^  many  harbors  and  navij^ablo 
inl(!ts,  with  her  niaL^nilicent  fauna  and  llora,  her  wealth 
ol'  minerals  and  lisheries,  her  growinj^  commerce,  lu^r 
commercial  [)osition,  aiul  her  i'aeilities  i'or  communica- 
tion" and  manufactui'e,  it  is  not  imjirobable  that.,  (!Veii 
within  the  life-time  of  the  j)resent  generation,  JJritisli 
Cokunbia  may  rank  auionj,'  the  i'oreniost  provinces  of 

"  As  i^oinpuU'il  ))y  A.  A.  Anderaon,  inspector  of  fl»hcrius,  in  liis  report  for 
1S7!1.    /littfU'H  ('oiiiiiicrn'diiil  /iiiliiKlricK,  .|l. 

'"In  ISS,")  it  was  ollieially  announced  that  a  mail  m'rvice  \\»h  to  1)0  CNtal)- 
lixlied  lielwecn  Monj^-Kong  and  Vietoria.  .V.  /'.  Jliilli'liii,  Oct.  'J4,  18.S,').  I'or 
postal  eimvention  with  tlie  U.  S.,  see  J/c.v.t.  iind  hue,  1S70  1;  Navy  and  I*. 
O.  Deiit.  l.">;!-.">.  In  ISHO  tlK'io  were  'J'!  postal  rouleH  in  the  piovinoe,  of  wliieli 
7  weie.  I)y  MU'anier  or  HailiiiL^  Tes.i  !,  llio  niliii'ier  of  tripH  varyiti;.;  fican  Imd 
laeli  (lay  lietween  Vietoiiaand  I'^sip'i  aall,  to  one  mery  two  niontlis  lietweeu 
llo[io  and  Kootenai.  The  nid>.sidiiM  puid  for  re^idar  nerviee.s  vai  ied  Irom  §7.') 
a  year,  fur  the  route  between  '.!  ipi'  liny  and  Sonienos,  to  Sl,'!,;!l!;i.lll  a  year, 
fu'r  the  one  between  IJarki'rvilU!  and  Vale,  the  tolal  liein;,' $:il,!)'JS..|  1.  l;,pt 
of  I'oHt.i.li'n.for  ISSO,  1 1 'J  l.'t.  Of  course,  after  the  i:onipli'lion  of  the  radviay, 
Iht^  cost  of  tliu  more  expviisive  r.i'ltes  was  ).;reatly  lediieed.  In  l!S.S2  Iheio 
were  (12  ])ost-olIice3  on  tlie  island  and  niainlantl.  I''or  list,  see  It.  ('.  Itiml., 
IHS'J-;!,  ;t70.  In  liSOS  mails  were  lii.st,  sent  dire(;t  to  S.  V.  hy  wteanier.  S.  A". 
(till,  Apr.  ;J0,  lfS(i8.  In  ISSO  Hleaineis  sailed  flom  S.  I'",  to  Victoria  every 
eighth  day.  At  this  (hite,  also,  a  s\d)marine  ealile  connected  Victoria  with  the 
mainland,  erossinj^  the  j^ulf  of  (ieor/^ia  at  Nanaiino,  w  hile  another  cahlc,  laid 
iicrofi'  !■  straits  of  San.luande  Fuca,  conneetid  the  capital  with  Wnshiu^- 
toll  , I.  '  ..unco  with  all  parts  of  the  world.  Jl.  ('.  iJincf.,  ISsl-."),  0.  Soiuicl- 
iiij^'s  for  a  Huliniaiine  cable  were  talieii  in  ISSl.  <S'.  /'.  tliillitiii,  May  IJ,  Issl. 
In  ISOHacablo  had  already  been  laid  between  Vietoria  and  S.  .Inan.  S.  /'". 
('■ill,  Sept.  8,  l>S(J!S;  and  ir  ISU.')  across  ilic  Fraaer.  .S'.  /'.  All'\  April  1,  l.i(l,">. 
I'or  mcnlion  of  the  proposi;d  liui-sian-Auicricun  telcgia[il)  line,  koi-  >S.  /'.  '  '■(/«'_ 
Apr.  I'J,  ISlli;  .V.  )'.  S/tiiijHinj  JAst,  iu  .V.  /'.  Ma:  UaiMi',  Nov.  I'J,  XlkW;  S.  F. 
JJullclin,  Jan.  G,  IS05. 


Si  tli 


i\':( 


Wl  ■!' 


758 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


the  dominion.  Meanwhile  she  can  claim,  at  least, 
the  distinction  of  being  one  of  the  most  progressive 
regions  of  British  North  America,  and  though  but  a 
few  years  ago  considered  almost  as  a  cipher  when 
compared  with  other  provinces,  may  prove  t^  be  a 
cipher  which  contributes  untold  value  to  all  the  rest. 
As  in  other  parts  of  the  Pacific  coast,  and  as  in 
Australia,  the  rescources  of  British  Columbia  would 
not  have  been  even  partially  developed  but  for  the 
discovery  of  gold ;  and  here,  as  elsewhere,  though  of 
the  thousands  lured  by  expectation  of  sudden  richt  s 
a  few  acquired  a  fortune,  and  a  considerable  nu  rbtj- 
realized  modest  gains,  the  majority  not  only  be. -^  jo 
bankrupt  in  pocket,  but,  suffering  hunger  and  priva- 
tion, had  cause  to  rue  their  folly  in  forsaking  more 
substantial  gains,  and  awoke  from  their  visions  oi" 
{)hantom  wealth  to  the  stern  realities  of  their  condi- 
tion, as  an  outcast  from  a  dream  of  paradise.  To  such 
daring,  open-handed,  and  often  noble-hearted  men, 
countries  which  have  since  attained  to  prominence  are 
indebted,  not  only  for  their  origin,  but  for  much  of 
their  progress;  and  on  the  forgotten  graves  of  these 
reckless  adventurers,  abandoned  in  life  to  the  bitter- 
ness of  despair  and  degradation,  will  rest  the  pillars 
of  mighty  states  and  empires. 

In  closing  the  records  of  British  Columbia,  it  may 
not  be  without  interest  to  refer  once  more  to  the 
Canadian  Pacific  railway,  which,  as  the  reader  will 
remember,  was  ccmiplcted  in  the  summer  of  1885,  the 
terminus  being  at  Port  Moody,  though  it  would  proh- 
ably  have  been  removed  to  Vancouver,  at  the  mouth 
of  Burrard  Inlet,  but  for  the  destruction  of  that  town 
by  fire  in  June  IBSG.*" 

It  is  claimed   that  the   distance  from  Chinese  cr 

^'Caused  by  the  brush  fires  on  the  railroad  lots.  In  this  couflagnitinii 
several  lives  aiul  5*00,000  worth  of  property  v  ere  lost.  At  least  :i,(MH)  jiur- 
HoiiH  were  ri'iiilorotl  homeless.  S.  F.  (  hl■()lliclt:,^\\m':  ]4,  188(5.  Forile.serii)tiiiii, 
Bee  III.,  Juno  IT),  188G.  A  few  weeks  later  a  largo  lire  occurred  at  Victoria. 
1(L,  Sept.  3,  188G. 


RAILROAD  FACILITIES. 


759 


at  least, 
regressive 
ugh  but  a 
her  when 
e  t.  be  a 
1  the  rest. 
and  as  in 
ibia  would 
it  for  the 
though  of 
den  rich:  ::i 
le  im.rsbei 
ly  be;  -^  jo 
md  privp- 
iing  more 
visions  of 
leir  condi- 
To  such 
rted  men, 
inence  arc 
'  much  of 
s  of  these 
he  bitter- 
,he  pillars 


)ia,  it  may 

ire   to  the 

L'ader  will 

1885,  tlu! 

)uld  proli- 

1)0  moutli 

that  town 

!!hinese  <>r 

conflagration 
■ast  a,0<M>  l"  I- 
oi-ileHcTil)tiiiTi, 
il  at  Victoria. 


Japanese  ports  to  Liverpool  by  way  of  the  Canadian 
Pacific  is  from  1,000  tc  1,200  miles  nearer  than  by 
other  Pacific  railroads.  Moreover,  vessels  bound,  let 
us  say,  with  cargoes  of  tea  from  Canton  to  Victoria 
would,  while  in  the  trade-winds,  take  about  the  same 
course  as  if  bound  for  San  Francisco ;  but  those  des- 
tined for  the  former  port  would  save  about  700  miles 
of  sea  route,  in  addition  to  a  considerable  saving  in 
port  charges  and  wharfage.  From  Vancouver  to 
Montreal  by  rail  the  distance  is  2,905  miles,  and 
from  San  Francisco  to  New  York  bv  the  Central 
and  Union  Pacific  it  is  3,3G3 ;  thus  in  the  transit  of 
the  cargo  there  would  be  a  further  saving  of  458 
miles.  The  dominion  government  has  determined  to 
establish  a  steamship  line  between  Liverpool  and 
Quebec  in  summer,  and  between  Liverpool,  Halifax, 
and  Portland,  Maine,  in  winter.™  Arrangements 
have  also  been  made  for  a  service  between  San  Fran- 
cisco and  the  western  terminus  of  the  Canadian  Pa- 
cific, the  traffic  to  be  under  the  entire  control  of  the 
company.  It  is  claimed,  also,  notwithstanding  state- 
ments to  the  contrary,  that  the  line  can  be  operated 
throughout  its  entire  length  every  day  in  the  year.''' 
Fii  ally,  it  is  probable  that  a  line  of  British  mail 
steau;e  "3  will  be  established  between  Vancouver  and 
j'orts  in  China,  Japan,  and  Australia,  and  that  this 
lii:o  v/ill  be  subsidized  by  the  British  government. 
Tijiis  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Canadian  Pacific  is  by 
iio  ''en  IS  an  insignitlcant  rival  for  the  transconti- 
nental traffic  of  North  A.merica. 

In  this  relation  other  factors  nmst  also  be  consid- 
ered.    The  Canadian  Pacific  is  virtually  national  prop- 

^  Circulars  wero  aililresscd  to  steanisliip  owners  in  Oct.  188(i,  asking  fur 
tenders  for  a  weekly  mail  service.  The  contract  was  to  l)e  for  ten  year.i,  ti:e 
veasela  to  have  a  speed  of  not  less  than  tifteca  knot^,  and  the  cont'actors 
must  not  discriminate  against  Canadian  freijdit.  /</.,  Oct.  24,  l.SS(i. 

'•'^  Letter  of  C.  Van  Horn,  vice-iiri'sident  Can.  I'ae.  K.  K.,  in  Ii/.,  IVK.  18, 
'SSG.  Mr  Horn  states  that  a  very  large  amount  of  money  has  heeii  expcniled 
■"'til  this  purpose  in  view.  'On  our  main  line,' ho  writes,  'from  (,)uihee  to 
'  M.iiiorc  ill  tlie  liocky  Mountains,  whicli  is  as  far  a,i  we  have  hccn  operating 
che  line  tliis  winter,  a  distance  of  iJ,r)(K)  miles,  we  have  not  hoeu  ohlig.d  to 
cuiicel  a  singlo  train  on  account  of  snow  or  any  other  reason.' 


Iliti 


'i'iif 


HI 


-GO 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


crty — the  property  of  the  dominion  of  Canada — and, 
as  the  reader  is  aware,  government  railways  seldom 
earn  more  than  nominal  dividends.  In  Great  Britain, 
■whence  the  .^-^-eater  portion  of  the  capital  for  this  pro- 
ject was  derived,  and  where  railroads  were  built  by 
private  entcq)rise,  four  and  a  half  per  cci)t  is  consid- 
ered a  good  return  on  ordinary  stock,  and  on  preferred 
stock  less  than  four  per  cent.  In  Australia,  where  the 
I'Iroads  were  built  by  government,  the  returns  arc 
p  •<  ■  7  between  two  and  three  per  cent  on  the  capi- 
tal •  >ited.  Encumbered  with  the  huge  load  of  dcKt 
which  tlie  dominion  government  incurred  by  its  sub- 
sidies, at  least  working  expenses  must  be  earned,  and 
as  soon  as  possible  some  reasonable  interest  on  the 
outlay.  But  as  yet  the  line  runs  for  the  most  part 
through  a  solitude,  though  a  solitude  fertile  in  agri- 
cultural and  mineral  resource. 

To  earn  expenses  merely,  and  to  build  up  a  business 
that  gives  prospect  of  moderate  dividends,  it  may 
be  necessary  to  enter  into  aggressive  competition 
with  other  transcontinental  lines.  The  road  is  will 
equip])ed;  the  rolling  stock,  especially  the  passenger- 
cars,  is  of  excellent  quality,  and  in  all  the  provinces 
the  line  lias  naturally  absorbed  the  bulk  of  the  traffic; 
which  was  formerly  in  tlic  hands  of  American  railway 
companies.  During  the  summer  of  188G,  freight  ly 
way  of  St  Paul  was  taken  for  Chicago  and  points  on 
the  Missoun  River  at  from  $10  to  $12  per  ton,  and 
during  the  same  year  the  Canadian  Pacific  offered  to 
convey  farming  produce  and  ore,  whether  for  assay  or 
Avorking,  from  Savona's  Ferry  and  intervening  stations 
to  Port  Moody  at  $4  per  ton — a  rate  which  would  en- 
able miners  to  forward  ores  to  San  Francisco  at  $(>  per 
ton.''"  At  such  rates  it  would  appear  that  there  should 
be  no  great  difficulty  in  obtaining  traffic.  First-class 
fares  liom  San  Francisco  or  Port  Moody  to  Xew 
York  were  in  November  188G  $70,  against  $81  fmni 


"'Tlu!  rate  on  canned  gouda  was  $11  a  ton,  and  by  other  linea  $18.  Id., 
Aug.  i!*J,  188G. 


TELEGRAPH  SYSTEM. 


761 


San  Francisco  over  tlio  Central  or  Soutliern  Pacific. 
The  trij)  hy  the  northern  hne  possesses  at  least  the 
charm  of  novelty,  and  many  who  have  already  trav- 
elled over  the  Central  and  Southern  routes  will  take  it 
for  that  reason ;  the  more  so  as  the  province  of  British 
Columbia  presents  scenery  of  surpassing  beauty  and 
grandeur.  In  conclusion,  the  Canadian  Pacific  is  out  of 
debt,  or  very  nearly  so,"'  and  considering  the  low  rates 
of  wages  prevailing  in  Canada,  and  the  low  prices  of 
material  and  supplies,  the  working  expenses  of  the 
road  will  be  considerably  smaller  in  proportion  than 
those  of  American  railways. 

In  1880,  the  immense  telegraph  system  of  the 
company,  extending  from  Montreal  to  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  was  completed,  and  connection  made  with 
American  lines.  United  with  the  Atlantic  cable  at 
Halifax,  as  proposed,  British  Columbia  will  be  placed 
in  telegraphic  communication  with  the  British  pos- 
sessions in  the  East,  soundings  having  already  been 
taken  between  A^ancouver  Island  and  Japan. 

i'ears  have  been  expressed  that  the  establishment 
of  a  British  steams]  lip  between  China  and  tlie  Pacific 
coast  may  result  in  a  large  impoi'ation  of  coolies. 
This  would  seem  improbable,  in  view  (jf  the  fact  that 
under  the  Chinese  regulation  act  a  tax  of  ^50  is  col- 
lected on  each  Chinese  ])assenger  before  he  is  allowed 
to  land.  The  people  of  British  Coh.imbia  are  as  much 
op[)osed  to  Chinese  hibor  as  are  those  of  California, 
but  as  yet  there  has  been  little  anti-Chinese  agita- 
tion.''* When,  howevt>r,  it  was  ascertained  that  one 
of  the  Mexican  states  was  in  need  of  coolie  labor, 


I 


inus§18.  /'/., 


"^  III  188(i  tlio  Cdnipany  oweil  tho  government  .?20, 000,000,  and  it  was  pro- 
posed to  settle  the  elaini  hy  caneelling  .sl(),OlH),()()0  wortli  of  its  land  grant, 
and  the  monopoly  claiisu  of  its  charter,  giving  the  company  exeliisivr  rights 
ill  the  Northwest  for  a  term  of  twenty  years.  Ottawa  Tiincn,  iu  S.  /'.  C/noii., 
April  1'2,  1880. 

*M)ii  the  7th  of  Septend)er,  18S.'),  a  hody  of  working  men  visited  the  va- 
rious estahlishmcnts  where  Chinese  were  employed,  and  demanded  work. 
The  proprietors  refused,  except  tho  owner  of  a  shoe  factory,  who,  kiiciwing 
that  there  were  no  Chinese  in  the  crowd,  otl'ered  an  advance  of  '25  per  cent 
ou  tho  wages  paid  to  Ciiinameu.  S.  F,  C/imn.,  Sept.  9,  1885. 


738 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


offers  were  at  once  made  to  the  authorities  to  supply 
thein  with  all  that  they  needed,  and  on  their  own 
terms. 

As  to  the  affairs  of  government,  there  is  little  more 
to  be  said.  Of  late,  cxeej)t  for  a  collision  between 
the  dominion  and  provincial  police  ^^  in  September 
1885,  and  a  slight  Indian  disturbance  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  province  in  September'*  of  the  same  year, 
the  placid  current  of  events  has  seldom  been  dis- 
turbed by  even  a  ripple  of  excitement.  As  in  most 
British  colonies,  the  people  are  contf  nted  and  prosper- 
ous, receiving  absolute  protection  under  the  law  and 
from  the  law,  living  in  perfect  security  as  to  rights, 
person,  and  property,  and  secure  also  from  all  danger 
of  legal  oppression. 

Some  dissatisfaction  has  been  caused  by  the  want 
of  reciprocal  action  on  the  part  of  the  American  gov- 
ernment as  to  the  extradition  treaty.  In  1886a  noted 
criminal,"  who  had  escaped  from  British  Columbia, 
was  discharged  by  the  United  States  court,  although 
a  deputy  attorney -general  was  sent  to  watch  the  case 
for  the  crown.  On  the  other  hand,  all  prisoners  de- 
manded by  the  United  States  for  extradition  have 
been  promptly  surrendered.  A  fugitive  convict  caj)- 
tured  some  years  ago  on  British  soil  was  sent  back  at 
an  expense  of  $2,700  to  the  provincial  government; 
but  in  1886  this  sum  had  not  been  refunded  by  tlie 
United  States. 

Another  question  which  has  given  rise  to  some  dis- 
satisfaction is  the  seizure  in  1886  of  British  vessels 
engaged  in  seal-hunting  in  the  Bering  Sea.  The 
crews  of  the  vessels  thus  seized  laid  their  case  before 
the  minister  of  marine  and  fisheries  at  Victoria,  and 
their  statement  was  forwarded  to  the  home  sfovern- 


^^  Caused  through  the  seizure  by  the  dominion  police  of  liquors  held  l>y 
parties  having  a  provincial  license.     For  description,  see  /(/.,  Sept.  ,5,  188"). 

''"  Among  the  Metlakatlas,  who  refused  to  permit  the  civil  engineer  to  sur- 
vey the  Indian  reserve  on  lielialf  of  the  dominion  government,  claiming  that 
the  entire  country  was  theirs.  S.  F.  Bull.,  Sept.  16,  ]88(). 

°'  Known  as  Bull  Dog  Kelly.  S.  F.  Chrm.,  Feb.  15,  188G 


BIBLIOGRAPHY. 


703 


ment  for  consideration.  By  act  of  congress,  dated 
July  27,  1868,  it  was  made  a  penal  offence  to  kill  fur- 
bearin*^  animals  within  the  limits  of  Alaska  or  Alaskan 
waters.  But  how  shall  the  phrase  Alaskan  waters  be 
interpreted  ?  During  the  earlier  period  of  the  Russian 
American  company's  occupation  it  was  alleged  that  all 
the  waters  between  Alaska  and  Siberia  belonged  to 
Russia;  but  that  country  did  not  succeed  in  making 
good  its  claim.  Moreover,  by  referring  to  the  impe- 
rial oukaz,  granted  to  the  company  in  1799,  and  quoted 
in  my  History  of  Alaska/'^  it  will  be  found  that  no 
mention  is  made  of  any  special  rights  in  the  Bering 
Sea,  or  even  in  inland  waters,  but  only  to  "use  and 
profit,"  in  certain  territory,  "by  everything  which  has 
been  or  shall  be  discovered  on  the  surface  and  in  the 
bosom  of  the  earth."  In  1807  this  territory  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  United  States,  the  consideration  being 
$7,200,000.  The  dividing  line,  defined  merely  to  in- 
clude all  of  this  territory,  runs  northward  into  the 
Arctic,  and  southward  into  the  north  Pacific  Ocean; 
but  it  does  not  appear  that  by  the  payment  of  this 
sum  of  $7,200,000  the  United  States  acquired  an  ex- 
clusive right  to  the  Arctic  Sea  and  the  north  Pacific 
Ocean.^' 

68  Pp.  379-80. 

*"  III  the  Maratime  Matters  on  the  Northwest  Coast,  and  Affairs  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company  in  Early  Time--',  by  James  Cooper,  MS.,  1  have  been  fur- 
nished with  much  valuable  information.  Commencing  with  the  year  1S44,  at 
wiiiuh  date  Mr  Cooper,  a  native  of  Wolverliamptoii,  England,  entered  the 
service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  when  the  three  supply-ships 
Vancouver,  Cowlitz,  and  Columbia  were  the  only  regular  traders,  his  narrative 
is  eontiucd  until  the  death  of  Uov.  Seymour  in  18li'J. 

British  Columbia  Sketc/ies,  MS.,  is  the  title  of  a  work  also  relating  in  part 
to  maritime  affairs.  One  of  these  sketches  is  by  Herbert  George  Lewis,  who 
sailed  for  Vancouver  in  1S4S,  as  an  oliicer  in  the  Coniilx,  anil  afterward  fo.iiid 
employment  ou  board  various  craft.  lie  has  sapplied  me  with  mauy  i  .ems 
concerning  the  company's  ships  and  the  men-of-war  stationed  on  the  joast. 
At  this  date  the  vessels  of  the  II.  B,  Co.  traded  with  several  countries.  The 
Cowlitz,  for  instance,  after  discharging  cargo  at  Fort  Vancouver,  in  Is  18, 
loaded  with  wheat  for  Sitka,  and  thence  sailed  for  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  w  ilh 
lumber  and  lish,  returning  with  a  freight  of  sugar  and  molasses  to  Fort  Van- 
couver, whence  she  was  ilespatched  with  a  cargo  of  furs  to  London.  Of 
Michael  and  liobert  Muir,  of  whom  the  .SV.-cir/j('s supply  partial  memoirs,  men- 
tion ia  made  on  p.  103-4,  2oi,  this  vol.  William  Jolin  Macdonald,  a  native  of 
the  Isle  of  Skye,  also  came  out  to  Vancouver  in  the  couipauy's  service,  laud- 
ing at  Victoria  in  1851.     Ordered  to  Sau  Juan  Island  during  this  year,  to  take 


■Si 


n 


764 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


charge  of  n,  party  of  Frencli  Canadians  employed  in  salmon-curinc,  and  Lcing 
still  in  tlic  company's  scrvicu  at  llic  tiiiio  v.  hen  the  forhouiancc  of  Admiral 
liaynca  ulonu  prevented  war  between  Cioat  iJiitaiu  and  Anieiiea,  iii.<  aeeouiit 
of  tlio  Si'.n  .Iu:iii  dillieulty,  already  recorded  in  tliese  pages,  is  of  special  value. 
Ill  IS.",;)  .Ml'  .Mr.cdonald  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislative  assembly  of 
Vancouver  for  the  8ooke  district. 

In  J'almcr'n  Wagon  Trains,  MS.,  I  have  been  furnished  with  an  inter- 
eftiiig  aceount  of  a  journey  madc'ljy  Joel  Falmer,  from  Independence,  ^lo.,  ta 
Orc;,'(,n  in  1845.  A  native  of  Canada,  though  of  American  parentage,  (ien. 
rainier,  when  grown  to  manhood,  found  employment  in  I'eun.  on  public 
workii  and  canals,  being  afterward  i)laccd  in  charge  of  a  25-milc  seeUon  of 
the  I'cnii.  eaiKil.  In  lyl4  ho  was  elected  a  iiicmber  of  the  I'enn.  legislature. 
During  his  journey  across  the  plains  and  mountains  he  took  notes  of  the 
road  and  diii;,ncc3  traversed,  which  wore  subsequently  embodied  in  a  Guide- 
JlouL/or  Eiiiii/niiilH,  published  in  Cincinnati.  Residing  for  a  brief  space  in 
Victoria,  at  the  time  when  Douglas  was  the  leading  spirit  on  the  ialand  and 
mainbmd,  he  has  supplied  mo  with  items  of  value  concerning  this  period. 

'Jo  t!ic  Cluiiuctcri  Hvsof  Jamfn  JJoikjUi.i,  MS.,  by  E.  Cridgc,  I  am  also  in- 
debted for  a  description  of  the  means  whereby  tliis  skilful  ruler  of  men,  ably 
seconded  by  A.  F.  Pemberton,  wliom  he  appointed  commissioner  of  jioliec, 
made  Eiidish  law  respected  and  obeyed  during  the  troublous  times  of  the 
gold  excitement. 

Of  the  few  works  thus  far  published  concerning  British  Columbia,  mention 
has  for  the  most  part  been  made.  In  the  I'ncts  and  Fiijiircs  I'cliitinr/  to  I'.  /. 
and  li.  v.,  hi/ J.  JJinpard  Pemberton,  London,  ISUO,  we  liavea  brief  description 
of  the  general  condition  of  the  country,  its  fauna,  flora,  and  geology,  of  the 
progress  and  commerce  of  the  two  colonies,  with  their  principal  scttlenient.s, 
ancl  of  the  society  which  they  contained,  with  some  excellent  advice  to  intend- 
ing emigrants. 

The  Nnturcdist  in  V.  I.  and  D.  C,  by  John  Keast  Lord,  F.  Z.  S.,  in  two 
vols,  London,  1800,  besides  the  natural  history  of  the  island  and  mainland, 
contains  some  interesting  descriptions  of  travel,  sport,  and  adventure  in  t'lie 
north-west.  In  the  appendix  is  a  detailed  list  of  the  zoological  collcctioii3 
made  by  Mr  Lord,  while  employed  as  naturalist  to  the  boundary  commission. 

In  TravcU  In  li.  C.  and  Alanka,  by  Newton  II.  Chittendon,  Victoria,  ISS'J, 
are  briefly  outlined  the  resources  and  capabilities  of  the  province,  and  there 
is  also  some  mention  of  various  settlements  and  industries,  with  an  account 
of  the  railroad,  as  matters  stood  with  this  enterprise  at  that  time. 

In  the  Ii'cjiortu  of  Progress  of  the  Geulo'jiail  Survey  of  Canada  are  contained 
Selwyn'■^  Journal  and  I'rport  of  Preliminary  Explorations  in  IJrilish  Columlii'i; 
Ilickardfion  on  the  Coal- Fields  of  Vancouver  and  Queen  Charlotte  Islands,  with 
map  of  former,  an  app.  by  J.  W.  Dawsun  on  fossil  plants,  another  by  DillinL's 
on  mcsozoic  fossils,  and  a  third  by  Harrington  on  the  coals  of  the  west  coast; 
Sflwyn's  Oliseivadons  in  the  Northwest  Territory,  with  app.  by  R.  J.  Harring- 
ton on  western  coals;  liichardson  on  Geological  E.vplorations  in  British  Colum- 
bia; U'hiteaves'  Nvtes  on  the  Cretaceous  Fossils  collected  by  Mr  Jtis  liichardson 
at  Vancouver  and  the  adjacent  Islands,  with  lithographed  plate;  Sehryii's 
Report  on  Explorations  in  British  Columbia,  with  appendices  by  Macoun, 
Whitcaves,  and  Lo  Conte;  Dawson's  Report  on  Exploitations  in  British  Colum- 
bia; Scudder  on  the  Insects  of  the  Tertiary  Beds  at  Quesnel,  British  Columhvr; 
Daicsou's  Geniral  Notes  on  the  Mines  and  Minerals  of  Economic  Value  of  British 
Columhiit,  with  a  List  of  Localities,  reprinted  with  additions  and  alterations 
from  the  railway  report,  1877;  U'hileaves'  Notes  on  some  Jurassic  Fossils  col - 
kcted  by  Mr  G.  M.  Dawson  in  the  Coast  Rawje  of  British  Columbia;  llichiird- 
son's  Re//oit  on  the  Coed-Fields  of  Namiimo,  Comox,  Cowitchan,  Burrard  Inlet. 
andSooke,  British  Columbia,  with  three  illustrations  and  a  map;  Scudder's  Ad- 
dilious  to  the  Insect-Fauna  of  the  Tertiary  Beds  at  Quesnel,  British  Colmnliia; 
Dawson's  Preliminary  Report  on  the  Physical  and  Genlo'iicid  Features  of  the. 
Southern  Portion  of  the  Interior  of  British  Columbia;  Dawson's  Report  on  the 
Quetn  Charlotte  Islands,  and  app.  A  to  G — ap.  A  relating  to  the  Ilaidahs;  li 


BIBIJOORAPHY. 


705 


to  tlicir  vocabulary;  C,  by  J.  F.  Witeavcs,  to  somo  marine  invertebrata  from 
tlie  QuuLii  Lliarlolte  Islands;  L),  liy  8.  J.  .Smitli,  to  cnistacca  from  tlic  Queen 
Charlotte  and  Vancouver  Islands;  K,  by  J.  Macoun,  containing  list  of  iilants 
from  tlio  Queen  Chnrlotto  Islands;  V,  meteorological  oLservalions;  and  O, 
notes  on  latitude  and  longitiulc;  JJawnou'n  Hcporl  on  an  i.\ijtluraiiiiii/rom  Fort 
Simpson,  on.  the  I'wijic  I'ount,  to  Edmonton,  on  the  Sw-katrltcinin,  with  app. 
containing  list  of  i)!ant8  collected,  and  meteorological  observations  in  tlio 
northern  part  of  IJritisli  Colundiia,  the  Peace  River  district,  and  between 
Edmonton  and  Manitoba,  together  with  notes  on  latitude  j.nd  longitude;  Vom- 
parative  Vocahnlarks  of  tlic  Ihdian  'J'rilics  of  Uril'.sh  Cohimliki,  with  a  nir.p 
illustrating  distribution,  by  W.  FraserTolmie  and  George  M.  Daw.son;  J'ijkjvI 
on  the  Polijzoa  of  the  Qwen  Charlotte  Islands,  by  Thos  Hincks,  reprinted  liom 
the  Annuls  and  Mwjazine  of  Kalural  Jlistortj,  London,  Dec.  1S82,  June  188;{, 
March  1S84;  ile.xozoic  Fossils,  by  J.  E.  Wliiteaves.  Vol.  i.,  parts  i.-iii.,  with 
lithographed  plates,  Montreal,  1870,  1870,  18S4.  For  list  of  geologieal  and 
other  maps,  see  List  of  Publicniioiis  of  the  Geoloi/iccd  (Did  Aalumt  History 
Survey  of  Canada,  Ottawa,  1881,  passim.  British  North  America  is  the  title 
of  a  vol.  published  by  the  lieligious  Tract  Society  of  London.  'Ihc  writer 
resided  in  several  of  the  provinces,  an<l  had  advantages  of  making  himself 
acquainted  with  their  condition.  He  likewise  drew  much  information  from 
Ulue  Cooks  issued  by  the  Canadian  govt,  and  parliamentary  papers.  It 
brictly  touches  upon  the  early  history  and  discoveiics  of  several  portions  of 
the  territory,  and  affords  considerable  statistical  information.  A  good  deal 
of  the  book,  however,  is  about  tlic  aborigines  and  Canada,  not  serviceable  for 
liistorical  purposes,  and  the  hand  and  style  of  the  missionary  is  traceable 
throughout. 

Of  the  various  guide-books,  directories,  and  prospectuses  of  mining  and 
other  associations,  published  from  time  to  time  in  the  colonics  or  the  province, 
no  further  mention  is  required  in  these  pages.  On  the  29th  of  October,  I8G1, 
the  colonial  government  of  V.  I.  by  publiu  notice  invited  essays  on  the  re- 
sources of  the  island  o'ld  the  ad  autagcs  which  it  offered  to  settlers.  A  pre- 
mium of  JCdO  was  offered  for  the  bestessay,  and£10for  the  second  best.  The 
competing  essays  were  to  be  sent  to  the  colonial  secretary  sealed,  no  name  or 
mark  being  attached  whereby  the  authors  might  be  known  to  the  adjudica- 
tors. To  the  manuscript,  however,  must  be  atUxed  a  distincti\e  motto,  whoso 
duplicate  should  be  written  on  the  outside  of  a  sealed  envelope,  within  which 
the  name  of  the  author  should  be  written.  All  essays  received  were  to  re- 
main the  property  of  the  government,  but  the  scaled  envelopes  of  unsuccess- 
ful candidates  were  to  be  returned  unopened  if  desired.  A  board,  consisting 
of  C.  T.  Woods,  W.  F.  Tolmie,  and  G.  M.  Sproat,  was  appointed  to  decide 
upon  the  relative  merits  of  the  coni'-'^sitions.  In  accordance  with  this  an- 
nouncement, several  essays  were  received,  and  after  careful  examination  the 
prize  was  awarded  to  Charles  Forbes.  Mr  Forbes'  production  was  printed  in 
1802  by  the  colonial  government,  under  the  title  oi  Prize  Essay:  I'ancoimr 
Island;  Its  /'(sources and  Capnhilitics  ai  a  ('olouy.  85 paijes,  8vo.  It  is  divided 
into  five  parts,  embracing  climate,  physical  features,  society,  products,  and 
prospects.  It  is  statistical  ratlier  than  historical,  and  possesses  transient 
rather  than  permanent  interest.  Desultory  in  its  ccmstruction,  the  searcher 
in  any  one  branch  of  information  is  obliged  to  glean  from  every  page  and 
closely  to  regard  every  paragraph.  Yet  the  pamplilet  answered  very  well  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  written.  It  seems  that  the  mainland  was  expecting 
about  the  same  time  a  similar  r(5sum(^',  setting  forth  its  good  r  alities,  but 
was  disappointed.  None  of  the  attempts  made  did  justice  to  th>  cause.  In 
this  emergency,  following  the  example  of  the  island,  rewards  were  oflcrcd,  on 
the  11th  of  March,  1802,  of  like  amounts  for  like  productions,  subject  to  the 
same  conditions.  As  the  result  of  this  action,  there  appeared,  printed  at  tlio 
Royal  Engineer  Press  at  New  Westminster  in  1803,  British  Cohtmhia:  An 
Essay  by  the  J!ev.  li.  C.  Lnndin  Brown,  M.  A.,  Minister  of  St  Marys,  Lilloocf, 
an  unbound  octavo  of  ninety-seven  pages.  The  second  chapter  opens  with  a 
description  of  Fraser  River  and  New  Westminster,  written  by  Sheepshanks. 


V 


706 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


Brown's  production  is  much  clearer,  more  comprehensive,  nnd  yet  more  con- 
cise tiian  tlint  of  Forbes.  In  187'2  A.  C.  Anderson  piiblislicd  a  (,'ovcrninunt 
prize  essay,  entitled  The  Dominion  at  the  West,  embracin,£{  all  poiiit^s  of  inter- 
cat  touched  by  any  of  his  predecessors,  and  covering  both  island  luul  main- 
land. To  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  country  Mr  Anderson  uiiilnl  line 
literary  tastes  and  much  experience  as  a  writer.  Hence  we  find  liis  v.oi  k  in 
every  respect  wellnigli  perfect  in  its  way.  In  the  latter  part  of  187S  I  wrote 
Mr  Anderson  for  information  further  than  that  in  my  possession  concerning 
his  prize  essay  entitled  The  Dominion  of  the  West;  a  liiief  Dencrlpti  n  of  the 
Province  of  Uriligh  Columbia,  itn  Climate  and  lienonrcia.  Oovinimciil  Prize 
EfKaij  of  1S72,  and  published  at  Victoria  the  same  year.  This  ia  tine  of  a  series 
of  excellent  essays  on  the  features  of  the  country  and  its  attractions,  v  ritten 
and  printed  under  the  auspices  of  government.  I  alfo  asked  Mr  Anderson 
concerning  the  other  prize  essays.  He  answered  mo  the  30th  of  Dct(  inbcr; 
'I  rather  tliink  that  the  prizes  for  V.  I.  and  B.  C.  were  offered  simulian.'ously 
at  the  time  you  state;  and  that  the  necessary  competition  not  havii',?  been 
elicited  for  the  B.  C.  essay,  the  prize  was  not  adjudged,  nnd  a  new  iiiMi..iLion 
was  issued.  This  elicited  Mr  Brown's  essay,  which  took  the  first  jn'ize.  I 
myself  wrote,  too,  on  this  occasion,  my  essay  being,  with  necessary  altera- 
tions to  suit  the  time,  almost  a  counterpart  in  chief  particulars  of  my  liist 
published  essay.  To  my  production  of  1802  the  second  prize  of  i,"  10  was 
awarded,  but  it  was  not  printed.  I  am  not  aware  of  any  other  publications 
of  a  local  nature  save  two  or  three  tours,  chiefly  of  geographical  import, 
printed  by  oflicers  of  the  royal  engineers,  entirely  of  an  olticial  nntuic.  In 
1808  1  completed  my  large  map  of  B.  C,  scale  ten  miles  to  the  inch,  which 
comprised  all  that  was  tlien  known  of  the  country,  including  my  ov,  a  notes 
and  those  of  the  late  Mr  Black.  A  descriptive  treatise,  chielly  on  natural 
history,  accompanied  this.  The  whole  was  accepted  by  the  government  of 
the  period,  but  save  as  affording  a  foundation  for  other  maps  since  published, 
my  map  has  never  been  l)rought  forward.  Indeed,  the  more  accurate  surveys 
ell'ected  by  the  railway  parties  render  it  out  of  date  for  utility.'  For  further 
items  concerning  MrAndcrson,  see  pp.  158-9,  109-70, 182-4,  this  vol.;  and  for 
biograpliy  and  decease,  S.  F.  Alta,  May  11,  1884.  Alexander  Allen,  after 
mining  in  Cal.  for  six  years,  removed  to  Victoria  in  18C0,  and  in  1800-7  edited 
the  Cariboo  Sentinel.  Allen'x  Cariboo,  MS.,  1.  Dr  Baillie,  an  old  resident  of 
Victoria,  was  drowned  by  the  capsizing  of  the  brig  Flnrentia,  near  Cape  Flat- 
tery. Barrett- LenartVs  Travels  in  B.  C,  113-14.  London,  1802.  The  au- 
tiior  of  this  last-mentioned  work  came  from  England  in  1809,  nnd  passed 
nearly  two  years  in  V.  I.  and  the  mainland,  sailing  round  the  formiT  in  a 
small  yacht  which  he  brought  with  him.  The  book  relates  mainly  tn  his  own 
observations  and  adventures,  and  contains  little  of  historic  value.  John  Bis- 
scH,  a  pioneer,  for  decease  of,  in  1883,  eco  Sac.  Record-Union,  Feb.  G,  1883. 
Robert  Brown,  in  his  Vancouver  Inland  Explortition,  Victoria,  1804,  has 
written  the  narrative  of  an  expedition,  undertaken  for  the  discovery  of  gold, 
to  Cowichin  Lake,  Barclay  Sound,  San  Juan  Harbor,  Sooke,  Leech  River, 
and  various  points  on  the  island,  a  reward  of  $5,000  having  been  ollered  for 
such  discovery  by  the  colonial  government.  C.  C.  CoflBn,  in  The  Seat  of  Empire, 
Boston,  1870,  gives  an  account  of  a  tour  in  the  northern  U.  S.  and  B.  C, 
with  observations  on  the  advantages  of  the  north-west  as  to  settlement,  soil, 
mining,  and  farming.  Nicholas  Cooke,  a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  B.  C. 
in  18.".8,  being  one  of  the  first  miners  on  the  Fraser.  His  decease  occurred  at 
his  homo  at  Plumper  Pass,  Oct.  18,  1870.  Seattle  Intelligencer,  Oct.  27,  1870. 
K.  Cornwallis,  author  of  The  New  El  Dorndo,  London,  1858,  arrived  in  Vic- 
toria in  June  1858,  and  after  making  a  short  trip  to  tlie  Fraser  diggings, 
considered  himself  qualified  to  write  a  book  about  the  two  colonies,  which  lii! 
did,  in  a  rambling  style,  som.cwhat  after  the  fashion  of  a  cheap  Sunday  news- 
paper. H.  C.  Courterey,  a  native  of  Dublin,  arrived  at  Victoria  in  1801  in 
the  Kaffir  Chief  from  London,  and  tried  his  fortune  at  the  Cariboo  mines. 
Conrterey's  Min,  B.  C,  MS.,  1.  W.  F.  Crate,  an  employ^  of  the  H.  B.  Co., 
first  crosaed  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  1828,  and  again  in  ISdOi  on  this  ooca- 


BIBLIOORAPflY 


707 


yet  more  con- 
a  (.'ovcniinont 
oiiitH  tjf  inter- 
ml  mill  iiiiiin- 
in  uiiitnil  lino 
il  liis  work  in 
'  1878  I  wrote 
oil  uonccrniug 
rri I'll i  III  oj'  the 
\rtimcnt  Prize 
iiuc  of  ft  serii's 
tions,  written 
Mr  AiiiiciHon 
of  Dctciiibcr: 
imulian  jously 
;  liavii',?  been 
new  iuvitntion 
first  ju-izc.     I 
jessiiry  nltera- 
ars  of  my  last 
zo  of  £10  was 
;r  publications 
pineal  import, 
al  nature.     In 
le  iiieli,  which 
my  own  notes 
elly  on  natural 
jovernnicnt  of 
neo  published, 
curate  surveys 
['    For  further 
[s  vol. ;  and  for 
r  Allen,  after 
1800-7  edited 
Id  resident  of 
car  Cape  Flat- 
802.     The  au- 
9,  and  passed 
former  in  a 
nly  tohisown 
le.     John  ]jis- 
Feb.  G,  1883. 
la,    1804,    has 
every  of  gold. 
Leech  Ilivcr, 
:en  oO'ercd  for 
eat  ot'Emjiire, 
a.  and  B.  C, 
ttlcmcnt,  soil, 
came  to  D.  C. 
so  occurred  at 
Oct.  27,  1870. 
rrived  in  Vic- 
ascr  diggings, 
nies,  which  he 
Sunday  ncwu- 
)ria  in  1801  iu 
iriboo  mines. 
;ho  II.  B.  Co., 
on  this  ouca- 


iion  in  company  with  Donglns  and  others  who  afterward  Ixjcamc  prominent 
ill  the  service,  lie  early  built  u  saw  and  grist  mill  at  Fort  Vi.ucouver.  After 
43  years'  experieneo  of  frontier  and  colonial  life,  he  died  at  Cowichin  during 
the  year  of  the  confederation.  Olympia  Transcript,  Oct.  7.  1871;  Urit.  Colo- 
nist, Oct.  3,  l87l.  Ueorgo  Dixon,  for  18  years  in  thoserviccof  the  H.  B.  Co., 
died  at  Victoria  in  1859.  Thomas  Eurle,  a,  native  of  Lansdownc,  Ont., 
reached  Victoria  in  1802,  via  the  Isthmus,  and  opened  business  as  a  wholesale 
grocer,  becoming  one  of  the  best  and  most  intelligent  of  citizens.  Jules  Fery, 
in  his  Gold  Starches,  MS.,  furnishes  a  brief  account  of  the  Cariboo  and  Cussiar 
mines  during  the  winter  of  1801-2,  a  portion  of  which  was  passed  by  the 
author  in  hunting  for  gold. 

Simon  Frascr  ia  the  author  of  an  OriginalJonmal,  April  12  to  July  18,  1806, 
MS.;  /(/.,  May  30  to  June  10,  1808,  MS.,  and  of  Letters  from  the  Hocky  Muttn- 
tainx,  Aug.  1,  1800,  to  Feb.  10,  1807,  MS.,  the  former  giving  a  narrative  of  a 
journey  to  the  head  waters  of  Peace  Iliver,  to  a  post  on  Trout  Lake,  and 
thcuco  of  a  southerly  exploration  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  country 
and  discovering  sites  for  new  trading  jiosts.  In  the  latter  is  a  description  of 
the  progress  of  Fraser,  Stuart,  ond  Qucsnel,  down  the  great  river  of  the 
mainland,  and  through  the  country  of  the  Chilkotins.  The  dangerous  charac- 
ter  of  the  rapids,  and  the  dilHcultiea  of  each  day's  journey,  are  fully  recorded. 
George  Gladman,  whose  father  was  a  chief  factor  to  the  H.  B.  Co.,  was  cm- 
ployed  by  tho  company  as  a  clerk  between  1814  and  1830,  at  the  latter  date 
receiving  a  commission  as  chief  trader.  Appointed  store-keeper  and  account- 
anc  at  Moose  and  York  factories,  he  resigned  in  1845,  was  I'ecommissioned 
live  years  later,  and  again  resigning  in  1853,  retired  to  his  farm  near  the  set- 
tlement of  IIoi)e.  Ript  If.  li.  Co.,  July,  Aug.,  18.'>7,  390.  G.  M.  Grant,  the 
author  of  Ocean  to  Ocian,  London,  1873,  was  secretary  to  tho  expedition  made 
i.i  the  interests  of  tho  overland  railway  in  1872,  his  party  following  about  the 
same  route  as  the  one  taken  by  Milton  and  Chcadle.  The  book  consists 
mainly  of  a  diary  of  his  journey,  with  the  adventures  incidental  thereto,  and 
contains  little  inlormation  of  value.  Tlien  there  was  a  Grant — James,  I  think, 
was  his  name — a  native  of  Canada,  and  fcr  several  years  stationed  at  Fort 
Hall,  in  tho  service  of  the  H.  B.  Co.  Ho  was  'rather  a  mediocrity,'  saya 
Roberts,  'fond  of  tipple,  and  a  very  large,  I  may  say  an  extra  fine-looking, 
man.  It  is  related  tliat,  when  attired  in  uniform,  ho  was  the  observed  of  all 
observers  by  the  sex.'  Ikcolleclions,  MS.,  51.  Ebcy  speaks  of  him  as  'a  line 
specimen  of  the  old  English  gentleman,  active  as  a  cat  at  70  years  of  age,  and 
with  hair  and  beard  white  as  snow.'  Journal,  MS.,  197.  Hardisty,  in  1854, 
clerk  in  charge  at  Fort  Yukon,  was  in  1SG7  commander  of  tho  ^lackenzie 
River  district,  northern  department.  D.  W.  Harmon,  a  native  of  Vt,  and  a 
chief  factor  of  the  H.  B.  Co.,  was  in  charge  of  Fort  St  James,  in  1811-17. 
His  diary  or  journal  was  published  in  book  form,  and  the  frequency  with 
which  it  has  been  quoted  ia  some  evidence  of  its  merit.  Jerome  and  Thad- 
deus  Harper,  Americans  by  birth,  were  for  many  years  the  proprietors  of  a 
grist-mill  at  Clinton,  which  supplied  the  Cariboo  miners  with  flour.  On  the 
decease  of  his  elder  brother,  about  1875,  Thaddeus  Harper  took  charge  of  tiio 
business,  and  besides  his  other  interests,  was  in  1878  tho  largest  owner  of 
live-stock  in  B.  C.  Good's  Brit.  Col.,  MS.,  83.  J.  S.  Helnickcn,  a  native  cf 
London,  England,  and  by  profession  a  medical  practitioner,  arrived  at  Victt  'ki 
in  1850,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  months  in  1870,  continued  to  rctn  '^ 
in  the  capital.  In  1852  he  married  a  daughter  of  .Sir  James  Douglas,  and  in 
1808  was  elected  a  member  of  the  legislative  council.  Further  mention  may 
be  found  on  p.  243-0,  this  vol.  W.  II.  Hooper,  in  his  Teiv Months  Amoiirj 
the  Tcnt.i  of  the  Tuski,  London,  1853,  gives  an  account  of  the  expedition  of 
H.  M.  S.  Plover  in  search  Sir  John  Franklin  and  his  party  in  1S4S-51. 
Tiiough  dcscri[)tive  mainly  of  the  Eskimo  tribes,  Arctic  exploration,  and  tho 
inculents  of  tho  voyage,  the  work  also  contains  information  as  to  several  of 
the  II.  B.  Co.'s  posts.  J.  S.  Kennedy,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  B.  C, 
and  for  20  years  acting  as  surgeon  to  the  H.  B.  Co.  at  Fort  Vancouver,  Nis- 
qually,  and  Nanaimo,  was  also  a  member  of  the  Vancouver  house  of  assembly. 


;l!ll| 


768 


INDUSTRIES,  C0MMKRC:E,  AND  FINANCE. 


IIo  rlipil  (it  Victoria  in  thu  spring  of  18.')!),  W.  Knnc,  a  native  of  Ireland, 
■orvcil  for  "JCi  ytara  inulur  tlio  II.  IJ.  (,'o.,  iind  liiing  rfconiinia^ioiu'd  in  IMli, 
nftiT  ii  visit  liKiiio  wns  upjiointod,  in  IS.iO,  to  the  iliar;;.o  of  I'ort  Liard.  Kanc'i 
Wnuth  riiiij''  vf  (III  Arli^t,  «i;j-0;  lloojxr's  Tenia  oj' the  Tv.ski,  .'587  8. 

A.  McDoiiald,  cliicf  factor  of  llio  II,  1>.  Co.,  was  married  to  the  danghtcr 
of  a  l)l;ii;I;foot  taclicin,  by  vvlioni  iio  liad  a,  cluld.  named  CIn  istinc,  ■"  lio,  when 
b1)o  f,'ri\v  to  wiiiiianiiood,  was  described  as  'a  vei'y  modest,  well-bred,  and  line- 
locking  young  woman,'  8lio  wua  an  uxpirt  liurtiewonian,  riding  uiilride,  ami 
with  n  herape  buckled  round  her  waist.  McDonald  was  a  man  of  remarkably 
(ino  i)!iyal(|nc,  six  feet  high,  erect  and  o(  utately  enrriago.  ilia  long,  (lowing 
liuir  tinng  down  over  lii.i  siionlders  in  Indian  t'a:>hion.  llo  spent  most  of  \\\i 
time  ill  tlic  saddle,  and  would  never  get  into  a  «  heeled  vehiilc.  I'li'jrt  SjiiioI, 
M8.,  l()-ll.  'ihcic  i.'j  a  McDougall  mcntioneil  in  W'/iymiicr'M  yikixLci,  '^o\,  ua 
in  command  at  Tort  Yukon  in  Juno  1807.  For  mention  of  Thomas  JIcKay. 
Bon  of  Alexiinder  McKay  of  Ton(|uiii  niaH.sacrc  hui]o,Ho(iAmlirnou's  A'orih 
Count,  My.,  71-5.  John  McLean,  in  his  Ao^ct  af  a  /'uriUi/-Jive  Yearn'  Scrvlre 
ill  the  J/nUMii'n  Day  Tirrilori/,  2  vols,  London,  1840,  treats  mainly  of  trap- 
ping and  trading  ex[iorieHco8  in  Vancouver  and  New  Caledonia.  !Sir  Kicliaid 
ilait.land,  in  1801  in  command  of  the  llag-ship  /kicrhaiite,  at  E3i|uinialt,  is 
mentioned  by  Mr  Good  us  an  oilicer  rcmaikalilu  for  his  strict  discipline;  in 
con8c(|uencc  of  which,  twenty  of  his  men,  including  warrnnt-officcrs,  deserted 
the  vessel  und  escaped  iicross  the  Sound.  Urit.  Col.,  MS.,  'J.  W.  Mil.cheil 
was  in  1800  chief  trader  in  charge  at  Fort  llnpert.  liurreft  Lrnard'a  'J'rnvils 
in  lirlt.  Cul.,  03.  For  further  items,  sec  JJrU.  Colonic,  Jan.  I'A,  1870;  Victo- 
ria Sluidnnl,  J  nn.  19,  1870;   Witlami'tte  Tarmn;  Feb.  IS,  1870, 

\\  .  S.  Mitchell,  formerly  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Jiritith  Coloiii.it,  «  as 
killed  in  1807,  by  falling  down  a  mining  yliaft  at  Cariboo.  S  "  Call,  June  !l, 
18U7.     William  Moore  lirst  attempted  to  run  a  steamer  up''  keeninl80'J, 

but  suffered  shipwreck.     Meeting  with  success  at  tho  Gas;  'cs,  ho  built 

anothc;' sleanibuat,  Alleu'.i  Cariboo, M-^. ,  \0.    Mrllcynold^  ..as  a  farmer 

in  the  Iiaacr  Valley,  west  of  Okanagan,  in  1S.')0.  Two  years  later  his  land 
produced  abundant  crops.  lJoii<ilu»,  Prirali'  Pap'rn,  first  scries,  M8.,  149. 
Jtochj  MoKiitaia  Journal,  Dec.  '20,  180.5,  to  I'Vb.  28,  1800,  MS.,  gives  merely  a 
record  of  the  daily  labor  and  routine  at  one  of  tho  Northwest  Company '.i  out- 
lying forts,  and  is  otherwise  entirely  uninteresting.  II.  II.  Schoolcralt,  in  his 
Per.<onal  McmoirK,  Phil.,  18)1,  has  scattered  throughout  his  ntirrativo  a  few 
brief  notices  of  the  fur-traders,  and  their  niocieof  trallic.  His  experience  was, 
for  the  most  part,  limited  to  the  Canadian  frontier,  near  the  lower  cud  of  Lake 
Superior,  and  at  Michilmackenack,  where  he  was  stationed  as  Indian  agent. 
Thomas  Spence,  a  native  of  Dundee,  reached  Victoria  in  May  ISoS,  and  soon 
afterwanl  began  business  as  a  contractor,  building  the  portion  of  the  Cariboo 
road  between  Ijoston  Dar  and  Lyttou  within  four  months,  und  employing  on 
this  work  nearly  003  men.  In  connection  with  Trutch,  ho  obtained  tho  con- 
tract for  building  the  Alexandria  bridge,  and  superintended  many  other  public 
works,  among  them  the  removal  of  tho  .Sister  roiks  in  the  Frascr,  and  tlio 
IJeavsr  rock  in  Victoria  harbor.  VowiU'k  Miiiinii  JJiKtricIa,  Mi>.,  2'.-^0.  G. 
M.  Sproat,  in  his  Sceiien  anil  Simlies  of  S  lvu'Jo  Life,  treats  mainly  of  the  tribes 
in  the  vicinity  of  IJarelay  .Sound,  and  on  the  west  coast  of  V.  I.,  their  cus- 
toms, el;aracterit:tic3,  language,  etc.,  as  they  appeared  to  him  during  a  resi- 
dence of  six  years,  licginning  Aug.  1803,  while  in  charge  of  the  setLlcmeiit  of 
Alborni,  Brilinh  Columbia,  Infonnalion  for  Emiiirant.x,  issued  under  tho  direc- 
tion of  the  agent-general  for  the  province,  Loinlon,  1873,  by  the  same  author, 
is  a  mode  1  emigration  pamphlet,  and  gives  'tiore  exact  and  condensed  infor- 
mation than  any  similar  work  at  that  time  extant.  Mr  Tait  v.as  in  1S7'2 
agent  for  the  II.  IJ.  Co,  at  Kamloop.  Francis  Tarbell,  anativoof  New  York, 
arrived  in  Victoria  in  July  1858,  bringing  a  stock  of  goods  from  .S,  F.,  on  which 
he  realized  a  fair  profit.  About  1S07  he  liought  an  interest  in  tho  steamer 
Groiye  S.  Wrhjht,  which  ran  between  Portland,  Victoria,  and  Sitka,  in  oppo- 
sition to  IJcn  Ilolliday's  line,  to  which  he  sold  out,  some  two  years  Later, 
afterward  settling  at  Olympia,  where,  in  1878,  he  was  territorial  treasurer. 


BIBIJOflRAPIIY. 


7C9 


0  of  Ireland, 

oiii'd  ill  IM(1, 
Liaril.   Kanf* 

8. 

the  ilutiglitfr 
ic,  "  lio,  wllfll 
iicd,  11  nil  line- 
g  uslriiU',  uiiil 
L)f  rtiii;irUuljly 

long,  (low  i  11,1^ 
t  must  uf  Wii 

I'u'jft  Soimil, 
[IusIm,  -01,  ii» 
omas  McKuy. 
irsoii'x  North 

Yearn'  Srrvi't 

luinly  of  tmp- 

Sir  llicluud 

Eai|uimaU,  is 

iliscipliin-';  ill 

[iccrs,  deserted 

\V.  Milchud 

nanl's  TrniuU 

),  1S70;   Victo- 

iliColovMfViU 
'  Call,  Juiie'.l, 

keen  in  ISG'J, 
'cs,  lio  built 

.1  as  a  farmer 
later  liis  land 
ics,  M.S.,  14'.). 
gives  niorcly  a 
Jompaiiy'iiout- 
loolcralt,  inlii» 
larrativo  a  few 
xpericiice  was, 
"or  end  uf  Lake 

Indian  agent. 
ISJS,  and  soon 
of  the  Cariboo 

employing  on 
aincd  tlio  con- 
iiy  otlior  public 
'laser,  and  tlio 
S.,  2.;-P.0.  G. 
dy  of  the  tribes 
.  I.,  their  cus- 

during  a  resi- 
c  sctllcnient  of 

nder  tho  direc- 
.0  s;imc  authoi-, 
indonscil  infoj- 
it  was  in  187'2 
3  of  Xcv.'  York, 
S.  F.,  on  which 
in  the  steamer 
Sitka,  in  oppo- 
vo  years  later, 
arial  treasurer. 


TnthrlVa  Viftorin,  MS.,  1-10;  Ohjmpinn  Club  ('onrrrmlionit,  MS.,  17.  .John 
Tod,  of  whom  full  mention  is  niado  on  p.  I"kS-,".C,  this  vol.,  died  in  ISSi,'.  S. 
F.  Call,  Sept.  •_',  I8SJ.  1'.  I".  Tyler,  in  liis  lli^toriatl  View  ,/  the  frowess  ,.f 
Uisriirenj,  IMiiibi.igli,  IS.'!3,  merely  gives  a  conipiiation  from  tiiu  oiiginiil 
aceounta  of  the  discoverers  themselves.  A.  W,  Vowell,  for  Hcvenil  yt';ir8):o!d 
coiniui.-..sion('r  in  various  distriits,  and  author  of  Miiiia  i  />i.ilrir/Hi/  liril.  Chi., 
MS.,  lA  a  relial  ie  authority  as  to  tliugold  regions,  to  which  thesulijcct-iiiatter 
of  his  manii.'-criiit  Bolily  refers.  Altred  Wiidiiiigton  visited  tlie  mines  and 
wrote  a  Ijrocliuro  of  40  pages,  ontitleil  T/ie  J'liiser  Mine.i  \'intlirn/iil;  or,  77,e 
JJi  turn  of  loi""  Months.  I'rico  lilty  cents.  It  is  printed  in  Victoria  by  I*. 
De  tjarro,  Wharf  street,  and  tho  preface  is  dated  Nov.  1,'),  I8."i8.  The  '  his- 
tory,'a.s  i^s  title  indicates,  is  an  argument  in  behalf  of  tho  mines,  which  a 
simple  statement  of  their  product  would  much  more  satisfactorily  explain; 
and  but  lor  the  fact  that  business  revived  just  beforo  the  publication  (.f  tho 
book,  one  niiL;lit  bo  led  to  believe  that  its  issue  hud  somelhiiig  to  do  w  ith  tho 
improvement  of  the  times.  In  his  preface  \V;uhlingtoii  claims  this  to  be  '  the 
lirst  book  published  on  Vancouver  Island,'  but  corrects  tho  mistake  liel'oru 
publication  in  favor  of  the  //i/'ct  of  Pmrtie.  .  .in  the  Sii)irrme  Court  of  Chit 
Jiidicr,  printed  ono  or  two  months  previous  at  the  Cir.clte  otiiee.  llu  niij;ht 
also  l.uvo  riglitly  added  another,  a  small  i)amphlet  of  Pro'laiiiali(m.t  niative 
to  tho  govciniiunt  (if  Ihitish  Columbia  issued  Ironi  the  Cazclle  press,  shortly 
after  the  Uulet  of  i'ractire,  antl  so  have  (daccd  hi.s  book  third.  A  tract  r.d- 
drcssod  to  llie  colonists  of  V'ancouver  Island,  jiublislKil  at  Victoria  in  18.'D, 
and  entitled  T/ie  X(re.t.tilij  <f  I'efurm,  y\\xa  meicly  a  nido  ngain.st  the  re- 
stricted fmichi.se,  and  tho  petty  infelicities  of  tho  da  , .  'llie  lir.st  edition  ( f 
tiic  Sl.vtcli  (f  llie  Projioxeil  Line  of  (Ji'eilaiid  Itdilroad  throiiijh  JJrilinh  Xorlh 
Amertra,  Ottawa,  1871,  by  the  same  author,  waspubiished  in  London  in  KStJI). 
Altliou^'h  W'addington  had  travelled  over  but  a  (;ii  all  portion  of  the  rijiito  (jf 
the  Canadian  I'acilic,  lio  v.'aa  well  acciuaintcd  with  the  configuration  of  tho 
country,  and,  including  data  from  published  and  other  surveys,  made  an  ex- 
cellent preliminary  report,  which  was  probably  ni'i  without  inllneuce  in  tho 
embodiment  of  the  railway  terms.  For  further  i/ieiitiun  (jf  his  career,  ;-eo 
llril.  Colonist,  Oct.  'J'_',  lS(i7,  March  0,  '27,  187-.'.  I'ledcrick  Whyinpcr,  who 
eaino  from  Kugiand  in  18li2,  passed  three  winters  in  Victoria,  and  traxelicd 
through  tlio  interior  of  Vancouver  and  along  tho  coast  of  the  mainland. 
Joining  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  expciliiion  under  Capt.  IJulklcy,  an 
account  of  wiiicli  is  given  in  my  /Jisionj  of  Alndn,  p.  070-8,  ho  set  forlli  lor 
noithcrii  Alaska,  his  party  journeying  overland  in  sledges  from  Cnalachlcet, 
on  Norton  .Sound,  to  Fort  Nulato,  and  thence  in  canoes  to  Fort  Vuiion.  His 
various  journeys,  with  their  incidents,  are  described  in  an  interesting  volcnio 
entitled  Tiarel  and  Adventure  in  the  Territur.i  of  Alaska,  of  which  the  ilrst 
live  chapters  are  devoted  to  Vancouver  Island  and  Uritish  Columbia. 

Books  arc  written  mostly  in  praise  of  men  or  things.  Wo  have  many 
biographies  of  Christ,  very  few  of  lielial.  This  is  a  hopeful  feature  of  human 
nature.  The  bad  wo  heartily  denounce,  but  wo  do  not  care  to  dwell  upon  it. 
(^'oloni.sts  particularly  seldom  write  except  in  commendation  of  their  country; 
and  few,  who  are  merely  travellers,  take  the  trouble  to  print  a  fat  octavo  in 
proof  of  what  nature  has  wrongfully  done,  or  has  failed  to  do,  for  a  country. 
Most  of  the  books  on  British  Columbia  see  little  but  tho  good;  thcieiore,  it 
startles  one  somewhat  to  find  a  writer  who  discovers  littlo  that  is  not  bad. 
It'  the  country  presents  itself  to  the  mind  i>f  I).  (».  F.  Macdonakl,  beioio 
mentioned,  with  quite  an  alphabet  of  honors  following,  only  in  rrpnlsivo 
shadows,  so  does  not  the  author  of  this  man's  works  appear  to  himself.  '  To 
iidvancc  ojiinions  on  the  resources  and  capabilities  of  our  colonial  [lossessiona,' 
lie  is  abundantly  '  (pialilied  by  education,  knowledge,  and  experience.'  llail 
thecountry  any  good  thing  ?  'I  venture  to  believol  possess  tlio  qualilicationa 
which  alone  can  enable  a  man  to  discern  these  imj  ortant  cliaraeteribtics,  and 
to  arrivo  at  a  just  estimate  of  them,  since  tlie  subject  has  formed  the  educa- 
tion of  my  youth  and  tho  study  of  my  niaturer  years.'  Toun  audience  before 
whom  he  is  delivering  a  lecture  on  British  Columbia,  he  says:  '  You  are  not 
Hist.  Hi:::.  Ci'i,.    4J 


"It! 


770 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


listeninf;  to  a  man  who  never  saw  a  blade  of  grass  grow,  or  slept  tinder  the 
impervious  sliadcs  of  the  eternal  forest.'  The  wild  ass  miglit  advance  the 
same  ar^'unicnt,  and  with  as  crushing  an  cfi'ect.  Then  follows  a  page  of  his 
accomplishments,  which,  however  entertaining,  I  cannot  recite.  The  country 
ho  calls  picturesque  but  gloomy.  '  British  Columbia  is  a  miserable  country,' 
he  groans.  That  througlioat  this  wide  domain  tliere  are  '  no  babbling  brooks, 
no  soutiiing  shades,  no  softly  swelling  hills,'  is  news  indeed  to  those  who  have 
spent  their  lives  there.  '  But  in  their  stead  streams  white  with  foam,  rushing 
along  lietwecn  cliffs,  down  ravines,  and  over  water-falls  in  deafening  thun- 
der; tremendous  precipices,  yawning  gulfs,  and  nuked  towering  rocks,  splin- 
tered with  the  storms  of  countless  years;  boundless  forests,  fearful  in  their 
gloom,  and  fearful  in  their  howling  beasts  of  prey.'  Filled  in  with  spectral 
sig.its  and  fabulous  monsters,  such  as  strange  countries  arc  often  accredited 
with,  by  very  able  writers,  we  would  have  a  good  ghost  story  to  frigliten 
children  witlial.  So  I  might  go  on  through  the  whole  shallow  eil'usion  of  tiiij 
egotistical  writer.  If  we  believe  him,  it  is  a  poor  held  for  man  or  beast.  It  is 
bad  for  the  healthful  man,  and  bad  for  the  invalid;  bad  for  the  settler,  and 
bad  even  for  the  student  of  natural  history.  '  Victoria  is  by  no  means  a 
desirable  place  of  residence,'  and  '  indeed,  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  island 
will  ever  be  able  to  produce  enough  for  its  own  consumption.'  The  flora  is 
forbidding;  the  savages  are  a  disgrace  to  savagism,  and  the  animal  kingdom 
to  brutes.  It  seems  a  pity  that  so  able  a  man  should  waste  so  n.uch  time 
over  so  worthless  a  subject!  Mr  Macdonald  has  published  two  works  on 
British  Columbia,  both  in  London,  ISU.'J,  one  a  Lecture,  and  the  other  nu 
oclavo  of  iJ'J4  pages,  with  map,  entitled  UrUishGnhunbia  and  Vnncoavcr'n  J"- 
land,  already  noticed  on  p.  42.5-G  of  this  vol.  Of  these  writings  Mr.  A.  C. 
Anderson,  who  is  frequently  cited  in  them  as  an  authority,  remarks,  I'rize. 
Essay,  1S7-,  appendix,  p.  3lt,  that  they  'convey  an  impression  so  utterly  at 
variance  with  (he  observations  of  others,  tjuit,  were  the  contrary  not  known, 
he  might  have  inferred  that  the  author  had  never  set  foot  within  the  prov- 
ince.' And  j'ct  Mr  Macdonald  seems  particularly  desirous  of  being  believed. 
Toward  the  close  of  his  lecture  he  touchingly  asserts:  '  I  have  no  interests  to 
serve  but  those  of  humanity;  no  feelings  to  gratify  but  such  as  must  animate 
the  bicast  of  every  one  who  sees  hard-working  men  drawn  to  their  ruin  witli 
all  to  lure  and  none  to  serve.  It  is  hard  to  attribute  dishonest  motives  to  any 
man,  and  some  have  put  forth  misstatements  who  ought  to  be  above  suspicion; 
but  it  requires  the  experience  of  a  practical  farmer  to  form  a  correct  estimate 
of  the  value  of  soils,  and  it  requires  a  lengthened  residence,  and  extensive 
travel  through  a  country,  to  enable  even  the  farmer,  with  all  his  experience, 
to  give  an  opinion  at  all.  Now,  none  of  the  gentlemen  who  have  put  foitl' 
such  glowing  statements  are  possessed  of  cither  of  these  qualiiications.  They 
appear  to  have  visited  the  colonies  at  the  most  favorable  season,  and  to  have 
relied  for  the  rest  upon  the  reports  of  residents — men,  perhaps,  who  had  spent 
their  whole  lives  in  these  regions,  and  had  come  to  think  that  extreme  lieat 
in  summer  and  intense  cold  in  winter,  varied  by  alternations  of  snow  and  rain 
and  fleet  and  fogs  for  eight  months  in  the  year,  formed  the  natural  and  uni- 
versal course  of  the  seasons.  In  no  other  way  can  I  account  for  the  boldness 
with  whicli  assertions  have  been  made  which  a  few  mouths'  residence  nuibt 
scatter  to  the  winds.  But  there  are  men  who  deserve  no  such  merciful  con- 
sideration— harpies  who  never  meant  to  dwell  in  the  colony — who  invested 
thi^ir  capital  in  buying  up  all  the  best  allotments,  in  order  to  resell  them  :.t 
advanced  prices  to  the  real  settlers.  They  now  flnd  they  have  made  a  bad 
speculation,  and  are  eager  to  di.spose  of  their  land;  but  customers  are  imt 
there,  and  they  neither  stick  at  any  falsehood  to  induce  them  to  come,  nur 
care  what  becomes  of  them  after  they  have  fleeced  them.  These  arc  the 
parents  of  the  juggling  paragraphs  which  appear  from  time  to  time  in  tlio 
newspapers,  and  th  no  less  juggling  letters;  these  are  they  who  ruin  eolDuics 
and  colonists;  and  it  is  in  the  hope  of  keeping  the  emigrant  out  of  their 
clutches  that  I  have  raiseil  my  voice,  and  "'.-.all  continue  to  raise  it,  ns  hm.; 
as  I  think  I  can  be  of  any  service  to  the  ^'oor  fellows  who  have  to  light  this 


BrBT.IOGRAPHY. 


771 


pt  ttndcr  the 
advance  the 
I  page  of  his 
The  country 
l)le  country,' 
bliug  bri'oks, 
osc  who  havi! 
oain,  rushing 
ifening  thuu- 
:  rocks,  splin- 
irful  in  tlicir 
with  spectral 
en  accredited 
y  to  frighten 
ilusion  of  this 
r  beast.     It  is 
e  settler,  and 
J  no  means  a 
icr  the  island 
The  flora  i.s 
imal  kingdom 
30  n.uch  time 
two  works  oil 
the  other  nn 
'awioxivif's  1"- 
ags  Mr.  A.  C. 
■cmarks,  l^rize. 
\  so  utterly  at 
ry  not  known, 
,hin  the  prov- 
eing  believed, 
no  interests  to 
must  animate 
heir  ruin  willi 
notives  to  any 
lOvc  suspicion ; 
rreet  estimate 
and  extensive 
is  experience, 
xvo  put  foitb 
;ations.    They 
,  and  to  have 
who  had  spent 
extreme  liciit 
snow  and  rain 
tnral  and  nni- 
the  boldness 
3sideucc  must 
merciful  cun- 
■who  invested 
.'cacll  them  i.t 
o  made  a  bad 
jmers  are  nut 
to  come,  nor 
riicse  ave  tlio 
time  in  the 
ruin  colonics 
out  of  tiuif 
isc  it,  ns  loiii,' 
to  light  this 


world's  hard  battle  with  scanty  means.'  Mr  Mr.cdonald  is  not  alone  in  his 
condemnation  of  false  statements  made  concerning  this  county.  Says  Mr 
R.  Dyron  Joiinson,  iu  his  Very  Far  Went  ImUfd,  p.  277-8,  London,  1S7-:  'I 
have  seen  many  shameful  accounts  published  by  interested  persons  from  which 
we  would  imagine  the  country  to  have  been  the  original  site  of  tlie  Garden 
of  Eden.  The  real  fact  is,  that  it  depends  on  Californid.  and  Oregon  for  al- 
most every  pound  of  flour  that  is  consumed  in  it;  and  that  compared  to  these 
ncigliboiing  countries  it  is  what  I  liavo  heard  it  before  described  by  a  per- 
f on  who  knew  it  well,  a  howling  wilderness.'  Undoubtedly  there  has  been 
exaggeration.  The  successful  enthusiast  will  certainly  praise,  while  tlie 
disai)pointed  will  rail.  Probably  no  countries  have  Leeri  more  heartily 
cur.scd  than  Oregon  and  California,  iloro  men  have  left  Oregon  for  I'uget 
Sound  than  liavc  ever  left  Puget  Sound  for  Oregon.  British  Colnmbia'a 
best  days  have  not  yet  come.  Her  resources  arc  inexhaustible,  and  her 
greatest  gold  discoveries,  thus  far,  as  compared  with  her  yet  undeveloped 
resources,  will  bo  remendjercd  in  history  only  as  the  little  flush  of  1858-9. 
Wry  Far  Went  Indeed  is  a  sprightly  little  iwok  from  the  sprightly  little 
ndnd  tf  R.  Byron  Johnson.  It  was  printed  in  London  in  187-.  C.irried 
away  by  immigration  pamphlets  and  newspaper  notices,  the  author  yielded 
to  tiio  enticements  of  adventure  and  started  for  the  new  El  Dorado,  lie  saw 
many  things  never  seen  before  or  since;  he  heard  dialects  as  they  were  ncvor 
before  spoken;  hence  he  was  constrained  to  write  a  book.  It  is  well  for  those 
wlio  iiavo  travelled  iu  tlie  United  States  by  rail  twenty-live  ar  lifty  th>uHan(l 
nii!cs  to  know  at  last  that  'nearly  all  American  trains  have  got  a  bar'  where 
intoxicating  drinks  arc  sold.  The  chronic  national  animosity  betwei^n  Britons 
and  Anierii  ins  was  illustrated  by  tlie  siuioting  of  an  Englishman  by  a  '  western 
man  '  on  the  Panama  and  San  Francisco  steamer,  for  celebrating  the  (jueen's 
birthday  too  broadly — an  incident  to  every  one  e'sc  unknown.  By  the  time  Mr 
.Johnson  has  reached  ^'ictoria  he  has  become  so  accustomed  to  tlic  Yankee 
dialect,  which  ho  invented  while  crossing  the  Isthmus,  that  he  does  not  now 
hesitate  *o  put  it  in  the  mouth  indiscriminately  of  Englishman,  Dutchman,  and 
African.  After  nundjcrless  perils  by  sea  and  land,  after  undergoing  every  cx- 
])ericnce  written  iu  books,  recited  round  canip-lires,  or  told  under  forecastles, 
Indian  and  bear  adventures,  robbery  and  gambling  scenes,  boiler-bursting,  shiji- 
wrcck,  battle,  and  murder,  after  having  encountered  all  tlie  varied  phenomena 
of  success  and  starvation,  the  author  linally  returns  to  England  a  wiser  and 
a  better  man.  Yet,  notwithstanding  these  (piito  innocent  indulgences,  of 
which  the  book  is  full,  and  which  no  iutcUigent  pi;rson  is  expected  to  believe, 
Mr  Johnson  has  produced  a  very  interesting  and  valuable  book.  It  has  the 
great  merit  of  being  natural,  and  I  will  venture  to  say  that  Mr  Johnson  is  not 
only  a  good  friend  and  a  good  fellow,  but  an  intelligent,  honest  man,  and  a 
good  citizen. 

Of  many  of  the  pioneers  and  prominent  colonists,  want  of  space  forbids  me 
to  make  inoro  than  passing  mention.  Subjoined  is  a  list  of  some  whoso  names 
have  not  yetapjicarcd  in  these  pages,  together  with  the  sources  from  which 
information  can  bo  obtained  as  to  their  arrival,  career,  or  decease,  and  addi- 
tional items  concerning  others  already  noted. 

William  Atkinson,  Uayh'y'x  Vancouver  Inland,  MS.,  (J;  Jos.  Austen,  Col., 
July  4,  1871;  Paul  Augar,  Sfaiidard,  July  I'J.  187G;  A.  N.  Birch,  X.  W. 
liril.  Colninhini),  Juno  '26,  1SG7;  A.  S.  Bates,  C'"/.,  Jan.  8,  1870;  Wni  Bowilen, 
/(/.,  JuIy'2I),  ;!0,  187!>;  Jos.  I.  Brown,  CoL,  July  10,  1809;  Thos  Buic,  /d., 
Apr.  23",  1873;  David  Burns,  /</.,  July  31,  ISOC;  Jas  Burns,  Ool.,  Nov.  20, 
1879;  A.  T.  Busliby,  iV.  W.  J'ar.  Herald,  May  22,  1875;  M.  Cameron,  Cot., 
June  17,  1870;  D.  Cameron,  Id.,  May  15,  1872;  Sir  G.  Carticr,  Id.,  Mav  22, 
1873;  Cary  O.  Hunter,  Col,  Sept.  18,  1800;  Charles,  't^.,h,'uH  CictorKt, 'M.S., 
5;  T.  Clarke,  CoL,  June  20,  1879;  Cloryon,  Id.,  March  i,  1804;  J.  J.  Coch- 
rane, Id.,  March  12,  1807;  P.  F.  Corhiniero,  Id.,  May  17,  1871;  W.  lO.  Cor- 
mack,  /(/.,  Mav  10,  1808;  John  CoatcUo,  Jd.,  Jan.  25,  IS71;  T.  Coupe,  CoL, 
Jan.  4,  1870;  J.  Cox,  CoL,  Oct.  15,  1873;  W.  F.  Crate,  (W.,Oct.  3,  187';  J. 
a  Davie,  CoL,  May  15,  1809;  E.  B.  Uagg'  ^  Id    JxxXy  19,  1804;  G,  B.  IJi  .-inis, 


772 


INDUSTRIES,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


i 


m 


Cot.,  Aug.  24,  1871;  S.  M.  Driard,  Col,  March  15,  18G4;  Geo.  Diinliar,  M., 
Dec.  II,  1872;  ,\.  C.  Elliott,  Vol.,  Jan.  2!),  1870;  W.  Kiiicry,  Cot.,  May  10, 
1871;  J.  Evans,  S.  F.  UuHHin,  Aug.  28,  1879;  J.  Flcniin;,',  (hi..  May  24, 
1871;  Mitchell  Foy,  Id.,  Feb.  2,  1870;  L.  Franklin,  Cot.,  Aug.  10,  187.'!:  .1. 
(irahani,  Seattle  /iilrt'i'ieiicer,  Oct.  2;i,  1871;  E.  Giancini,  Col.,  Nov.  12,  IS70; 
Siamtunl,  Nov.  12,  1879;  Grant,  Bayleii's  V.  I.,  MS.,  2;  C.  J.  Giiffin,  ( 'ol.,  Aug. 
19,  IS74;  J.  B,  Griffith,  Id.,  May  17,  1871;  A.  II.  Guild,  Id.,  Nov.  12,  187:{; 
T.  Hall,  Col.,  Dec.  19,  1874;  O.  Hare,  Id.,  Dec.  2S,  31,  1870;  S.  llanis, 
Standard,  May  3,  1877;  S.  \V.  Herring,  Dom.  I'nc.  llemtd,  Aug.  27,  1879; 
E.  Head,  Col.,  Apr.  11,  1808;  A.  G.  Ilelllcy,  Col,  Juno  11,  1872,  A.  Hihlwrd, 
Col.,  June  20,  1809;  Sir  F.  Iliucks,  Cot.,  Sept,  14,  1872;  A.  lIolTnieister,  t.'ot. 
Sept.  30,  1874;  Stauditrd,  Sept.  30,  1874;  J.  Hov-  •  ■^/.,  June  11,  1873;  K. 
H.  Jackson,  Standard,  June  28,   1877;  Kenned  .,  March  22,   1804;  J. 

James,  5rtc.  Record- Union,  .^xa.  23,  1884,  A.  Lat.  • 'o/.,  Sept.  12,  iKO.j;  K. 
Lewis,  Col.,  Jan.  3,  187o;  J.  Livermore,  Col.,  Jan.  30,  1809;  L.  McLure,  hi., 
March  8,  1804;  N.  ]V.  liril.  Jo/»mWa»,  June 20, 1807;  T.  (i.  Marshal,  Slmid- 
nrd,  Apr.  4,  1877;  W.  Miles,  Cot.,  Nov.  20,  1872;  M.  Moore,  /(/.,  Oct.  !.">, 
1S73;  Monatt,  Id.,  Apr.  20.  1871;  W.  B.  Naylor,  Naiinhno  GazelU-,  Oct.  13, 
180G;  Col,  Oct.  3,  1800;  It.  Newell,  Ecatt'!^  llUt.  N.  Coast,  MS.;  P.  Ogden, 
Seattle  iHlelti'icneer,  Oct.  27,  1870;  John  Please,  Sac.  ttecord-Uidon,  Nov.  2."), 
ISrvJ;  C.  J.  Pritchard,  C^l,  July  20,  1870;  Wm  Uohertson,  Id..  Dec.  IS, 
1872;  J.  Itogers,  Slandar-l,  Oct.  29,  1879;  Vol.,  Oct.  20,  1879;  J.  UucfT,  Id., 
Sept.  1,  187o;  )■'  Schiilti;,  Standard,  March  11,  1878;  Sleigh,  Col.,  May  22, 
1809;  E.  Stamp,  y,.'.,  Jan.  31,  1872;  Co/.,  July  23,  1872;  X.  \V.  Pac  Ihr.dd, 
Jail.  24,  1872;  E.  A.  Starr,  Col.,  July  15,  1870;  M.  J.  Stone,  Id.,  Dee.  19, 
1874;  J.  Swaiison,  Id.,  Oct.  22,  1872;  Col.,  Oct.  23,  1872;  J.  H.  Turner,  Port- 
land West  Shore,  Sept.  1879,  p.  204;  D.  Thomas,  Cot.,  Sept.  11,  I'.OO;  J.  IJ. 
Timmermr.n,  Id.,  May21,  1873;  J.  Titcomb,  A/.,  July  10,  1809;  J.  W.  Tralxy, 
Col.,  Dec.  28,  ISOS;  J.  W.  Waitt,  Cot.,  July  13,  1870;  J.  U.  Watson.  Seai'lle 
Inlrlll<iencer,  July  12,  1809;  Oh/mpia  l!epnbt!'-aii,  July  19,  1809;  J.  Whcrty, 
Col.,  Dec.  11,  1872;  H.  Wilkinson,  Co/.,  Nov.  20,  1809;  II.  C.  WiUiaton,  Col., 
Aug.  15,  1808;  H.  Wootton,  Cot.,  Dec.  29,  1875;  A.  Young,  Cot.,  Sept.  13, 
1872. 

Final  list  of  references;  Good's  Brit.  Col.,  MS.;  Brit.  Col.  '^b'trhen,  MS.; 
Iiaylei/n  Vanconver  Island,  MS.;  De  Cosmos,  Government,  MS.;  Coopir's 
Jllaritime  Matters,  MH.;  I'ldmer'n  ]Va;ioii  Traits,  MS.;  (.'ridje'.^  Charwteiis- 
ties  of  .J as  fyonijlas,  MS.;  ii ackenzie' .'t  Mem.  Can.  Pac.  It.  /,'.,  MS.;  Ellioit's 
Brit.  Col.  PoH'ics,  M.S.;  Meni.  Geol.  Surveys,  MS.;  Finlayson's  V.  I.  and  X. 
11',  Count,  MS.;  'rarhetrs  Victoria,  MS.;  liroum's  Indians  anil  Settlers,  .\.'S,; 
Ecan.t,  Fraser  Itiitcr  Fxcilement,^]^.;  Hancock's  Thirteen  IVurs,  MS.,  passim; 
Ilonse  Ex.  Doc,  4-')th  Comj.,  Hd  Sess.,  xxi.  no.  DO,  28-72,  134-70;  x.iiii. 
110.  JO.i>,  507;  V'th  Cowl.,  3d  Sess.,  «.,  pt  I,  339-47;  4(iih  Con;;.,  i.'il  .SV.«., 
scvi.,  no.  7,  30  78,  142-98,  204-300;  .^67A  Con;/.,  3d  Ses.i.,  i.,  pt  J,  501; 
J\/e.ts.  and  Doc,  1870-1,  Xnn/  and  P.  O.  Dept,  1.33-5;  Sr.is.  Papers,  IJ.  C, 
1S70,  79-152,  4l9-.",03,  588,001-23,725;  1877,  83-159,  249-:!50,  4U1-48;  IS7S, 
7 -C;;;,  203-41:),  4.55  93;  1879,  179-320,371-87;  1880,  l,-,9-310;  ISSI,  ;!l.5-4(;4; 
i;;,SJ,  249-322,  3J3-408,  435  7,  4.57  500;  1883,  107-304,  321-31,  345,  .S".  1  - 72, 
37  ),  .";)9,  471-90;  1884,  7-84,  91-150,  ISO,  229-83,  295-.3(i7,  .33.5-45,  399-42:!, 
4:)2,  i;i-0:(,  809;  1885,  l29-:i0,  151-230,  451  00,  passim;  AVr/x--/  Lair<,  liril. 
C(,l.  (Ui71);  Conyot.  Slai.  Brit.  Cot.,  (1877)  passim;  Slat.  Ilrit.  Cot.,  1877,91- 
4,  111-13,  1,33,  111,  038-9;  1878,  71-2,  89-90,  9:i-5,  129-32;  1879,  2:i,  :)7  4S, 
C.)  75,  111-23,  150-G;  1880,  1-8,  49,  .59;  1881,  4.3-0;  1882,  4-8,  1.3-55,  77; 
l;.j;;,  2-22,  3">,  .37  8,  47  09,  77-8,  81-2;  1884,  10,  .32,  :f5,  181;  188.5,  5,  7">- 
C,  12.5-41,  passim;  Jonr.  Lcjist.  Council,  B.  C,  1804,  32,  .30;  1807,  29  ;)0, 
C>i  7;  1808,  2,  app  iv.-viii. ;  1809,  15,  CO-7,  app.  ii.,  iii.,  v.-vii;  1S70.  app.  iv.- 
ix.;  It)71,  51-(i0;  Colonial  E.itimates,  in  Id.,  1871,  2-12;  Jonr.  Lei/ist.  A-^s., 
Brif. 
2  3, 
1877, 


Co'.,  187:1-4,  I  2,  .50  7,  app.  i.  27-49,  ii.  5-00,  v.  1-7,  vii.  ,5-8,  .35;  1S7.">, 
17  8,  app.  3-12,  14-7:1,  KM -240,  ;101-481,  54,5-78,  O:;!);  1870,  2  3,  0:i; 
12,  1:!,  07,  npp.  xxvi.;  IS78,  1-2,08,  78-9;  1879,   1-2,  01;  1880,   12, 


21,  45,  upp.  iii.  1881,  1-2,  59-00,  72;  1882,  1-2,  5,  7,  12-04;  1883,  3,  17,  05; 


FINAL  AUTHORITIES. 


773 


^b'tchi'",  MS.; 


18S4,  2,  81,  88;  188"),  1-4,  35,  r)2,  passim;  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Stalutic^,  no.  3, 
lS7'J-80,  J).  14;!,  lt-2,  104,  175,  ISS-O;  JJatul-Books,  JJrit.  Cot.  Hoard  of  Tnxle, 
passim;  Urit.i'ol.  liid.  Land  (juf'st<oti,i)'S,  07;  Zamora,  iv.  282-3;  Cliilleiidcii's 
Tr:a-eU  in  IJrif.Col.,  5-8,  20-9,  40-2,  48,  50,  07;  W/i!imp<'r'K  Ala.sLa,  MoS, 
passim;  J.^icxoii's  N.  iV.  Ter.  and  JJrit.  Col.,  50-2,  55-77,85-113;  Siidmorea 
Aluaka,  i)-15;  1 1  iUcU's  Commerce  and  Indudricx,  passim;  Barmln/s  Life  and 
Lalx.r,  88-15(1;  The  Minex,  Miners,  etc.,  507;  Delniar's  Hint.  PrecioiiK Mel(ds, 
109;  The  Miniiiij  InduUry,  22;  Seivard'KSpeechut  Victoria,  1809,  17-20;  Brit. 
Col.  Affairs,  ;,/.<  /,  2,  3,  1858-00;  Brit.  Col.  Exp!oratiov8,  Brit.  N<,rth 
Amer.;  Brit.  (  ol.  Lands  and  Work  Dept  I'epta.  Brit.  Cot.  Minister  of  Mines 
J'ejils.  lirit.  Col.  I'ajiers  connected  tcilh  the  Indinn  Land  Question,  1 850  75; 
Brit.  Col.  Pnl/lic  Accounts,  1870-7,  1880-1;  Canada  Census,  ISSO-l;  Canwla 
(..'(islonis  Tariff,  1S77;  Canada  TJcbates  in  I'arlt,  1877,  1878;  Canada  JJe/d  of 
the  Interior,  Ann.  Repts,  1874-80;  Canada  llepts  Comm.  Finherics,  1870-9; 
Can.  Geol.  Siirveij  Uepts.  of  Progress,  1870-9;  Canada  Inland  llev.  Ue}it.i. 
Canada  .Marine  and  Fi-fherii  s,  Ann.  Repts,  1874-80;  Canada  Minister  of  Aiiric. 
Repts,  1877-80;  Canada  Posfmasler-Oemral  Rejiorts,  1872-80;  Canada  Pidiiic 
Accounts,  1875-7;  (Janada  'J'ahles  of  Trade  and  Navii/ation ,  1873-80;  Taylor  h 
Spec.  /^I'sv,  479A;  lirit.  Colonist,  May  7,  Dec.  2,  1877;  Jan.  3,  Feb.  3,  28, 
Apr.  13,  May  14,".Iiily  10,  1878,  March  20,  Apr.  11,  19,  22,  29,  July  1,  May 
13,  July  23,  AuK.  10,  23,  Sept.  25,  Oct.  13,  10,  20,  24,  20,  Nov.  0,  1879;  Vir.. 
toria  iVeikly  Standard,  Oct.  22,  Nov.  20,  Dec.  10,  1879,  Jan.  28,  Feb.  4, 
March  10,  Apr.  28,  May  5,  1880;  !)>/  Standard,  Apr.  25,  May  2,  July  25, 
Oct.  17,  31,  Nov.  21,  1877;  Apr.  17,  1878;  Apr.  19,  20,  30,  May  1.5,  1,S79; 
l)u7n.  Pac.  I/e raid,  March  19,22,  1879;  Xeic  Westminster  Mainland  Guardian, 
FlI).  8,  May  10,  1879;  Nanaimo  Free  /'mw.  May  19,  1880;  S.  /-'.  Alta,  March 
8,  1852;  July  7,  1853;  Nov.  7,  1857;  Apr.  28,  May  27,  Juno  20,  27,  Au','.  25, 
t)ct.  7,  1.5,  23,  Nov.  13,  1858;  May  21,  June  13,  .July  3,  1800;  Feb.  11,  March 
10,  Apr.  1,3,  Mav2,  13,  July  0,  Oct.  18,  Nov.  29,  Dec.  21,  1801; -Jan.  14, 
March  11,  22,  23,  Apr.  14,  15,  May  12,  13,  21,  June  11,  July  11,  12,  Aul(  2.5, 
Sept.  5,  Oct.  13,  Nov.  10,  1802;  Jan.  30,  March  22,  Apr.  24,  May  11,  Sept. 
8,  Oct.  .30,  1S03  Jan.  10,  14,  28,  29,  Feb.  20,  March  7,  22,  31,  Apr.  1,  0,  10, 
May  1,  4,  10,  19,  21,  27,  June  9,  10,  21,  .30,  July  12,  20,  27,  Aug.  10,  12,  14, 
27,  Sept.  12,  13,  19,  27,  Oct.  0,  14,  10,  24,  Nov.  13,  23,  Dec.  28,  1804;  I'^cb. 
24,  Apr.  1,  .30,  May  19,  June  2,  Aug.  5,  1805;  Feb.  22,  Apr.  2.5,  May  10,  ISOO; 
Jan.  4,  9,  13,  19,  Feb.  8,  10,  March  4,  7,  12,  25,  Apr.  14,  May  24,  28,  Aug. 
7,  2.5,  .Sept.  12,  Oct.  1,  24,  1807;  Jan.  14,  Oct.  20,  1808;  Apr.  1.3,  23,  July  4, 
1809;  Feb.  21,  1870;  May  13,  Sept.  12,  Doc.  27,  1871;  Jan.  20,  Feb.  14,  March 
31,  Apr.  28,  June  10,  20,  July  15,  Aug.  IS,  28,  1872;  March  3,  IS,  May  5, 
Oct.  29,  1873;  Oct.  22,  1874;  Sept.  19,  Oct.  2,5,  1875;  May  18,  Aug.  25,  .Sept. 
10,  1870;  Feb.  3,  May  12,  1877;  Aug.  3,  1878;  May  19,  1880;  May  10,  1881; 
Apr.  10,  1882;  Apr.  5,  May  14,  July  3,  1884;  Bulletin,  Juno  1-5,  7,  11,  12, 
20,  July  0,  8,  15,  20,  20,  Nov.  3,  Dec.  8,  9,  28,  1858;  Jan.  3,  11,  12,  Feb.  1.5, 
10,  Apr.  15,  18,  .30,  May  14,  18,  31,  Juno  3,  10,  11,  25,  30,  July  15,  18,  29,  .30, 
Aug.  1,  Sept.  1,  14,  19,  Oct.  28,  Dec.  0,  18.59;  Feb.  23,  May  4,  July  7,  1800; 
March  27,  June  11,  18,  Oct.  15,  17,  28,  Nov.  4,  0,  14,  23,  l.SOl;  May  10,  July 
:;,  24,  Oct.  23,  Nov.  10,  Dec.  12,  1802;  Jan.  12,  Feb.  10,  March  4,  Apr.  21, 
Aug.  1,  19,  Dec.  10,  1803;  June  9,  Sept.  20,  Oct.  24,  Nov.  10,  1804;  Jan.  10, 
Feb.  3,  Aug.  31,  1805;  July  .3,  1800;  Jan.  20,  Sept.  4,  Nov.  3,  1808;  Feb.  19, 
'Jet.  23,  Nov.  2.3,  1809;  Jan.  0,  Feb.  1,  June  30,  1870;  Apr.  1,  June  2C>,  Deo. 
17,  1872;  March  3,  4,  19,  Sept.  4,  1873;  July22,  1874;  May25,  1875;  Feb.  7, 
May  3,  Aug.  30,  1870;  July  23,  Aug.  1,  1877;  Aug.  0,  Oct.  14,  Nov.  4,  1S7S; 
March  11,  Apr.  25,  28,  June  11,  Aug.  27,  1879;  Apr.  29,  May  7,  12,  June  9, 
■Jt,  July  1,  12,  20,  21,  20,  Aug.  2,  19.  20,  2,3,  2,5,  29,  Sept.  22,  29,  30,  Oct.  1, 
12,  14,  22,  24,  Nov.  8,  9,  24,  1881;  Aug.  27,  1883;  Apr.  4,  Mayfl,  1881;  Feb. 
27,  March  12,  Oct.  24,  1885;  Call,  Jan.  8,  March  31,  Apr.  12,  May  27,  .iuua 
HI,  Oct.  8,  Nov.  2,  1804;  Jan.  22,  June  4,  8,  30,  Sept.  .30,  1805;  Jan.  (i,  19, 
I'll).  10,  March  22,  May  24,  Aug.  7,  Sept.  12,  Oct.  24,  1807;  Feb.  27,  .March 
10,  Apr.  30,  Aug.  5,  Sept.  8,  23,  Oct.  25,  1808;  Apr.  21,  1870;  June  8,  Oct. 
22,  lt,72;  Dec.  20,  1874;  Juno  22,  1875;  May  12,  1870;  Apr.  0,  July  23,  1877; 


I'i 


774 


INDUSTRKS,  COMMERCE,  AND  FINANCE. 


March  8,  June  16,  1878;  June  13,  1879;  June  21,  1882;  Jan.  12,  Feb.  2,  Apr. 
J4,  1884;  Feb.  25,  March  11,  Dec.  4,  1885;  Chronicle,  Dec.  15,  1870;  JulyJJ, 
Sept.  13,  1878;  Apr.  14,  1880;  Apr.  1,  1884;  Jan.  5,  March  1,  13,  May  2.S, 
1885;  Comm.  Herald,  Aug.  30,  1867;  Aug.  29,  1808;  July  5,  1877;  Jour,  o) 
Comtnerc,  May  23,  1877;  Merc.  Gazette,  Nov.  12,  1864;  Nov.  9,  18C5;  Pod, 
Oct.  23,  1873;  June  22,  25,  1875;  Apr.  27,  May  3,  Aug.  24,  28,  30,  31,  Sept. 
13,  29,  Oct.  14,  19,  .SO,  Dec.  4,  7,  1876;  Apr.  7,  June  4,  Aug.  4,  1877;  July 
10,  1878;  July  24,  1885;  Pacific  Churchman,  Nov.  19,  18U8;  Times,  March 
•W,  Nov.  2,  22,  1807;  Jan.  14,  Apr.  1,  July  20,  Oct.  26,  27,  1808;  Feb.  10, 
March  15,  1869;  Abend  Post,  Jan.  8,  20,  1876;  Stockton  Indejiendent,  July  30, 
1880;  Aug.  19,  20,  1881;  SteilaeoomEx/iresx,  July  26,  1877;  Intelligencer,  J iin. 
13,  May  22,  June  5,  17,  July  23,  Sept.  3,  1870;  Alturaa  (Modoc  co.,  Val.)  In- 
dependent, Sept.  29,  1877;  Ashland  Tidings  (Or.),  Aug.  3,  1877;  Olym/iia 
Trawcript,  July  5,  1879;  Port  Townsend  Argus,  May  31,  1883;  Portland 
Catholic  Sentinel,  Sept.  11,  1879;  Western  Oregonian,  June  7,  14,  1879;  Culi- 
J'ornian,  Aug.  1881,  p.  177;  Virginia  ( Nev. )  Chronicle,  Apr.  7,  1877;  Urenou 
State  (Eugene  City)  Journal,  Apr.  10,  1880;  Gold  Hill  News,  Juno  12,  180U; 
El  Frontenzo  (Tucson),  J  an.  27,  1882;  Portland  Telegram,  Oct.  29,  31,  1879; 
Portland  Standard,  Aug.  10,  1877;  Portland  West  Shore,  Jan.,  July,  18V7; 
Feb.,  March,  June,  1880;  Sac.  Record- Union,  Feb.  29,  1856;  Aug.  22,  1S(;0; 
Oct.  13,  31,  1879;  March  14,  May  16,  June  28,  Aug.  20,  23,  1881;  July  '25, 
1882;  Jan.  30.  Feb.  6,  1883;  Jan.  1,  12,  19,  Feb.  2,  March  18,  Apr.  26.  1884; 
Jail.  14,  March  12,  May  5,  23,  1885. 


IXDEX. 


lii^ 


"Activa,"  ship,  15,  28. 

"Active,"  U.  S.  steamer,  260,  405,  610, 

622. 
Ailiiir,  John,  iniiier,  550. 
Adams,  mining  on  Fraser  River,  349- 

50. 
Adams  Creek,  gold  discovered,  400. 
Ailivms  River,  mining  on,  400. 
Adams  Luke,  gold  discovered,  461. 
Adderley,  Mr,  on  H.  B.  Co.'s  charter, 

378. 
"Adelaide,"  bark,  361. 
Admiralty  Inlet,  original  name,  11. 
Agriculture  at  forts,  01-2,  80,03,  119, 

127-9,    131,    182-20.3,    200;    among 

fur   traders,   80,    81,    312;   growing 

importance,  80;  areas  and  condition, 

1880  0,  740-4. 
Ague,  prevalence  of,  67. 
Ah.jrn,  miner,  murdered  by  Inds,  530. 
Ahouscts  Inds  attack  whites,  429. 
Alden,   Capt.,  in  conid  of  "Active," 

260,  622. 
Alder,   Lt.   in   comd  of  the    "Three 

Brothers,"  28. 
Alfred  Bar,  mining  at,  441. 
Allan,  It.  T.,  justice  of  peace,  264. 
Allan,    Sir   Hugh,   railway   contract, 

652-4. 
Alliird,  O.,  in  charge  at  Ft  Yale,  385. 
Allen,  miner,  murdered  by  Inds,  530. 
"America,"  H.  M.  S.,  120-i. 
American  Bar,  mining  at,  441. 
Anderson,  A.  C,  on  H.  B.  Co.'s  jiolicy 

to  Inds,  50;  comd  at  FtColville,  60; 

at  It   Nisqually,  62  3;  liiog.   and 

bibliog.,  157-9;  explor.  expedts  to, 

157-70,  175-6;  map  of  route,   162; 

on  gold  discovery,  349;  repoi't  on 

goid  yield,  470;  on  mining  licenses, 

III;  bibliog.,  761. 
Andrews,  B.  S.,  Amer.  settler  on  S. 

Juan,  617. 
Anderson,    David,    before    comm.    in 

Eng.  ou  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 


Anderson  Oulch,  mining  at,  482. 

Anderson  River,  expedt.  on,  167. 

Antler  Creek,  mining  at,  457,  479, 
491  3,  512,  515;  town  at,  492-3; 
society,  492. 

Anvil  Island  named,  20. 

Applegate.  J.  K.,  attacked  by  Inds, 
18.39,  614-15. 

"Aranzazu,  '  Spanish  man-of-war,  29. 

Arctic  Creek,  prospectors  on,  547; 
mining,  551. 

"Argonaut,"  ship,  seized  by  Span- 
iards, 1789,  8. 

Artesian  Co.,  lease  and  plans,  499-500. 

Assembly,  first  on  V.  I.,  320-7;  called, 
320;  qualification  of  members,  320- 
1;  members,  321,  320-7;  business, 
.322-7;  gov. 's  address  to,  322-3. 

Astoria  as  a  trading  post,  78-81. 

Atnulis  Inds,  character,  136;  conspir- 
acy of,  143. 

Auiiferous  region,  extent,  5.S9. 

Authorities  (juoted,  xxi-xxix,  72-7, 
309,  579  81,  694-5,  766-9. 

"Aventure,"  ship,  built  by  Vancou- 
ver, 15. 


B 


Babine  River  prospected,  .556. 

Back,   Sir  G.,  before  connn.  in  Eng. 

on  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 
Baillie,  T.,  visited  by  McElroy,  260. 
Baillie,  Hamilton's  ISuy  named,  191. 
liaker,  Lt,  in  Vancouver's  exjjedt.,  16, 
Bakerville,  prosperity  of,  716. 
Haleb,    Capt.,   gold-hunting   expedt., 

344. 
liald   Mountains,   mining  about,  .305; 

geoh)gy,  513. 
Ball,  H.  M.,  justice  of  peace  at  Lyt- 

ton,   416;   on  golil   discoveiy,   4.S6; 

gold    eoinniissiouer,    2U6;    of    first 

legis.  council,  583. 
Ballou,  W..  starts  express,  ,351   2. 
lianknig  facilities,  1885,  753. 
Barclay,  (,'upt.,  visit  of,  178",  5. 

(  773  1 


u 

m 


(76 


INDEX. 


Harclay  Sound  named,  5;  Spaiiiiili 
iiiiiiiu  for,  1 1. 

l$ate,  M.,  manager  V.  Coal  Co.,  569; 
mayor  Nanaimo,  iu4. 

liauurnian  on  Caril)oo  geology,  51j; 
oil  15.  i'.  coal-lields,  570. 

IJarker  Claim,  iiiiuing  at,  488,  497. 

J5,irkerville,  iiuportanco,  4!)5,  503, 
.'■)0!);  luumul,  497;  bunud,  1868,497; 
wages,  provisions,  516;  H.  li.  Co. 
at,  516;  reading-room,  519. 

liarnes,  Ellis,  sells  11.  IJ.  Co, 'a  prop- 
erty on  iS.  Juan  isl.,  608. 

liarr,  R.,  eonduuting  colonial  acade- 
my, 'MO;  clerk  of  assembly,  S-IO. 

Harriiire  River,  mining  on,  459-60. 

IkuloO).,  work,  1866-7,  518. 

Bear  River,  mining  at,  479;  cool  dis- 
covered, .">79. 

IJeaufort  mine  coal  seam,  568. 

"Heaver,"  steam '  59,  71-2  84,  92, 
93,  9.'),  101,  lUli,  188,  -289,  405,  616. 

IJeaver  Ilarbor,  coal  discovered,  186- 
9.;  named,  188. 

Bedrock  Flumo  Co.,  yield,  1868-9, 
540. 

IJegg  Creek,  ndning  on,  505. 

llegbie,  M.  B.,  chief  justice,  337,  361, 
405,  408,  41-2,  417,  420,  422;  first 
circuit,  422;  character,  423-6,  430- 
3;  dislikeil  by  ndners,  430;  on  Era- 
ser River,  445;  on  ndning,  463,  465- 
6,  514. 

IJell,  (;.  W.,  hanged,  V.  I.,  435. 

Bell,  Jas,  explores  Lightning  Creek, 
506. 

Bellacoolas  Inds  at  Victoria,  428. 

liellingham  Bay  named,  20;  Spanish 
name,  21;  coal  discovered,  200;  fort 
on,  erected,  613. 

Bevis,  \V.  H. ,  revenue  ofHcer,  405. 

Big  Bar,  locality,  4.V);  ndning  at,  457. 

Rig  Bend  gold  excitement,  470,  522, 
524,  530,  539;  ndning,  531,  535; 
failure,  534. 

Birch,  A.  N.,  of  lirst  legis.  council, 
583, 

Birch  Bay,  named,  20;  Spanish  name, 
21. 

Blaiishard,  R.,  visit  to  coal  mines, 
195;  iidluence  on  eohuu/ation,  231; 
apptd  gov.  V.  I.,  265;  arrival,  266; 
to  serve  without  pay,  267;  relations 
with  H.  R.  Co.,  268  72,  276-80; 
character,  275;  resigns,  280-1;  be- 
fore comm,  in  ling,  on  H.  li.  (yo., 
.381. 

Blikely  Island,  606. 

Rlancliet,  plants  cross  on  Whiibcy 
isl.,  1840,  100. 


Blenkinson,  O.,  at  Ft  Rupert,  192-4; 
has  sailors  killed,  273. 

Blue  Nose  Bar,  gold  discovered,  441, 
444. 

Blunt  Island,  Ind.  attack  on,  1859, 
614-15. 

Bayley,  C.  A.,  coroner,  Nanaimo, 
426. 

Baynes,  Admiral,  arrives  at  Kscjui- 
malt,  404-5;  in  comd  of  Knglihh 
fleet,  624;  actions  in  S.  Juan  uti'air, 
624-5. 

Bazalgette,  Capt.  (}.,  in  comd  of  Eng. 
ti  oops  at  S.  J  uan,  633, 

Bodegay  Cuadra,  comm.  for  Spain  in 
Nootka  atf.dr,  1792,  15. 

Bolduc,  J.  B.  'A.,  at  Camosun,  97-8; 
celebrates  nuiss,  99;  at  Whitbey  Isl., 
99-100. 

Bond,  G.  P.,  U.  S.  commissioner  in 
S.  Juan  trouble,  610. 

Boston  Bar,  ndning  at,  447-8. 

"Boxer,"  II.  .M.  S.,  572. 

Bradley,  H.,  discovers  coal,  568. 

Bradley  (Ireek,  coal-mining,  268. 

Brew,  Chartres,  establishes  constabu- 
lary, 404;  Hill  Bar  trou  >le,  411;  of 
first  legis.  council,  585. 

Bridge  Biver,  ndning  at,  45,3-4. 

British  America,  jurisdiction  of  Ca- 
nadian courts  in,  217. 

British  Bar,  mining  at,  4.^5-7. 

British  (Jolonist,  newspaper,  739. 

British  Columbia,  sunnnary  of  earliest 
voyages,  1-31;  contiguratioii,  33-40; 
physical  divisions,  34  5;  clinuite, 
40-3;  fauna,  4.3-4;  luitives,  44-51; 
forts,  52-72;  explorations,  157-70, 
175-6;  gold  discovered,  341-75; 
travel  to  ndnes,  3.')4-70,  382;  effects 
of  discovery.  374-5;  colony  and 
govt  established,  383;  H.  B.  Co. 
stations,  385;  govt  of  1858-63,  3SS- 
418;  created  crown  colony,  406;  law 
established,  406;  acct  of  gold-lields, 
420  2;  mounted  police,  4.34;  popu- 
lar tribunals,  436;  gold  yield,  470-1 ; 
mining  population,  471,  482;  coal 
discoveries,  ;..;5-80;  legis.  council 
organized,  583;  a  province  of  the 
dondnion,  .598-601;  S.  Juan  Island 
ditficulty,  605-93;  Canadian  l'a<'. 
Riulway,  610-93;  politics  and  govt, 
1870-86, 696-706;  settlements,  IMil 
86,  707-717;  ndssions,  717-27;  edu- 
cation, 734-8:  newspapers,  73!); 
industries,  760-6;  connneice,  746- 
62;  finance,  753  6. 

British  Cohunbian,  newspaper,  739. 

Brooks,  I'ort,  coal  discovered,  201. 


ipert,  192-4; 

lovered,  441, 

:k  Oil,   KSr)!), 

,    Nuuaiiiu), 

la  at  Ks(iui- 
of  Kuglisli 
Juan  iiHair, 

umd  of  Eiig. 

for  Spain  in 

iioaun,  97-8; 
Vhitbey  Isl., 

niissioner  in 

17-8. 

al,  568. 
iig,  208. 
es  coiistalm- 
»>le,  411;  of 

4r).3-4. 
ition   of  Ca- 

er,  739. 

y  of  earliest 

ition,  .S:{-40; 

climate, 

ves,  44-5 1 ; 

)n3,    ir)7-70, 

1,     341-7.".; 

,38-2;  effects 

loloiiy    and 

H.    H.   Co. 

)8-03,  388- 

iiy,  400;  law 

goUl-liehla, 

434;  popii- 

'ield,  470-1 ; 

482;  coal 

^18.    council 

iiice   of  tlio 

hum  I.sland 

adian    I'ac. 

H  and  govt, 

lents,  IftOl  - 

7-27;  fdu- 

ipeis,     7.'{9; 

iierce,   740- 

i|){!r,  730. 
led,  201. 


INDEX. 


777 


"Brotlier  Jonathan,"  the  steamer, 
wrecked,  407. 

}3roiigliton  Archipelago  named,  20. 

Broiigliton,  Lt,  iu  cunid  of  the  "Chat- 
ham," 15;  expedt.  of  1792,  18. 

Br(juglitou  Straits,  Spanish  uainu  for, 
20. 

Brown,  D.,  shooting  of,  4.")2. 

Brown,  L.,  on  Fraser  excitement, 
358. 

Brown,  P.,  killed  by  Indians,  331. 

Brown,  Dr  K.,  on  gc>ld  discovery, 
403;  on  gohl-fieUI  iirr-"'*ion,  4(i0, 
.'')2I;  on  V.  1.  coal,  5G7;  on  Queen 
(Charlotte  Isl.,  574-5. 

Brown,  Kev.  K.  V.  L.,  at  William 
Cieek,  519;  prize  essay  hy,  700-1. 

Brown,  'I'hos,  gold  discoverei',  4',)0. 

Browne,  Ross,  on  Cohimbia  gold-lield, 
521. 

Buchanan,  I'res.,  actions  in  S.  Juan 
affair,  ri2(>. 

Buckley's  piirty  prospecting,  549. 

Bukley,  T.  A.,  works  Ilarewood  Coal 
Mine,  573. 

Burns  (.'reek,  mining  on,  482;  yield, 
1875-7,  515. 

Burpee,  Air,  originates  Canadian  Pac. 
Railway,  044. 

Biirrard  Inlet,  Spanisli  name  for,  24; 
co.il  disco\ered,  57(i,  .">79. 

Burton,  Lieut,  destroys  Indian  vil- 
lage, 274. 

Butler,  Capt. ,  at  Manson  Creek,  1871, 
552. 

Butler,  Wni,  Anier.  settler  on  S.  Juan, 
017. 

Byrnes,  on  gold-hunting  expedt.  re- 
port, 547-9. 

c 

Caamano,  comd  of  the  "Aranzazu," 
29. 

Cache  ('reek  town,  growth  of,  458. 

"Cadb()ro,".schr,  .V.I,  72,  101,  100. 

(.'aldwell,  Wni,  before  eomni.  in  Kng. 
on  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 

California,  effect  of  B.  C.  gold  dis- 
covery, 3.".7-()2,  372  3,  481,  478; 
exodus  of  popidation,  35>'S  9,  ;{02; 
resemblance  to  Kraser  River  gold- 
fi(^lds,  403;  coal  formation,  500. 

(valifornia  miners  at  Fort  Victoria, 
180  1. 

('alifornia  Creek,  mining  on,  482,  500. 

Call  Canal  name<l,  20. 

Calvert  Island  named,  26. 

Cameron  Bar,  mining  at,  441,  443, 
451,  404,  405,  497,  517. 


Cameron,  D.,  chief  justice,  .327,  336- 
7,  405;  resigns,  422. 

Camosun,  examined  by  Douglas,  80-8; 
fort  built.  94-101. 

Campbell,  Arch.,  U.  S.  commissioner 
in  S.  Juaii  trouble,  010. 

Caiuiilian  Bar,  mining  at,  441,  498. 

(Canadian  Pacific  Itailway,  cause  of 
founiling,  .'(74;  reasons  for  and 
against  project,  040-4;  bill  carried 
in  the  commons,  014;  resolutions 
passed  by  Canadian  parliament, 
045  0;  preliiniiuiry  surveys,  049-52; 
Hugh  Allan  contract,  052  4;  the 
C'anarvon  terms,  0(il  2;  petition  to 
her  Majesty,  003  4;  Kail  of  Uutl'er- 
in's  speech,  ()00-70;  eontiaet  with 
syndicate,  078;  engineering  ditlicnl- 
ties,  (>81-4;  Port  Mocxly,  reasons 
lor  selection  as  terminus,  084  0; 
com|)lelion  of  the  line,  087;  costly 
undertaking,  (kS7-9I. 

( 'anal  de  Sa.samat.     See  Burrard  Iiilct. 

('anoe  country  mining,  450,  47."1. 

Canon  Creek,  mining  at,.")09-10. 

(Japclia  Ind.  attack  on  the  "King- 
fisher," 429. 

('ape  hisiippointment,  (Japt.  Meares 
at,  I78S,  0;  trading  post  at,  182. 

Ca])e  Lookout,  Captain  Meares  at, 
l788-(i. 

CiiY>(:  Orford  named,  15. 

"Captain  Cook,"  ship,  178. 

(Jarry,  K.,  gohl  discoverei',  545. 

(Jai'iboo,  milling  in,  470,  472-92,  510- 
19;  map  of  region,  474;  missionaries 
at,  519;  influence  of  excitement, 
540. 

Carnarvon  Club  organized,  698-9;  de- 
mands of,  09!>. 

Carnarvon  terms,  acceptance  of  the, 
001-2. 

Cariies  Creek  mining,  .532,  537. 

Caiiiits,  Hank,  gold  dis/.o'^  'ler,  180.5, 
537  8. 

"  (Jaroline,"  ship,  ()14. 

Carpenter  Bar,  mining  at,  .559. 

(Carriers,  inds,  eliaiaeter,  iiO. 

Cartier,  Sir  >!.  H.,  actions  in  Pacific 
liailway,  05i-2. 

Carv,  (J.  il.,  s^olicitor-general  B.  C, 
405. 

("asey,  C\)l,  rei-nforces  I'ickett  ut  S, 
.hiaii,  ()22;  im|)rudence  of,  022-.'{. 

('asey  liar,  gold  discovered,  441. 

Cass,  Sec,  actions  in  S.  Juan  affair, 
(i27. 

Cassiar  mining  district,  location,  ,543; 
gold  excitement,  1801,  559;  mining, 
659-64. 


778 


INDEX. 


Cattle  brought  into  N.  W,,  62;  at 

torts,  lUO-7;  stealing,  331. 
Cavaiiaugh,  A.,  miner,  icurdered  by 

luds,  23U. 
Cayoosli,  Ind.  village,  452. 
Cayuses,  Iiuls,  character,  60. 
(Jedar  Creek  prospected,  487-8. 
Ceiitras,  Capt.  John,  treats  with  In- 
dians, 390. 
Chancellor  sent  from  Eng.  to  report 

on  mines,  231. 
Chapman    party    prospecting,    1869, 

547. 
Charbonnedem,    A.,    in    Anderson's 

explor.  expdt.,  159. 
Charles,  Win,  miinager  Hudson's  Bay 

Co.,  Pacific  coast,  382. 
"  Chatham,"  H.  M.  S.,  15,  18,  21,  28. 
Cheadle,   report  on  gold    formation, 

486;  at  Cariboo  mines,  498. 
Chemauis  district,    coal    discovered, 

579. 
Cherry  Creek,  mining  on,  538. 
Chilcats,  Inda,  attack  whites,  48. 
ChilkotiuB,  Inds,  attack  on  pack-train, 

428. 
Chilliwack  River,  coal  discoverd  on, 

579. 
Chimsyans,    Inds,    at  Victoria,   428; 

missionaries  among,  719. 
Chinese,  Ind.  regard  for,  49;  mining 

iu  gold-fields,  329,  330,  343, 348,  398, 

444,  454-5,  458-9,  471,  487-8,  501, 

509,  611,  526,  540,  641,  551,553, 

563;  at  Victoria,  710-11. 
Chinese  question  iu  B.  C,  711-12. 
Chmooks,  language  of,  61. 
Coisholm  Creek,  miuing  at,  482,  607. 
Chittendon,  N.  H.,  bibliog.,  759. 
Christian,  J.,  opens  mine,  460. 
Christy  opposes  H.  B.  Co.,  213. 
Clallanis,  Inds,  country  of,  93-4;  at- 
tend mass,  99. 
Clayoquet  Harbor,  Vancouver  winters 

at,  15. 
Clayton,  trade  controversy,  207. 
Clearwater  River,  mining  on,  605. 
Clinton,  prosperity  of,  716. 
"Clio,"  H.  M.  S.,  417;  attacks  Ind. 

village,  429. 
Cloak  Bay  named,  5, 
Coal     dis.;ovei)e8,    186-96,     196-200, 

165-80;   formations,  565-8;  license 

to  discover,  57 1-2;  mine  regulations, 

677-8;  minister's  report,  577;  yield, 

1884,  750. 
Colnett,   Capt.,    ship    of,    seized    by 

■Spaniards,  8. 
"Columbia,"  H.   B.  Co.  ship,  8,  15, 

120,  238. 


"Columbia,"?.  M.  Co.  steamer,  359. 

Columbia  liiver,  failure  to  enter,  1792, 
29;  settlers'  encroachments  on,  81; 
mines,  520-42;  geology,  528. 

Columbia  and  Kootenai  Eailway  Co. 
incorporated,  691. 

Colville  Coty,  gold  discovered,  348; 
mining,  620-1. 

Commercial  Inlet,  coal  discovered, 
198,  200. 

"Commodore,"  steamer,  369,  361. 

"Cormorant,"  ship,  134,  190,  266. 

C/'omox  coal  seam,  area,  576. 

Comox  Hiirbor,  coal  mining  at,  568, 
578. 

"Concepcion,"  ship,  29. 

Confederation  first  mooted  1822,  595; 
in  effect  1841,  595;  B.  C.  a  province 
of  the  dominion,  598-602. 

Conklin  Gulch,  mining  at,  482,  500, 
508,  515. 

Connolly,  Nellie,  marries  Douglas, 
289. 

"  Constance,"  frigate,  124,  180. 

Convict  labor  at  Victoria,  435. 

Cook,  Capt.  James,  at  Nootka  1778, 
3;  map,  3;  on  Pacific  coast,  4, 

Cooper,  J  as,  trader  on  Eraser  River, 
255-6;  settles  at  Metchosiu,  256-7; 
at  Esquimalt,  260;  signs  settlers' 
petition,  314;  before  comm.  in  Eng. 
on  H.  B.  Co.,  381;  on  gold  dis- 
covery, 350,  354;  of  council,  281, 
316,  320. 

Copals,  Indian  chief,  .S93. 

Corbett,  (i.  O. ,  before  comm.  in  Eng. 
on  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 

C6rdoba  Harbor,  10.     See  Victoria. 

Cornwall,  C.  F.,  chief  ma^gistrate 
1881-6,  704. 

"Corti^s,"  steamer,  381. 

Cottonwood  Creek,  mining  at,  515. 

Couoey,  Capt.  Michaelde,  at  Esqui- 
malt, 404. 

Council,  provisional,  of  V.  I.,  316. 

Courtney.  Capt.,  at  V.  I.,  124. 

Courts,  Canadian,  jurisdiction  iu  B. 
A.,  217. 

Cowichins,  Inds,  attend  mass,  95,  99; 
attack  Ft  Camosun,  107-10;  Doug- 
las' policy  toward,  331;  missionaries 
among,  719. 

Cowitclieti  Bay,  coal  discovered,  567, 
578. 

"Cowlitz,"  H.  B.  Co.  ship,  120. 

Crease,  H.  P.  P.,  of  first  legis.  coun- 
cil, 583;  judL'e,  706. 

Crest,  W.,  gold  iliscovercr,  545. 

Criukeuer,  B.,  chaplain,  arrives  V.  I., 
407. 


INDEX. 


779 


teamer,  359. 
)  enter,  17i)2, 
eiita  on,  81; 
,  52S. 
Railway  Co. 

overed,  348; 

discovered, 

369,  361. 
IIK),  268. 
>76. 
uiug  at,  5G8, 


;ed  1822,  595; 
C  a  province 
i02. 
at,  482,  500, 

•iea    Douglas, 

24,  ISO. 

a,  435. 

Nootka  1778, 

coast,  4. 

Fraser  River, 

jhosiii,  250-7; 

signs  settlers' 

omin.  ill  Eng. 
on  gold  dis- 
council,  281, 


omm.  in  Eng. 

ee  Victoria, 
maigistrate 


ing  at,  515. 
de,   at  Esqui- 

V.  I.,  316. 

idiction  in  B. 

mass,  95,  99; 
07-10;  Doug- 
missionaries 

soovered,  507, 

lip,  120. 

it  legis.  conn- 

•er,  545. 
arrives  V.  I., 


Cridge,  view  of  Douglas,  299. 
Croftun,  J.  F.,  before  comni.  in  Eng. 

on  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 
Cuadra,  exploration  of,  1774-9,  3. 
Cunningham  Creek,  ndning  at,  477, 

479,  489-91,  497,  500. 
Cunningham,  W.,  exploration  cf,  506. 
Cumsliewas  Hai'hor,  coal  seam  at,  574. 
"  Curlew,"  sloop,  361. 
Cutler,  L.  A.,  hog  affair  of  S.  Juan 

Isl.  18.-)9,  610-17. 
Cypress  Island  named,  20. 


"Dtedalus,"  H.  M.  S.,  28.  29,  274. 

Daily  ICveidng  Post,  newspaper,  739. 

Daily  and  Weekly  Colonist,  news- 
paper, 739. 

Daily  and  Weekly  Standard,  news- 
paper, 739. 

Dallas,  A.  G.,  claims  S.  Juan  for 
Britisli  soil,  616. 

"  Dameras  Cove,"  ship,  344. 

"Daphne,"  H.  M.  H.,  274,  281. 

Datsou,  murder  of,  435. 

Davis,  Wm,  in  Anderson's  explor. 
expdt.,  159. 

Davis  Gulch,  mining  at,  482. 

Dawson,  G.  M.,  on  Cariboo  mines, 
472,  513;  on  B.  C.  coal,  567,  579; 
railway  survey  expedt.,  650. 

Day  Bar,  mining  at,  455-7. 

Deadwood  Bar,  gold  discovered  at, 
441. 

Deans,  G.,  settles  at  V.  I.,  258, 

Deans,  Jas,  biog.,  113-15;  at  V.  I., 
258-9. 

Dease  Lake,  mining  at,  560-2. 

Decatur  Island,  606. 

Deception  Bay,  Captain  Mearea  at, 
1778,  0. 

Deception  Passage  named,  18. 

De  Courcy  Islands,  coal  discovered, 
567,  579. 

De  Courcy,  Maj.,  magistrate  at  S. 
Juan,  618. 

Deep  Sea  Bluff  named,  26. 

De  Groot,  H.,  on  gold  discovery,  348, 
.350,  463. 

Denman,  Admiral,  destroys  Ind.  vil- 
lage, 429. 

Derby,  town,  406-7. 

Desolation  Sound  named,  25. 

Destruction  Island,  Capt.  Meares  ut, 
1788,  6. 

"Devastation,"  H.  M.  S.,  429. 

Dewilney,  E.,  surveys  William  Creek, 
502;  ou  Kootenai  trail,  530. 


Deitz,  W.,  miner,  483-4,  495;  claim, 
497. 

Diller,  miner,  486. 

"Discovery,"  H.  M.  S..  15,  16,  26. 

Discovery  claim,  mining  at,  488,  494, 
507,  508,  527,  534,  537,  5.33,  561. 

Dixon,  Geo.,  visit  of,  1787,  5. 

Dixon  Strait  named,  6. 

bog  Creek,  mining  at,  450. 

Donnellan,  B.  C,  chief  of  police,  402. 

Douglas   coal   mine,    woi'k    at,   569; 
compared  with  Newcastle,  572. 

Douglas,  Capt.,  visit  of,  1788,  6. 

Douglas,  David,  deatii  of,  135. 

Douglas,  James,  builds  forts,  48,  95- 
101,  290;  quarrel  witii  McNedl,  09- 
71;  explores  Tako  river,  67-72; 
visits  Cal.,  72,  291;  surveys  Royal 
Bay,  87;  report  on  Camosiin,  88-9; 
on  Esquimau,  89-90;  character, 
115,  118,  120,  292-5,  387;  chief 
factor,  119,  295;  at  Ft  Vancouver, 
131;  at  Ft  Victoria,  133;  reiwrt  ou 
coal  discovery,  189-90;  visits  coal 
mines,  199-200;  opposes  Blaushard, 
266,  278;  on  council,  281;  ou  board 
of  management,  283;  gov.  of  V.  I., 
283,  310  28;  biog.,  285-90;  early 
relations  to  McLoughlin,  286;  edu- 
cation, 285-90;  marriage,  288-9; 
rescues  Lassertes,  291-2;  personal 
appearance,  292-3,  299-300;  retires 
from  H.  B.  Co.,  290;  death,  290; 
compared  to  McLoughlin,  290,  .300- 
9;  calls  first  assembly,  ;i20;  policy 
to  Inds,  299,  331-5;  policy  to  set- 
tlers, 305-6;  address  to  Assembly, 
322-3;  rept  on  gold  discovery,  348- 
51,  353-4,  370,  475,  521;  mining 
proclamations,  352-3,  402-.3;  policy 
to  gold  miners,  301,  304-0,  370-1, 
381-2,  380-94,  400,  408;  Gov.  of  B. 
C,  384,  387,  401  3,  40.".;  examines 
nuues,  390-4;  withdraws  from  H. 
B.  Co.,  403;  address  presented  to, 
587;  kniglite<l,  587;  character  as 
gov.  588-9;  proclanuition  against 
invasion  of  8.  Juun,  02U;  comiiiun. 
on  S.  Juan  affair,  021. 
Douglas,    Wm,    siiip    of,    seized    by 

Spaniards,  8. 
Downie,  Maj.,  report  on  mines,  514, 

570,  578. 
Diagon  Rocks  named,  15. 
Draper,  W.  H.,  before  comm.  in  Eng. 

onH.  B,  Co.,  381. 
"  Driver,"  ship,  260. 
Duli'erin,  Earl,  visit  and  speech,  6.'>4, 

000-72. 
Dutiiu,  Robt,  explor.  trip  of  1788,  6. 


■  J 


'M 


780 


INDEX. 


Duiiliar  claim,  yield,  MS. 

Diiiicuu,    Will,     iiiiiitiionary    act,     as 

iiiiigistrate,  4.'W,  718. 
Diiai),  J.,  bibliog.,  18S-!). 
Diinsinuir,  Robt,  uoul  discovery,  'i7'2. 
Diiiitjiiiuir  coal  iiiiuc,  Tifi!!  70,  57"^. 
iJiiiit^c,  Capt.  J.  A.,  visit  of,  l'J4-."), 


E 


Eaglo  Bar,  gold  discovered  at,  441. 
Ehj^Ic  I'asH,  last  rail  of  O,  I',  laid  at, 
_  (iS7. 

Kl)i'y,    I.    N. .    actions    in    S.    .Juan 
tioiiMc!,    isr.4,    007  8;    murder   of. 

oi:i. 

Edgar,  Jaiiics  I).,  actions  in  Canadian 

I'ac.  Railway  uH'air,  050-8. 
Education,  180r)-84,  7.'14-8. 
Edwarils,  J.  E.,  disfovers  gold,  480. 
Elgin,  Lord,  complaints  against  H.  B, 

Co.,  212;  investij^ates,  2;(2. 
Elisa,  e.\pdt.  of  17!)1,  11    14;  map,  12. 
Elisa  Bay.     See  IVdder  Hay. 
EUenlioroiigli  peninsula  named,   191. 
Ellice,  E.,  Si.  P.,  on  colonization,  208; 

on  V.   I.   grant,   2,'}0;  on   ciiaracter 

H.   B.   Co.,   'MS;  before  conim.    in 

Eng.  on  11.  B.  Co.,  381. 
Elmore  (iulcli,  mining  at,  .")54. 
Emery,  E.  E.,  at  Nanaimo,  1871,  572. 
Emory  Bar,  mining  at,  44;{,  404,  40.'i. 
Elwyn,  Thomas,  justice  of  the  peace 

at  Lilloct,  410. 
"England,"  ship,  195,  273. 
England  otlcrs   reward  for  discovery 

of  X.  \V.  jiassage,  8-4;  sends  comm. 

to  Wash,  to  negotiate  treaty  1871, 

CH7. 
Engletield  harbor,  gold  discovery  at, 

347. 
Ent,  Noel,  Amer.  settler  on  S.  Juan, 

017. 
"Enterprise,"  steamer,  304,  587. 
Ericsson  Mining  (Jo.,  yield,  498,  500; 

members,  510. 
Ermatinger  at  Ft  Kamloop,  135. 
Estjuimalt  Harbor,  original  name,  10; 

description,  87;  Douglas  examines, 

89-90;  society  at,  714. 
Es<)uinialt    and     Nanaimo     railway, 

contract  for  construction,  092. 
Etholin,  gov.  of  Sitka,  08,  207. 
Evans,  killed  by  Indians,  .308. 
Evans,    Elhvood,  on  gold  discovery, 

B.  C,  355. 
"  Experiment,"  ship,  26. 
Exports,  list  and  value,  1884,  751-2. 
Express  Bar,  gold  discovered,  441. 


Kanshawe,  Capt.,  attacks  Indians, 
274  5. 

Furris,  .Michael,  Amer.  settler  on  S. 
.luan,  017. 

"  Fauntleroy,"  brig,  010. 

"  Felice,"  ship,  5,  M. 

"  Feuis,"  ship,  29. 

Fery  Creek,  mining  on,  510. 

Fery,  Jules,  on  (/ariboo  mines,  514. 

Ferguson  Bar,  locality,  455-0;  min- 
ing at,  457. 

Fidalgo,  .S.,  Capt.  of  the  "I'rincesa," 
20. 

I'ife  Passage  named,  20. 

Fifty-four  Forty  Bar,  gold  discovered, 
441. 

Finance,  revenue,  and  expenditure, 
18(i3,  584;  KS(i4,  .")90   I ;   1870,  003. 

Fin  Lay,  Jos,  explores  Fiiday  Kiver, 
555. 

Finlay  River,  mining  on,  5.30,  540-55. 

Finlayson,  R.,  with  Douglas,  71,  100; 
comd  at  Ft  Camosun,  101-15,  118- 
32;bibliog.,  103-4;  character,  104- 
0,  157;  defends  Ft  Camosun,  108- 
10;  at  Ft  Victoria,  181;  discovers 
coal,  188;  chief  accountant,  282-3; 
signs  settlers'  petition,  314;  mem. 
of  council,  320;  on  gold  discovery, 
348  9,  3.")9-00;  treasurer  H.  B.  Co., 
3.59-00;  chief  factor,  382;  at  mines, 
510,  527. 

"  Fisgard,"  ship,  124-5. 

Fisheries,  value  and  extent,  740-8. 

Fisherville,  rise,  1804,  523-4;  famine, 
1805,  .524;  pulled  down  ISOli,  525. 

Fitzgerald,  J.  E.,  on  grant  of  V.  I., 
221,  225-0,  228. 

Fitzliugh  Sound  named,  20. 

Fitzwilliam,  C.  W.  W.,  before  comm. 
in  Eng.  on  H.  B.  Co.,  ,381. 

Fitzwilliam,  Earl,  on  settlement  V.  I., 
202. 

Flattery  Cape  named,  4. 

Fleming,  Sandford,  of  the  Pac.  Rail- 
way construction  Co.,  0.53. 

Forbes,  Dr,  on  gold  discovery,  463; 
on  mines,  513,  571. 

Forl)es,  Charles,  prize  essay  by,  700. 

Fort  Alberc.     See  Ft  Camosun. 

Fort  Alexander,  location,  57. 

Fort  Babine,  location,  57-8. 

Fort  Bellingham  established,  017. 

Fort  Camosun  founded,  92-101;  pur- 
l)0se  of,  93;  cattle  at,  100-7;  at- 
tacked by  Inds,  107-10;  description, 
111-10;  name  changed,  118. 

Fort  Colville,  removal  of,  184. 


:kH    Iiulinns, 
sfttlur  on  S. 


110. 

nines,  514. 
455-6;  min- 

"Piincusa," 


d  iliacovered, 

expeniliture, 
1;  1 870,  (io:i. 
'inlay  River, 

,  5;J0,  546-55. 
glas,  71,  100; 
101-15,  118- 
lai'iioter,  104- 
uno.sun,  108- 
Sl;  cliacovers 
itiint,  •282-;{; 
1,  :U4;  niun). 
ikl  (lisuovery, 
ui-H.  B.  Co., 
i2;  ut  niiiies, 


nt,  740-8. 
;)-4;  famine, 
1860,  5-25. 

lut  of  V.  I., 

26. 

leforc  comni. 

;i81. 

lenient  V.  I., 


e  Pac.  llail- 
53. 
icovery,  463; 

lay  by,  760. 
nosiui. 

57. 

•8. 

leil,  617. 
92  101;  pur- 
106-7;  at- 

deacription, 

118. 

184. 


INDEX. 


781 


Fort  Connolly  built,  200. 

Kort  Deliancu  creeled  1792,  15. 

Fort  Kduionton,  nnuing  ut,  525. 

Fort  Fraaer,  loeatioii,  57. 

Fort  (iL'orge,  location,  57. 

Fort  Hope  established,  176;  impor- 
tinee,  ',iX\. 

Fort  Kaniloops,  location,  134,  136; 
commanderH  of,  1.34-5;  Tod  at,  134- 
66;  Inds  truding  at,  136;  ^)hU8hway 
conspiracy,  1.34-56. 

Fort  Langley,  situation,  59;  de- 
stroyed, 67;  aa  a  trading  post,  82. 

Fort  McLeod,  location,  57. 

Fort  .McLoughlin,  location,  59;  aban- 
doned, 93,  100. 

Fort  Nis(|ually,  agric.  at,  62. 

Fort  Rupert  establisliecl,  19.3-4;  so- 
ciety at,  194-5;  coal  mining,  193-0, 

Fort  .St  James,  location,  57-8. 

Fort  iSimpson,  situation,  59. 

Fort  Tako  eatablislied,  48;  location, 
59;  built,  72;  abandoned,  93,  100. 

Fort  'I'liompson.     See  Ft  Kamloops. 

Fort  Vancouver,  agric.  at,  62-3;  li- 
brary at,  63. 

Fort  Victoria,  as  a  post,  119-20,  130; 
hospitality  at,  121-5;  agric.  at,  127- 
9,  131;  as  a  wlialiug  station,  128; 
rising  importance,  12;,  130;  town 
laid  out,  2')8.     See  Fort  Camosuu. 

F'ort  Vale  establisiied,  171-6. 

Forts  of  IJ.  C,  53-72,  1.30. 

Forts,  catalogue  of,  721-33. 

Forts,  nortliern,  map  of,  193. 

"  Forty-Xinc,"  steamer,  533-4. 

Forty-nine  Creek,  mining  at,  iu  1867, 
530. 

Foster  Bar,  mining  at,  451, 

Foiuiuctt,  Father,  missionary,  718. 

F'.i.lv.eather  Bluff  named,  16. 

Foulweatiier  Cape  named,  4. 

Fountain,  tlie,  mining  at,  440,  454- 
5,  4()4,  482. 

Foy,  M.,  miner,  546. 

Foy,  1'.,  miner,  557. 

Fiaser,  A.,  prospects  Nation  River, 
1870,  5."j5. 

Fraser,  D.,  on  Cariboo  mines,  482, 
on  gold  discovery,  486,  492. 

Fraser,  I'aul,  at  Unipcjua,  57-126. 

Fraser  River,  discovery  of,  24;  .Sir  (1. 
Simpson  descends,  159;  eluiracter 
of,  161;  gold  discovered,  353-4; 
excitement  begins,  355-6;  mining 
on,  438,  401,  468-71;  character  of 
mine8,429-40;aacendedbyBteiimers, 
444;  overland  routes  to,  445-7,  449- 
.50;  kinds  of  gold  in,  462,  465-6; 
rush  to,  466-8,  522;  yield,  468-71 ; 


coal   discoverod,   577,    570;   bridge 

across,  680. 
Fraser    River   Railway   ('o.    incorpo- 
rated, 691. 
Fraser,  .Simon,  bibliog.,  702. 
Frederick  Arm,  .Spaiush  name  for,  26. 
Free  Press,  newspaper,  739. 
Freezy,  Ind.  chief,  charactei-,  51. 
French  Bur,  mining  at,  441,  441,  45i, 

4.53. 
French  Canadians  as  settlers,  56,  02, 

248. 
French  Creek  mines  disco vereil,  531, 

yield,   532;     Hooded,    ,534;    decline, 

535. 
Friendly  Cove,    Meares   erects   house 

at,  in  1788,  5. 
Fry,  •].,  director  V.  Coal  Co.,  569. 
Fuca  .Strait  named,  6. 
Fur-traders,    language,    51-5;    in    B. 

C,  53-72;  dress,  54-5;  assimihition 

with    natives,    54-5,    129  .30,    249; 

horse    ))rigade    of,    59;    hospitality, 

129;  as  colonizers,  221,  247;  life  of, 

288. 


G 


Oaliano,  Capt.,  expedt.  of  1792,  20- 
8;  map  of,  23. 

<i.iml>ling  in  Cariboo,  518. 

"(Janges,"  H.  M.  8.,  404,  624. 

Gardner,  G.  C,  U.  S.  commisjioncr 
in  .S.  Juan  trouble,  610. 

George,  dry-diggings,  location,  464; 
mining  at,  405. 

"(ieorgiuua,"  ship,  .344,  .3(11. 

(iermanseu  Creek,  mining,  .")51,  553. 

Germansen,  Jas,  gold  discoverer  1870, 
551. 

Germany,  S.  .luan  ijucstiou  referred 
to  emperor  of,  638-9. 

"(;ertru(lis,"sliip,  29. 

CJibbs,  B.,  captured  by  Inds,  427. 

Gilchrist,  trial  for  nnirder,  432-3. 

Gladstore,  W.  K.,  opposes  11.  B.  Co., 
212,  214,  233,  379. 

Gold  counnissioner,  powers,  421. 

Gold  discovery,  B.  C,  18->S-78,  .341- 
75,  438-92;  on  the  Fruser  River, 
3.-).3-4,  4.38;  effect  cu  Wash,  and 
Or.,  .3,")(i;  ell'ect  onCul.,  357-62,  372-- 
3;  ellect  (in  B.  C,  374-5;  elleet  on 
fur  trade,  392;  on  Inds,  392;  in  Car- 
iboo eomitry,  472-94;  in  North, 
520-64. 

Gold-tields  act,  the,  provisions,  420-'2. 

"Gold- Hunter,"  ship,  361. 

Goldsmith,  S.,  miner,  546,  5.57. 

Gooch,  Lieut,  Hill  Bar  trouble,  411. 


;r: 


718 


INDKX. 


Oooil,  Rov.  J.  B.,  acot  of  Ft  Hoiie, 
170;  l)io>{.  uiid  bibliog.,  717-IS. 

(}i>o(l,  iiii|>y  iiiiiiiHtt'i' of  iiiiiiea  ou  \i,  0. 
gold  yield,  408-l». 

(ioodas  Any  Co.  claim,  yield,  553. 

(ioodyeiir,    \V.  A.,  ou  Moute  Diablo 

coal,  rm. 

(i()(i8o  Creek,  mining  on,  482. 

(iurdon,  Capt.,  1^1.  M.  .S.  "Ainericu," 
t'xuniint's  N.  W.  coast,  I'Jl-4, 

(lordon,Cai)t.,  H.M.  S.  "Cormorant," 
at  Victoria,  rJ4;  examines  coul,  lUO. 

(iraliam,  Capt.,  attacks  Indians, 
death,  .190-7. 

(Jraiit,  Caiit.,  Imilds  roa<l,  447. 

(.irant,  G.  M.,  bibliog.,  702. 

Grant,  tloliii,  (in  council  V.  I,,  320. 

(J  rant,  Ji.,  jii.-itice,  204. 

(irant,  \V.  C,  aettlos  at  Soke  Inlet, 
'2')',i-');  bibliog.,  253. 

Gray,  Cunt.,  visit  of,  1788,  0;  at- 
tacked uy  Inds,  8;  meets  Vancou- 
ver, 15. 

Gray,  J.  Hamilton,  judge  1880,  700. 

Gray  Harbor  surveyed,  2!). 

Gregory,  Cape,  nanied,  4. 

Grey,  Karl,  attitude  to  H.  B.  Co., 
203.  203,  228,  203-5;  on  gro-tof  V. 
I.,  215;  appoints  gov.,  203-,  . 

GrilHn,  ( '.  .).,  actions  in  8.  Juan 
trouble  1854,  007-8. 

GritHtli  claim,  yield,  520. 

tSrouae  Creek,  mining  ou,  480,  493-4, 
515. 

Grouse  Creek  Flume  Co.,  Grouse 
Creek  War,  429. 

<  J  rouse  Creek  war,  the,  contestants, 
cause,  429;  resu'.t,  4;}0. 

Guichon  Creek,  coal  discovered,  579. 

"Guilietti,"  schr,  301. 

Gulf  of  Georgia  named,  18, 

Gun  Creek,  gold  discovered,  454. 


H 


Haggaret,  J.  M.,   Amer.    settler  on 

.S.  Juan,  018. 
Haidahs,  Inds,  hostility  of,  427. 
Half-breed  claim,  yield,  535-6. 
Haliburton,  J.,  dir.  V.  Coal  Co.,  569. 
Haller,  Ma],  (J.  O.,  establishes  post 

at  I'ort  Townsend,  613. 
Hanlcy,  W  O.,  of  first  legis.  council, 

583. 
Hanley,  AV.  T.,  col.  of  customs,  405, 

417. 
Hang  Ditch  completed,  529. 
Haniia,  Capt.  J.,  trade  with  natives, 

1780,  4-5;  localities  named  by,  26. 


Hard  Curry  Co.  claim,  yield,  498. 
1  lure  wood     ooal    mine,     yield,    573, 

.'■)77. 
Harney,    Gen.,    actions    in    H,   Juan 

affair,  617;  commun.  on,  020-1;  re- 

calleil,  U.'i2;  (quarrel  with  Gun.  Scott, 

63.3-5. 
Haro,  (lonzalos  de,  northern  expedt. 

1788,  3;  at  Nootka,  8. 
Haro    Strait    named,    10;    surveyed 

1791,  I:i-I4. 
"  Harpooner,"  ship,  2.')3,  257. 
Hiirvey  Creek,  mining  at,  470,  489- 

90,  515. 
Haskell  liar,  mining  at,  4.'i5,  4.'i7 
Hawes,  aids  Hudson's  Bay  Co.,  '.  li. 
Huyues,    J.     C,     judge,     4.35;    gold 

conuur,  524 
Hazel  Point  named,  16. 
lla/litt,  VV.  C,  gold  discoverer,  .343. 
Heceta,  exploration  of  1774-9,  3. 
Hector,  Jas,  ou  gold-Held  f  irnuition, 

4()0;  on  Nunaimo  coal,  571. 
Hclmcken,  J.  S.,at  Fort  Kupert,  243 

0;  personal  appearance,  2i:!;  magis- 
trate, 244-5,  271,  27.3;  as  a  doctor, 

245;    speaker  first   assembly,  ,324, 

327. 
"Herald,"  surveying  ship,  124-5. 
Herd,   Uavid,  before  couim.  iu  ii.n;^. 

on  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 
Heron  claim,  yield  of,  493—4. 
Hicks,  ,  commr  for  crown  lands, 

405. 
lliggins,  J.   E.,  Amer.  settler  on  S. 

Juan,  017. 
High  Low  Jack  claim,  yield,  ."iOO. 
Hill  Bar,  govt  at,  302-;S;  rivalry  with 

^ale.  409-14;  miuing  .'.t,  441,  443, 

405;  town  laid  out,  441. 
Hill,  Bishop,  reports  gold  discovery, 

453. 
Hippa  Island  named,  5. 
Hixon,  miner  on  Canon  Creek,  510. 
Hixson  Creek,  mining  on,  510. 
Hog  affair  of  the  S.  .'lan  Isl.  1859, 
610. 

H.      ;  first  i. 


H( 


couucil, 

'•st  legis. 

discoverL  .,  201. 
Spanish  name  for. 


Holbroi 

5s:' 

Hoi  lui,  A.  R.,  of 

Hon  iiid,  coa 

Homii,.     ' 'hannf 

25. 

Hood  Canal  nai  .jd,  16. 
"Hope,"  brig,  29. 
Hope,  town  surveyed,  400;  laid  out, 

402;  mining  iu  dist,  442,  444,  '464, 

466,  471. 
"Horcasitas,"  schr,  11. 


INDEX. 


78S 


■them  uxpeilt. 
10;    surveyed 


settler  on  S. 


Hornby,  Capt.,  at  Enquiinalt,  404; 
ui'gex  joint  occupiition  uf  .S.  Juun, 
O'JO;  interview  witli  Col  Casey, 
6J3-4. 

liorHe  Beef  IW,  mining  at,  453. 

Hurselly,  tlie,  mining  on,  48(i-7;  re- 
re8enil)lancu  to  (Julitoruia  gold- 
fields,  487. 

Iluvey  diggings,  mining  at,  40,'>. 

Howe  iSoiind  named,  I'O. 

Howell,  R.,  gold  discoverer,  SilS. 

Hubbs,  C.  11.,  Anier.  settler  on  8. 
Juun,  017. 

Huljbn,  I'uulK,,  Amer.  settler  on  IS, 
Juun,  (117. 

Hudson  liar,  gold  discovered,  441, 
44:t,  444. 

Hudson's  liu}  \  .).,  treatment  of  luds, 
44-51,  '.'07.,  -JSO,  3:U-,-),  a78,  3!M; 
drive  op[)o.sitii)U  from  coast,  59-00; 
policy  to  settlers,  04,  81,  204  5, 
'235,  U48;  relation  to  Kuss.  Amer. 
Co.,  01,  08-!),  128,  178-1);  character 
of  otticers,  81,  12!),  210,  372;  ett'ect 
on,  of  Cal.  gold  discovery,  180-4; 
policy,  203-7,  210-11,  381,  U'd;  as 
colonizers,  211,  223,  234,  250-2. 
200-1;  cluim  to  Rupert  Land,  211; 
oiiposition  to,  212-17,  232-4,  251-2, 
201,  313-14,  380;  renewal  of  char- 
ters, 217-10,  310;  colonizes  V.  I., 
22;j-37,  313;  causes  of  failnre,  337- 
40,  251-2,  311-1.3,  379;  riilu  in  V. 
I.,  2."i4-7;  I'elation  to  Gov.  iSlan- 
chard,  208-72,  270-80;  monopoly 
on  V.  I.,  312;  etl'ect  on,  of  gold  dis- 
covery, 341-54,  393,  407;  gold  ex- 
port, 3>1,  353;  attitude  to  miners, 
300-1,  .371-2,  380;  decline  of  power, 
370-87;  tliscussion  on  cl»arter,  370- 
81;  uni(m  with  N.  \V.  Co,,  377; 
stations,  380,  385;  restrictions  on 
trade,  407;  Inds  discover  gold  and 
coal,  .")45,  509;  coal-ndning,  509; 
take  possession  of  .S.  Juun,  007. 

Hume,  J.,  opposes  H.  IJ.  Co.,  2.32-3; 
explores  Lightning  Creek,  500. 

Hunt,  Capt.,  in  comd  of  Amer.  troops 
at  8.  Juun,  0;tO. 

Hurley,  killed  by  Indians,  368. 

"Huronj"  brig,  343-4. 


Idaho  Terr.,  configuration,  39*  climate, 

42. 
"Imperial  Eagle,"  ship,  fi. 
Imports,  value  1884,  751. 
"Inconstant,"  ship,  124. 


Indians,  early  trade  with,  4-5;  attack 
Meares'  party,  1788,  0;  under  H. 
U.  Co.  rule,  44-51,  207,  235  ,i,  274- 
!i,  280,  331-5,  301;  hanged,  40,  'iMi, 
;^24,  429;  i)eraecutions  of,  46,  274  - 
5,  425-7;  regard  lor  Chinese  and 
negroes,  49;  intlnence  of  civilisation 
on,  54-5;  writers  on,  75;  settle  N. 
VV.  ten-.,  70-7;  hostility  of,  108- 
10,  17.3,  194,  2.36,  .331,  .305-8,  .39 1 -.'i, 
427-8,  434,  «14;  us  fanners,  127; 
slavery  among,  1.32;  sinall-pox 
among,  149;  li(iuor  trade  with,  207, 
271,  280;  character,  288-9,  420, 
431-2;  us  gold  discoverers,  345,  348, 
351,  353,  392-3,  545;  treaty  with 
miners,  .3!)0  9;  law  among,  426;  at- 
tack on  ships,  427,  429;  tlock  to 
Victoria,  428;  discover  coul  to  H. 
B.  Co.,  .508-9;  missionaries  among, 
718-19;  govt  treatment,  71!>-27. 

Inland  .Sentinel,  newspaper,  739. 

"Iphigeniu,"  ship,  6;  seized  by  Span- 
iards, 1789,  8. 

Irwin,  J.  V.  H.,  director  V,  Coal  Co., 
569. 

Isbister,  Alex.,  before  comm.  in  £^g. 
on  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 

Isherwood,  B.  F.,  on  merits  of  eastern 
and  western  coals,  575. 


Jack  of  Clubs  Creek,  hanging  at,  4.30; 

mining  on,  482,  515. 
Janiieson,    A.   J.,   leads    prospecting 

expedt.,  434. 
Jervis  Cunnl  named,  20. 
Johnson,   Peter,  Amer.  settler  on  S. 

Juan,  617. 
Johnson,  Reverdy,  instructions  to,  on 

8.  Juan  question,  6.35. 
Johnstone,    James,    in    Vancouver's 

expedt.,  25. 
Johnstcne  Strait,   Spanish   name  for, 

20. 
Jones,    Capt.,    meeting    with   hostile 

Indp  iS59  014. 
Jordan  and  A'>bott  claim,  yield,  509. 
Judiciary,  aclmi.-.  of  justice,  419-37; 

plan  for,  420. 
'Julia,"  steamer,  622. 


Kamloop  Lake  prospected,  458-9. 
Kamloops,   gold   discovered  at,   348; 
growth  of,  468. 


784 


INDEX. 


I   11. 


«  ' 


]'•'  J' 

;     I 


Kar-.loops,  Iiuls,  character,  133. 

Karakas  ut  Furt  Cuiiiusun,  127,  130, 
^  '92. 

Kane,  miner,  548-9. 

.'».ane,  1'.,  artist,  in  north-west  1846, 
131-2. 

Kauiiinan,  J.,  'i',>l, 

Keitliley,  miner,  48.V4,  486. 

Keitliley  Creek,  mining  on,  486,  489- 
90,  515. 

Kellett,  (japt.  IL,  surveys  Fuca  Strait, 
125. 

Kenilrick,  Capt.,  visit  of,  1788-9,  8. 

Kennedy,  (/apt.,  gov.  at  V.  I.  18ti4, 
5!.';{. 

Kennedy,  J  ¥.,  mem.  of  first  as- 
sembly, 3J1,  3J7. 

Kernaglian,  Win,  before  comm.  in 
England  on  11.  15.  Co.,  381. 

King,  murder  by,  401. 

King,  liichard,  before  comm.  in  Eng. 
on  H.  U.  Co.,  :i81. 

"Kingtislier,"  sehr,  plundered  by 
Inds,  249. 

"King  Cieorge,"  ship,  5. 

King  (iforge  Sound  named,  4. 

King  (ieor^e's  .Sound  Co.,  formed  for 
fur-trudiiig,  1 780,  5. 

Kirbyville  started,  5li3. 

Kuiglit  Canal  named,  26. 

Kootenai  mines,  521-0,  5.S2;  inacces- 
sibility of,  5_'2;  roads  to,  523. 

Kootenais,  Inds,  character  of,  50,  130; 
missionaries  among,  718. 

"Kossuth,"  schr,  361. 


"Labonchere,"  steamer,  633. 
LaboucliiTe,  desi)atoli  to  Douglas,  317; 

instriiclions    to   col.   govt,    318-20; 

on  II.  15.  Co.  charter,  ■■<77-8. 
Lacoui'se,  T.,   in  Anderson's  expedt., 

159. 
Lacy,  Lt,  massacres  Inds,  275. 
La  Fleur  Co.  claim,  yield,  532. 
"Lagrange,"  ship,  48. 

Laing, ,  captured  by  Inda,  427. 

LainI  Kiver,  mining  on,  5U0-2. 

Lake  Hill  Farm,  201. 

Lakiitown,  trade  at,  503-4. 

]jane  in  north-west,  131. 

Langnevin,  ndiii.ster  of  public  works, 

502,  ."i04;  on  gold  yield,  557. 
Langford,  K.  K.,  settler  at  V.  I.,  250, 

261;  farm  of,  251;  mem.  of  lirst  as- 
sembly, ;J21,  325. 
Langley,  site  surveyed,  400;  as  mining 

locality,  444;  description  of,  710. 


La  Perouse,    ,r^  N.  W.  coast  1786,  3. 

Laasertes,  accident  to,  291-2. 

Last  Chance  C'reek,  mining  on,  482, 

607,  517. 
Lawrence,  A.,  U.  .S.  minister,  207. 
La\\'rcnce  Island,  Spanish  name  for, 

21. 
Lay,  Kootum,  Indian  chief,  393. 
Leech,  1*.  J.,  discovers  coal,  508. 
Lefoy,  J.  H.,  before   conun.   in  Eng. 

on  H.  15.  Co  ,  3Sl. 
Legislative   couijcil,   organized    1803, 

583. 
Legislature,  proceedings  of  1872-80, 

705. 
Lewis,  H.  G.,  voyage  1851,  195;  biog. 

and  bibliog.,  758. 
Lewis,   r.  H.,  with  overland  party, 

36S,  482. 
I.iard  Kiver,  mining  on,  50.3. 
Library  among  fur-traders,  63. 
Ijightning  Co.,  work,  .■>()7;  yield,  508. 
Lightning   Creek    prosiieeted,   480-2; 

rush  to,  490;  history,  500;  mining 

at,    500,    508,    513,    515;   coal   dis- 
covered, 579. 
Lilloet  llivei',  mining  at,  4,")2,  471. 
Lincoln,    Earl   of,   o))poses   Hudson's 

Bay  Co.,  213,  232-3. 
"Live  Yankee,"  bark,  .361. 
Lolo,   J.    ]5.,    Ind.    chief,    character, 

140-1;  reveals  conspiracy,  141-5. 
London,  AUan'.s  attemiit  to  raise  loan 

m,  (i53;  syndicat ;  formed  to  build 

railwiiy,  078. 
Lopez  IsUnd,  006. 
Lord,  J.  K.,  bibliog.,  759. 
"Lord  Western,"  ship,  wrecked,  254. 
Lost  Crec^k,  mining  on,  551,  554,  558. 
Lowheo  Creek,   mining  on,  482,  496, 

509,  515. 
Lj'ons,  Lord,  ]''ng.  ndnister  at  Wash., 

625;  actions  in  .S.  Juan  ali'air,  625- 

7;  proposes  abitration,  035. 
Lyttou  district,  miuiiig  at,  447,  449, 

450,  404,  4(10,  471. 
Lytton,  Sir  C.  15.,  on  gold  discovery 

B.  C,  370. 

M 

Macdonald.  A.,  map  of  N.  W.,  55. 
Macdonal'i,  Wm  J.,  bioy.,  758-9. 
.Maetio  Cii  Cariboo  mines,  498. 
.Macor.a,    Professor,    in   railway   sur- 
vey expedt.,  0.")0. 
"Ma.lonna,"bark,  .301. 
.N!ainland  (}uardian,  newspaper,  739. 
Mamoosic!  mine,  coal  yield,  200. 
Manitoba  created,  385. 


.(J    ! 


;oast  178G,  3. 

ling  on,  482, 

lister,  207. 
sli  name  for, 

lief,  393. 
;ciiil,  5G8. 
inin.  in  Eng. 

ranized    18G3, 

a  of   1872-80, 

.")!,  195;  biog. 

eriand  party, 

503. 
M's,  63. 

17;  yield,  508. 
,ectu<l,  480- -J; 
,  500;  mining 
)15;   coal   dis- 

;,  452,  471. 
jses  Hudson's 

361. 

{,    character, 
acy,  141-5. 
t  to  raise  loan 
i-nied  to  build 


)9. 

wrecked,  254. 
551,  554,  558. 
oil,  4S2,  496, 

iter  at  Wash., 
Ill  all'aif,  025- 

01)5. 

at,  447,  449, 

;old  discovery 


N.  W.,  65. 
,  758-9. 
4!KS. 
railway  sur- 


wspaper,  739. 
jld,  200. 


INDEX. 


785 


Manson,  D.,  in  Anderson's  expedt. , 
174;  ju.sticc,  204. 

Manson  River,  mining  on,  651,  553, 
558. 

Manufactures  of  territory,  003,  748-9. 

Maps,  Caiiiosun  and  vicinity,  80; 
Shush W'lp  country,  137;  Anderson's 
routes,  16-;  Yale  and  Hope,  177; 
northern  forts,  192;  south  end  of 
Vancouver  Ishind,  2.VJ;  the  lower 
mining  legion,  442;  the  upper  gold 
dists,  459;  Cook's  1788,  3;  Meares', 
7;  Quiinijer's,  9;  Elisa's,  12,  Van- 
couver's No.  1,  17;  Vancouver's  No. 
2,  19;  Galliano's,  23;  VancDUver's 
No.  3,  27;  Cariboo  country,  474; 
Archipeliigo  dcHaro,  600;  Canadian 
I'acific,  081. 

Maquimia,  Ind.  chief,  28, 

"Maria,"  steamer,  3(i4. 

Mariu  Bar,  gold  <lis<;overed,  440. 

Mariav-.lle  establitiiied,  443;  mining 
at,  -44. 

Marro  vstoni!  Point  named,  10. 

"Martii,"  steamer,  532. 

Martin,  H.  M.,  on  policy  H.  B.  Co., 
210-11;  on  grant  of  V.  I.,  221,  224; 
bibliog.,  221. 

Mai'tiiie/,  northern  expedt.  1788,  .>. 

Mary's  i'euk  liatneil,  70. 

Mason,  SiL.,  visits  Victoria,  .352. 

"  Massacliiinctts,"  steamer,  617,  019, 
024,  027. 

Maury,  Lieut,  on  geography  N.  ^\'. 
coast,  374. 

Maynard,  .Josejih,  before  comm.  in 
Eng.  on  H.  B.  Co.,  381. 

!Mayiie,  Lieut,  Hill  IJar  trouble,  411- 
13;  on  the  Eraser,  445;  on  gold  ilis- 
coveiy,  403;  on  coal  discovery,  569, 
570. 

McArthur  Creek,  mining  on,  505,  515. 

^IcCallum  Creek,  mining  on,  482. 

McCauly,  Samuel,  Anier.  settler  on, 
S.  .Inaii,  017. 
cClellan,(  i.  B., discovers goM, 347-S. 

McCreight,  .lolin  E.,  jmlge  1880,  700. 

McCuUoih  Creek,  miius  di.seoverod, 
531;  mining  au,  532,  53C. 

McDaine  {'ivck,  mining  on,  502-3. 

McDonald,  mining  on  Eraser  Itiver, 
kills  partner,  350-1. 

McDonald,  golddiunter,  479,  483,  492; 
character,  483-4, 

McDonald,  Alex.,  Amer.  Bottler  oc  S. 
Juan,  017. 

McDoiii'l^l,   Angus,   clerk  at  Et  Col- 
ville,  349,  355;   chief  trader,   savi  s 
Inds,    308;    at   Et   Shepherd,    385; 
prospecting  expedt.,  521. 
Hlst.  Biux.  Col.    SO 


McEwen,  gold  discoverer,  .344. 

MeCiollcy  dry-diggings,  mining  at, 
451,  404-5. 

McUowan,  Ned,  Hill  liar  trouble,  408, 
410,  412-14;  altercation  with  Phifer, 
414. 

McCJraugh,  gohl  discoverer,  527. 

Mctiuill's  claim,  yield,  527. 

Mcintosh,  at  Eort  McLeod,  5S. 

McKay,  Cliarles,  Amer.  settler  on  S. 
Juan,  617. 

.McKay,  J.  H.,  Amer.  settler  on  S. 
Juan,  617. 

McKay,  J.  W.,  examines  N.  W. 
co.ist,  120-7;  visits  Cal.,  127;  chief 
factor,  178-80;  outwits  Sheinelin, 
179;  discovers  coal,  190  !);  char- 
acter, 197;  builds  Et  Nanaimo,  199; 
explores  V.  1.,  '2m;  mem.  of  first 
assembly,  325,  327;  with  Douglas 
among  Inds,  .■i3.'!;  discovers  gold, 
.343;  reports  discovery,  400. 

McKen/ie,  E.,  in  charge  of  McLeod 
Lake  station,  .385. 

McKenzic,  (Jco.,  at  V.  I.,  251. 

.McKenzie,  ^Irs,  at  V.  I.,  250. 

McKey,  treatment  of  by  Inds  in 
1780,  5. 

McKinlay,  A.,  among  Inds,  1;>1;  jus- 
tice, 204. 

McLean,  chief  trader  at  Kamloops, 
348-9,  3.V2,  354. 

McLean,  J.,  golil  discoverer,  347. 

McLeod,  John,  at  Et  KamliHip,  135. 

McLeod,  Malcolm,  view  ol  Douglas, 
299. 

.McLaughlin,  David,  leads  overland 
party,  367-8. 

^McLaughlin,  James,  with  overland 
party,  307. 

McLaughlin  Island,  Spanish  name 
for,  21. 

McLougli, 111,  John,  idea  of  Astoria  as 
a  post,  78;  retires  from  11.  B.  Co., 
87,  119,  120,  29.3-4;  as  chief  factor, 
282;  mem.  of  board  of  inanagcmeiit, 
2s3;  trains  !>';'igliis,  28,")~6;  char- 
acter, 290,  riOO-'.';  pci'soiial  appciir- 
aiice,  300;  jiolicy  to  .settlers,  2!)7, 
304  5;  bct'oie  comm.  in  Eug.  on  H. 
B.  Co.,  381. 

McLoiighlin,  John,  .Tr,  at  Stikeen 
Itivtr,  103;  assassination,  103. 

Mc.MuUiii,  <J(>v.,  visits  X'ictoiia,  3.V2; 
visits  Douglas  rcl.  to  S.  Juan 
trouble,  014. 

McXcill,  Capt.  W..  quarrel  with 
Douglas,  09  71;  explores  \'.  I.,  84; 
estni.lishes  Ft  Biipert,  192  4;  at 
Beaver  Harbor,  271. 


i)d 

I; 


780 


INDEX. 


McTavisli,  DngalJ,  chief  factor,  283, 
328,  382,  384;  pei-soual  appearauce, 
383. 

Meares,  C'apt. ,  visit  of,  in  1788,  5-8; 
map  of,  7. 

".Muxicauo,"  suhr,  20. 

Miles,  Jolin,  before  comm.  in  Eng. 
oil  JI.  li.  Co.,  381. 

MilUm,  ^'i.^couut,  on  gold-lield  forma- 
tion, 40(5,  498. 

Minohalia  claim,  yield,  504. 

Mines,  scarcity  of  provisions  at,  393; 
govt,  393,  421-2;  elements  govern- 
ing, 511-12;  gold  yield,  514,  515; 
popnlation  at,  514-15;  list  of,  515; 
missionaries  at,  519;  women  at,  519; 
on  Columbia,  520-42;  Kootenai, 522- 
l);  report  of  minister  1884,  749-50. 

Mining  on  Fraser  River,  438,  442; 
name  of  localities,  441,  448,  451, 
455;  sluice  method,  443;  dry-dig- 
gings, 401,  404;  in  Cariboo,  472- 
519;  hill,  512;  underground,  517. 

Mining  license,  301,  370,  388,  390-1, 
401,  421. 

Mink  (iulcli,  mining  on,  i")04. 

Missionaiics  on  the  N.  ^\'.  coast,  57; 
at  mines,  519. 

Mission  Creek,  mining  on,  540. 

Mitcliell  Harbor,  gold-liunters  in, 
340-7. 

Mol)('rly  Creek,  miniiiL;  on,  400,  5.S8. 

Aloberly,  ^V.,  at  tlie  fountains,  455; 
ilisc<jvers  mine,  400. 

"Modesk,"  H.  M.  «.,  151. 

Moll'at,  gold  discoverer,  550. 

Motl'at  claim,  yield,  498. 

^Mull'iit  i!iv(  r,  gold  discovered,  556. 

Montigny,  K.,  in  Anderson's  explor. 
exiiedt.,  159. 

Moody,  K.  C,  cohmial  oiUcer  15.  C. , 
407-8;  settles  Hill  JJar  troul)les, 
411  13,  selects  site  for  capital,  414- 
15;  begins  New  Westminster,  410; 
lieutgov.,  417. 

Moore,  Wni,  arrest  of,  030. 

!Mooyio  Kiver,  mining  at,  527. 

Moresliy  Isl.,  pliysical  description,  34; 
coal  seam,  574. 

Mormon  Har,  mining  at,  451-2,  4,")5. 

Mosquito  Creek,  mining  on,  441,  504, 
515. 

Mouiitain  systemofX.W.  coast,  33-40. 

Mount  liakcr  namcil,  10. 

Mount  ILainer  named,  10. 

Mount  St.  Jhlfiis  named,  29, 

Mount  Stephens  nanie<l,  20. 

Muir,  A.,  at  Victoria  1».")3,  2.")9-60. 

Muir,  .lohii,  co.il-miiiing,  19,3-8;  mem. 
of  first  assembly,  321,  327. 


Muir,  Mrs,  reception  by  Iiid.s,  194. 

Muir,  M.,  at  I'ort  Rupert,  273. 

Murchison,  Sir  K.,  on  Cariboo  geolo- 
gy, 513;  on  gold  deposits,  539. 

Musgrave,  A.,  gov.  1809-71,  596; 
official  acts,  597. 

Mustang  Creek,  mining  on,  504r-6. 


N 


Naches  Pass,  gold  discovered  at,  348. 

Nanainio,  iSpauish  name  for,  22;  coal 
discovered  at,  190-200,  509,  578; 
fort  built,  199;  gold  discovered,  343; 
development  of  town,  574;  descrip- 
tion of,  714. 

Xanaimo  Coal  Co.  sell  interest,  569. 

Nanaimo  mines,  work  at,  570-1,  573; 
output,  571,  574;  area,  573. 

Xarvaez,  Jo8(5  M.,  survey  of  Haro 
Strait  1791,  13-14. 

Xass  River,  gold  discov^ered,  347. 

Nation  River  prospected,  555. 

Neali  Bay,  original  name,  11. 

Nechaco  River,  coal  discovered,  579. 

Needham,  chief  justice,  337;  retires, 
423. 

Xehannes,  Inds,  character,  50. 

.Velson  Creek,  mining  on,  482,  515. 

Xeversweat  claim,  yield,  498. 

New  Caledonia,  conliguratiun,  36-9; 
climate,  40  .'i;  fauna,  43-4;  natives, 
44-51 ;  fur-traders'  life  in,  288;  govt, 
370;  intliix  of  gold-niinei-s,  381-2. 

Newcastle,  Duke  of,  on  settlement  V. 
I.,  202. 

Xew  castle  Isl.,  coal  discovered,  198, 
200,  573. 

Xewcastle  mine,  work  at,  509,  571; 
coni|iared  witli  tlie  lJ(niglas,  572. 

New  Dungeness  named,  10. 

Xewittees,  Inds,  massacre  of,  274-5. 

Xewspa[ier9  in  H.  C,  739. 

New   W'estuiinstcr  laid   out,   41.')-l(i; 
port   of   entry,    4l(i;    inctuporatcd, 
417-18;  legis.  council  at,  1804,  58.3 
5;  banipiet  to  Douglas,  588,  descrip- 
tion of,  715-10;  news[iapers,  739. 

New  Westminster  and  I'ort  Moody 
Railway  (^'i>,  incorporated,  091. 

New  Westminster  lUiilway  Co.  incor- 
porated, 091. 

New  Zealand  Co.  claim,  yield  1875, 
554. 

Xi-'Z  I'ercds,  Inds,  character,  288-9. 

Nicaragua  Bar,  mining  at,  448,  404, 
4(i5;  toriiKition,  403. 

Nicol,  C.  .1.,  manager  V.  Coal  Co., 
509;  report  1800,  570. 


I    . 


4  ^ 


)y  IikIs,  194. 
lert,  "273. 
Caril)oo  geolo- 
losits,  oSi). 
1SC9-71,    096; 

g  on,  504-6. 


overed  at,  348. 
ne  for,  '22;  coal 
200,  oG'J,  57.S; 
liscovered,  34H; 
1,  574;  duscrip- 

interest,  569. 
at,  570-1,  573; 
ea,  573. 
iirvey   of  Haro 

vered,  347. 
id,  555. 
lie,  1 1. 

3covi;i-ed,  579. 
;e,  337;  retires, 

cter,  .")0. 
on,  4>S2,  515. 
Id,  4!I8. 

,'urati(jn,   36-fl; 
,  43-4;  natives, 
[e  in,  2SS;  govt, 
liners,  381-2. 
1  settlement  V. 

iscovered,  198, 

;  at,  569,  571; 
)(niij!las,  572. 
,  lii. 
lere  of,  274-5. 

1    out,   41.")-1(); 

ineoriioiated, 

1  at,  18(i4,  583 - 

s,  .">8S,  deseriii- 

i|iaii('i's,  73!). 

I    Tort   Muodv 

•ated,  (JlJl. 

way  Go.  incor- 

II,  yield  1875, 

icttr,  288-9. 
l;  at,  448,  464, 

V.  Coal  Co., 


INDEX. 


787 


Nicola,   Ind.  chief,  51;  conspiracy  of, 

152-0. 
Nicola  I>ake  named,  76. 
Nicoll,    C.    iS.,    high-sheriff,    416-17, 

422. 
Nieoutaniueh,  Imls,  character,  136. 
A'ind,   r.   II.,   gold  eoninir,  489,491; 

of  first  legis.  council,  58.3. 
A  Ishtacks.  missionaries  among,  719. 
i>oblea,  liobt,  i)rospects  Carues  Creek, 

537. 
Nomenclature,  authorities  on,  76-7. 
Nootka,  possession  of,  taken  for  .Spain 

1774-9,  3;   .siiips   at,   in   1778  '.»,   8; 

al)andoned  anil  leoccupied  1789-90, 

8;  meeting  at  to  settle  ling,  claims 

1792,  14,  28  9. 
"Norman  Morrison,"  ship,  257,  258. 
"Northerner,"  steaniei',  (i27. 
Northern    I'acilio    Kailway    founded, 

374. 
North  Metropolitan  Post,   necessities 

of,  78-9. 
"Nortliwest    America,"    ship,    6,    8; 

seized  by  S|)aniiirds  178!),  8. 
Northwest  J'"ur  Co.,   fund  witli  Hud- 
son's Bay  Co.,  7!t. 
Nortliwest  Terr.,  eastern  parallels.  32; 

limits,     33;    cjnMguralioii,     ;i,3-4(); 

climate,  40-3;  fauna,  43-5;  natives, 

44-51;  oceU|iied  liy  Hug.  and  U.  S., 

63  6,  81,    121-7;  settlements,   248; 

sold  by  II.  15.  Co.,  .385. 
Nugent,  .lolin,  U.  S.  eommr  to  B.  C, 

358,  360,  405,  453,  4U8-9. 


0 


Oak  Cove  named,  16. 

Oakos,  D.  W.,  Amcr.  settler  on  S. 
•liian,  617. 

Ogden,  I'.  >S. ,  chief  factor,  57;  at  Ft 
\'amouver,  131;  repoi't  on  coal  dis- 
covery, 18!I-!I0,  justier,  264;  on 
board  of  chief  faetois,  283;  at  Ft  .St 
James,  385;  at  .^tewart  J^akc,  548, 
550. 

Okanagan  Lake,  mining  on,  540. 

Okanagans,  luils,  chanirUr,  I. 36;  hos- 
tility, ,368. 

Olnev,  Oscar,  dept.  collector  on  S. 
.luan  Isl.,  60!). 

Omiiiiia  mines,  location,  544;  yold 
exciteinent,  .")47;  winter  life  at  5  i2; 
yield,  552-3,  5.)7-8;  hydraulic  min- 
ing, .■>53;  failure,  556-7. 

Oniierdonk,  A.,  contract  for  building 
railway,  ()80. 

Oppenheimer,  C.,  niiiier,  526,  535. 


Orcas  Island,  606. 

Oregon,  soil  of,  40;  settlers'  character, 
54;  early  limits,  55  (i;  settlements, 
.56,248;  early  politics,  126;  ellect  of 
Cariboo  gold  discovery,  3.")6,  478; 
coal  formation,  5()6. 

Oregon  treaty  1S4(),  terms,  17--3. 

O'Reilly,  I'eter,  justice  of  peace,  416, 
433;  character,  434;  gold  comnir, 
441,  524,  551,  554;  of  lirst  legis. 
council,  583. 

Orr,  James,  of  first  legis.  council, 
583, 

"Osprey,"'  sclir,  ,361. 

"Otter,"  steamer,  334,  390,  444,  607, 
608. 


"  P.acific,"  steamer,  wrecked,  562. 

Pacific  K^iilway  Construction  Co,, 
members  of,  053. 

Palmer  Creek,  gold  yield,  529. 

Palmer,  Lieut,  11.  .S.,  arrives  at  Vic- 
toria, 407;  on  gold  discovery,  463; 
on  mining  dist,  472,  541,  544. 

Palmer,  Joel,  with  overland  party, 
368-70;  liiog.,  7.")9. 

Paliiierst<,n,  Lord,  trade  controversy, 
207. 

"  I'aiidora,"  steamer,  .361. 

"  I'andora,''  surveying  .ship,  I2(-5. 

Parke,  Capt. ,  ex;.' mines  Columbia, 
121,  123. 

Parke,  Lt  .Tolin  <i.,  U.  S.  commis- 
sioner in  .S.  Juan  trouble,  610. 

I'arkiugtou,  Sir  J.,  presents  settlers' 
[letition,  261. 

P.-iisiiip  River,  miu'^s  on,  555,  579. 

I'arsoiis'  bridge  built,  251. 

Passage  Canal  named,  20. 

Passage  Island  named,  20. 

Pate  Creek,  mining  on,  505. 

I'at  K  'lly's  Co,  claim,  yield,  .552. 

Peace  River  n,iiiied,  77,  544;  mincj 
on,  545,  579. 

Peilder  May,  original  name,  9, 

Peel,  Lieut,  tLsamines  Columbia.  121, 
12.3. 

I'eeis,  H.  X.,  discovers  coal,  576-7. 

Pelly,  ,Sir  .1.  IL,  gov.  11,  15.  Co.  in 
Kng..  205,  207,  208,  215;  nominated 
gov.  of  15.  C,  203  4. 

I'cmberton,  A.  F.,  judge,  433. 

I'embeifon,  .).  I).,  mem.  of  lirst  as- 
sembly, .■{21;  colonial  surveyor,  ItH), 
404;  on  gold  yield,  409;  bibliog., 
7.")9. 

Peiid  d'Oreillu  River,  gold  discovered, 
521. 


ii 


Pi 
I 


788 


INDEX. 


Pcnd  (TOrcilles,  Iiiils,  character,  50. 

I'ciin  Cove  imiiiud,  18. 

Pearkes,    (J.,     crown    solicitor,    4C'2; 

plan  for  judiciary,  420. 
Ptrcz,  I'xploratioii  of,  1774-9,  3. 
Perkins,    (Ico.,    Ainer.    settler   ou  S. 

Jiwiii,  (il7. 
Perpctiia  Cape  named,  4. 
Perrier,  (Jt;o.,  justice.  Hill  Bar,  394, 

409-10;  disnusscd,  413. 
Perrj-,  F.,  miner,  400,  5'2(i,  t")31. 
Perry  Creek,  excitement  at,  526. 
Piufer,  M.  W.,  altercation  with  Mc- 

(iowan,  414. 
Pliysical  features,  autlioi'itieson,  72-3. 
I'ickett,  Capt.  U.,  with  troops  to  iiel- 

liiigham  Hay,  013;  to  S.  Juan  Isl- 
and, <)17-1H. 
Pine  Hiver,  coal  discovered,  579. 
Pioneer    and     Democrat,    newspaper, 

on  gold  discovery,  ,355. 
Pleusanton,  Ailj.-(Jcn.,  instruction  in 

S.  .luan  allair,  G20. 
"Pleiades,"  H.  A1..S.,  404,  619. 
"  Plumper."  II.  M.  ».,  390,  408,  416, 

,"  •»,  570,  610,  619. 
Plumper  Sound  surveyed  1791,  14. 
Pcjiiallok,  Ind.  cliief,  165  6. 
Point  Atkinson  named,  20. 
Point  Cliatliam  nauietl,  26. 
Point  Dull'  named,  26. 
Point  Francis  named,  20. 
Point  Cordon  named,  26. 
Point  (iower  named,  20. 
Point  (lieuviile  named,  15. 
Point  (irey  named,  20. 
Point  Mui'shall,  25. 
Point  Partridge  named,  18. 
P(jint  lioberts  named,  20. 
I'oiut  St  ( teorge  named,  15. 
Point   William  named,    20;    Spanish 

sliips  at,  21. 
I'oint  Wilson  named,  18. 
I'oliee,    mounted,    character   of,   331, 

434. 
Popular  tribunals  in  15.  C,  436. 
Port  Cox  named,  (!. 
Port  lUscoveiy  named,  16. 
I'ort  I'lllingham  named,  6. 
Porter,  1'.,  shoots  IJair,  539. 
i'ort  Cardner  nannd,  18. 
Piirtloi'k,  ('apt.,  visit  of,  1787,  5. 
I'ort  Moody,  reasons  for  selection  aa 

terminus,  684  (i. 
Port  Xeville  named,  26. 
Poi-t  San  .luan  named,  9. 
Port  Susan  nanied,  18. 
J'ort  Townscnd  named,  16. 
Possession  .Sound  named,  18. 
Poverty  Bar,  niininy  at,  441. 


Prevost,  Capt.,  on  gold  discovery,  3.55; 

at  Victoria,  38.S;  conuiu'  in  .S.  .Juan 

ti<ndile,  610;  urges  joint  occupation 

of  S.  .hum,  620. 
Prince   Albert   J5ar,   ndning  at,  464, 

465. 
"  I'rincesa,"  ship,  15,  20,  29. 
"Piineess    Royal,"   ship,    seized    by 

.Spaniards  I7!S9,  8. 
Protection  Island  surveyed,  16. 
I'uget,     Lt     Peter,    in    Vancouver's 

exi)edt.,  16. 
Puget   .Sound   named,    18;    early   im- 
portance, 373-4;    I'hig.    men-of-war 

on,  623. 
Puget    Sound    Agricultural    Co.,    iu- 

augnrated,  .52;  growth,  82;  attempt 

to  coloni/e  V.  I.,  220  7;  farndngbv, 

251,  200-1,  313. 
Puget   Sound    liar,    gold    discovered, 

441-2,  441. 
I'uget  Sound  Mining  Co.  formed,  206; 

colonize  V.  I.,  251-2,  260-1. 


Q 

Quackolls,  Inds,  inform  H.  }J.  Co.  of 

eoaltields,  186  8. 
Quadra,  town,  lounded,  576. 
Quartz  Creek,  ndning  on,  551,  562. 
Quatsino  Sound,   coal  mining  at,  201; 

.569,  578. 
"Queen  Charlotte,''  .ship,  5. 
Queen    Charlotte    Coal    ^Mining    Co. 

formed,  575-(). 
Queen    Charlotte    Island    named,    5; 

contiguration,   .34;   coal  diseovereil, 

201,  567,  578;  gold  discovered,  343  • 

5,  558  9. 
Queen  Charlotte  Sound  nanied,  26. 
C^uesncl  Kivcr,   ndning  on,  457,  473, 

485-6,  515. 
Qnimper  Bay  named,  10. 
Qnimper,     Manuel,    explorations    of, 

1790,  8-11;  nuip,  9. 


Riiby  claim,  yield.  498. 

I!ae,  dohn,   before  counn.  in  Rng.  on 

H.  15.  Co.,  381. 
Rac,  W.  (i.,  at  Stikeen  River,  103. 
Randall  Co.  claiui,  yield,  540. 
Rattray,  Dr,  ou  gold  discovery,  4(>3. 
Rjiy,  tl.  R.,  preempts  ou    l''iaser,  .'ill2. 
"  Recovery,"  ship,  331,  .'{46  7,  405. 
Red    River    settlement,    colonization 

of,  226-7. 


INDEX. 


789 


liscovery,  SiM; 
iiir  ill  S.  .Iiiaii 
iiit  ouuupatioa 

iniiig  ut,  4(J4, 

0,29. 

ip,    seized    by 

yed,  IG. 

1    Vaiicouvcr'a 

18;    early  iiii- 

J^.     lUCll-ot-WHl" 

tinal  Co.,  ill- 
til,  S'J;  atti'liipt 
-7;  furiuiiiL^liy, 

iM   discovered, 

b.  fonued,  200; 
,  200-1. 


Ill  H.  B.  Co.  of 

1,  o7C. 

«iii,  .">.")!,  502. 

iiiiuiiig  at,  201- 

ip,  .'). 

Mining    Co. 

,nd    naiiitMl,    ,'i; 
lal  disiovcicil, 

isoovi'ivd,  ;im 

iiiUiK-'d,  20. 
on,   l.'i7,  47;!, 


;ploratiou8    of, 


n.  in  Eug.  on 

Kiver,  10;{. 
1,  .")40. 

iviM'y,  4(')I!. 
,1,    JM-aser,  ,S!I2. 

;i4()  7,  40,"). 
t,    colonizutii)ii 


Ree.se  River,  mining  on,  542. 

lU'id,  'Jjipt.,  visits  Victiiiiu,  2.")9-G0. 

Rennie  iJios,  dcatii  of,  4S2. 

"Kepuhlii;,"  stLMiiiur,  ;{01. 

"  l!f.solutioii,"  isliii),  10. 

Revenue,  .'WO,  :i;i7  40,  :i70-l,  .S90,  400, 

402  3,  417-lS,  7.V.-6, 
Rioo.  killed  by  Indians,  .'508. 
Rieliards,  Capt. ,   ii|)(iit  on  Xanaimo 

coal,  .■)71;  coiniiiion  S..)iian  tioiiUlu, 

010;  uigis  joint  octiiiiation,  020. 
Riciiai'd.son,  coal  discoverer,  5v;7. 
Ricliardson,   Sir  .loiiii,   before  coinni. 

ill  Kiig.  on  H.  15.  Co.,  .'iSl. 
Richtichi  mining  settlement,  504. 
Riilge  Co.  claim,  yield,  .")!!,">. 
Rim  Rock  Co.  claim,  yield,  5."i.3. 
Roberts,  C.  C. ,  on  i  raser  excitement, 

358. 
R(jbcits()n,   \V.,   on  Big  Bend  excite- 
ment, 5;il. 
Roliinsoir.s  ISar,  mining  at,  451,  45.3. 
Roclie,  A.  U.,   before  conim.  in  Eng, 

on  l{.  B.  Co.,  .•{81. 
Rock  Crc;ek  mines,  yield  1800-1,  5.S9. 
Rocky  Point  named,  15. 
Roebuck,  on  Hudson  Bay  Co.  charter, 

378. 
Rosario  Strait,  original  name,  1 1 . 
R(j.se,    miner,    470,    4S:{,    492;    death, 

48.S  4. 
Ross,  Alex.,  at  Fort  Kamloop,  l.'?5. 
Ross,    Ciuis,    commahds    I'ort   Camo- 

sun,  101;  dies,  102. 
Ross,  .lolm,  before  comm.  in  Eng.  on 

11.  B.  Co.,  .S81. 
Rouse,  Ca|it.,  attack  on  Inda,  395. 
Rnw  land,  discovers  gold,  344. 
Royal   I5ay,  original  name,  10;  .situa- 
tion, 87. 
Rupert  Land,  sale  of,  Ijy  H.  B.  Co., 

3S5. 
Russell,  Lord   ,]olin,  opposes    H.   B. 

Co. 's  charter,  21.3,  2  b"). 
Russian    American    Co.'s    relation    to 

H.  15.  Co.,  01,0S-9,  12s,  I7S-9;  to 

Eng.  traders,  178. 
Russian  Creek,  miuLug  on,  510, 


S 


Sacramento  Bar,  mining  at,  441,  443. 
Sailor  liar,  mining  at,  448. 
St  (ieorge  Bay  named,  15. 
'■  St  .los(.'pli,"  shi)>,  29. 
Salmon  Creek,  mining  at,  529. 
San  Antonio  I'oiiit  named,  9. 
San  Bias,  supplies  sent  from  to  Noot- 
ka,  8. 


"San  Carlos,"  ship,  8,  II,  21,  29, 
Sanders,   E.   H.,  judge,  433;    of  firat 

legis.  council,  583. 
San  Ensebio  I'oiiit  named,  9. 
".Santa  Gertrudis,"  ship,  15. 
Sangsler,    ,las,    signs    address,    282; 

signs  petition,  314. 
San  Juan  Island,  area,  000;  H.  B.  Co. 

take  possession  of,  007. 
San  Juan  Island  ditHculty,  1854-72, 

005-49. 
Sankster,    Mr,    actions    in    S.   Juan 

trouble  1,S54,  (i07-8. 
"  SantJi  Cruz,"  steamer,  .301. 
Santa  Cruz  I'oint.     See  New  Duiige- 

ness. 
.Saskatehewon,  gold  excitement   1800, 

524-5. 
"Satellite,"  H.   M.  S.,  3.")5,  388,  .389, 

405,  428,  010,  018. 
"  Saturiiina,"  sliip,"  21. 
Saunders,   E.  H.,  asst  gold  comm.  at 

Ft  Vale,  417. 
Savary  Lsland  named,  ■]5. 
Savona's    Ferry,    growing    prosperity 

of,  710. 
Scott,  (Jen.,  sent  to  Pacific  coast,  027; 

actions    in    .S.   .Iiiaii  all'air,   027-31; 

(juarrel  with  (iin.  Harney,  033  5. 
Scranton,  J.,  visits  Victoria,  352. 
"Sea  Bird,"  steamer,  304,  444. 
"Sea  Otter,"  ship,  5. 
Seemanu,  B.,  on  Ft  Camosun,  112-13; 

on  H.  B.  Co.  s  trade,  129-.30. 
Selby,  1'.,  director  \'.  Coal  Co.,  509. 
Selwyn,  Mr,  railway  survey  expedt. , 

050. 
Scmiahmoo  Bay,  !;'eetiiig  of  S.  Juan 

commissioners  at,  010-13. 
Settlers,    eiicroacliment    on    the    Co- 
lumbia   1843,    81;    restrietions   on, 

210-11;  term  dellned.  247;   of  Ore- 
gon, 248;   of  V.  L,  252-01;  petition 

to  parliament,  201 ;  petition  to  gov. , 

281    2;  character,  307. 
Seward,     Sec,    actions    in    .S,     Juan 

atl'air,  ().35-7. 
Seymour,  town,  4.")8,  5.33. 
Seymour,  l''ied.,  succeeds  Douglas  as 

gov.  of  I!.  C,  5.^8;  otticial  actions 

l8(i4-5,  .")89-  I;  death,  .")90. 
Seymour,  (1.  I'\,   commander  of  fleet 

in  South  I'acilic,  125. 
Shaw  Island,  00(). 
Shemelin,  liuss.  agent,  179. 
Shepherd,  ('apt.,  at  V.  L,  124. 
Siulkumchcen,  Iml.  village,  100, 
Ship-iiuildiiig,  \'.  L,  255. 
Shiiiping,    liist    vessel    built    on   N. 

\V.  ccast  17^8,  0;  arrivals  1880,763. 


700 


INDEX. 


Slioalwatcr  Bay,  Capt.  Mcare«  at, 
178S,  0. 

"  Slinl)iick,"  steamer,  624. 

Sliusliwap  RivtT,  mining  on,  400, 

!Sliusli\v;ips,  liiils,  chaiiicttr,  "iD;  hos- 
tility, i;j4-50;  country,  KIT;  dress, 

i:w-40. 

Sibk.',  Ji.  W.,  trade  conti'ovorsy,  207. 
Siddt'',  siiigcon,  ari-ivca  ^'.  I.,  407. 
Silver  (ri'oi;,  niininj,' on,  liS70,  5.")1. 
iSiiniliiaMieun,  Inds,  uliariiutLi',  130. 
Siniilkiimeun  River,  mining  on,  'MS, 

Simpson,  Sir  fl.,  in  Korenais  country, 
37-S;  at  V.  I.,  84  (i;  at  Ft  Kam- 
loops,  1.'}.");  descends  Friiser  river, 
l.")9;  gov.  11.  U.  Co.  in  Amor.,  '20't, 
207;  before  conun.  in  Kng.  on  H. 
B.  Cc  .  :«i. 

Simpson  River,  coal  discovered,  570, 

Ske('na  River,  ndning  on,  34.5-7,  <)''5, 

ii'ii),  57s. 
Skeleton  Creek,  mining  on,   "lol,  r>,>4. 
Skidegiite  Isl.,  coal  discovered,  201. 
Skinner,    TlKjmas,    mem,    of   first  as- 

,scmlilv,  3-'l,  327 
"Skuzzy,"  stcamei,  OS.'!. 
Slavery  among  Indians,  1.32. 
Small-jiox  among  Indians,  149. 
Smith,    A.    ().,    nnner,    prospecting, 

52.">,  .");ir). 

Smith  Inlet  named,  20. 

Sniitii,  R.  '!".,  goM  connnissioner,  0,32; 
of  first  legis.  eonncil,  r)S3. 

Sndtli,  S.  R.,  takes  steamer  up  the 
Fraser,  083. 

Smith,  \Vm,  Amor,  settler  on  S.  Juan, 
017. 

Sndth,  W.  fr.,  secy  H.  B.  Co.,  re- 
port, 331)-4(). 

Smuggling  in  B.  ('.,  417. 

Snow,  Capt.,  voy.  of  1S30,  48. 

Snowshoe  Creek,  ndning  on,  482,  480, 
ol,-),  .-)02. 

Snyder,  H.  M.,  treats  with  Indians, 
30(i  8. 

Soke  lidet,  Spanish  name,  0;  settled, 
2,")3-4;  coal  discovered,  570. 

Songliies,  natives  V.  1.,  05,  111;  at- 
tend mass,  00;  attack  Ft  (,'amosun, 
108-10, 

Sovereign  Creek,  mining  on,  482. 

Spaniards  op.  coast  of  JJ.  C.  1774-0, 
2  3. 

Si)aulding,  W.  R.,  justii.'o  of  pejice  at 
(^ueensborough,  410;  postmaster, 
417. 

Spenoe,  T.,  gold  discoverer,  441. 

Si,!iululeu  Flat,  mining  at,  451. 


S])intlum,  Indian  chief,  401. 
Scjuiizown,  Ind.  village,  100. 
SUiines,  Mrs,  at  V.  1.,  2.30,  250. 
Staines,    R.   J,,   at  Victoria,  238-41; 

oijposes   H.    B.   Co.,  240-2;  deatli, 

243. 
Stephens,   (!ov.,    leads  exploring  ex- 

pedt.,  374. 
Steptoc,  Col,  fights  Indians,  305. 
Stevens  Creek,  mining  on,  4S2,  .505. 
Stevens,    (iov.,    connn.    on    S.    Juan 

troid>le,  008. 
Stikeen  country,  description,  .38-9. 
Stikeen  River  pi'ospeeted  18(il,  .5,50. 
Stoek-niising,   favorable    regions  for, 

744-0. 
Strawberry  Bay  named,  20. 
Stuart,  John,  descends  Fraser  River, 

150. 
Sugar  Creek,  mining  on,  482,  504. 
Sulli\  an,  gold  comndasioner,  drowned, 

502. 
"Surprise,"  steamer,  304,  444. 
"Sus;in  Sturgis,"  ship,  340. 
"Siitil,"'  Spanish  brig,  20. 
Sutro,  Adolpli,  on  gold  discovery  B. 

C,  373. 
Suan,  J,  M.,  visits  Victoria,  220,  231. 
"Swiss    Boy,"    brig,     captured    by 

luds,  427-8. 


Tababoo  Creek,  ndning  on,  482. 
Taldvats,  nnssionaries  among,  719. 
Tako  River,  Doughis  explores,  71. 
Taylor,  J.  F.,  U.  S.  commissioner  on 

S.  Juan  troulile,  010. 
Teet,  Inds,  chiuacter,  1,30, 
'rellatella  Quatza,  Indian  chief,  39.3. 
Teimant,    .lames,    before    comin,    iu 

Kng.  on  II.  B.  Co.,  3S1. 
Tennent,    (J.     W,,    secy   law-makers, 

303, 
"Tepic,"ship,  .340-7. 
"Termagant,"  H.  M.  S.,  417. 
"  Thames  t'ity,"  ship,  404. 
"Thetis,"  II.  iM.  S.,  124,  2.30,  331. 
Thibert  Creek,  mining  on,    500-3. 
Thistle  ('rei4i,  ndning  on,  4.S2. 
TiLom[ison,  1).,   builils  Ft  Thompson, 

Thompson  River,  Tnining  on,  458-01; 

400,  570. 
I  Thompson  Sound,  Span,  name  for,  20. 
Thornton,   John,    miner,    on  Salmon 

Creek,  1805,  ,5,30. 
"Tliree  Hrothers,"  sinr    "iS. 
Tillamook    Bay,    native    at,    attack 

(iray's  men  1780,  8. 


401. 

10(5. 
2:«),  250. 
;tona,   "238-11; 
'2H>-2;  dcutli, 

exploring  ex- 

liaiis,  305. 
on,  4S-.',  m-). 
.    ou   8.    Jiiuu 

ption,  38-9. 
u(l  18(il,  ;").->!). 

0  rugioua  for, 

,  20. 
Fraser  River, 

1,  482,  .")04. 
oner,  ilrowue'l, 

104,  444. 
34(5. 
20. 

1  discovery  B. 

toria,  22!),  231. 
captured    by 


;  on,  482. 
iniong,  719. 
xplorcs,  71. 
nnnissioncr  oti 

30. 

in  ehicf,  393. 
tro    connn,    ia 
81. 
y   law-makers, 


,417. 
404. 

4,  230,  331. 
on,    o()0-3. 
)n,  482. 
Ft  Tlionipsoii, 

ig  on,  458-0 1 ; 

name  for,  2ti. 
V,    ou   Salmon 

c    at,    attack 


INDEX. 


'<91 


Tod,  .Tohn,  at  Kandoops,  134-50;  per- 
Huiml  appeiuanLO,  I. 38 -9;  crushuH 
Ind.  conspiracy,  141-52;  outwits 
Nicola,  l.VJ-0;  justice,  204;  fanner, 
278  9;  on  council,  281,  310;  at  Ft 
McLeod,  2.i8. 

Tolmic,  W.  F.,  manager  agric.  co., 
02  3;  character,  157;  discovei-s  coal, 
187;  justice,  204;  on  nmuagemeut 
11.  15.  (.'().,  328. 

"Ton(inin,"  sliip,  seized  by  luds,  15. 

"Topa/c,"  H.  M.  S.,  417. 

"Tory,"  ship,"  19.5,  257. 

Toy,  I'.,  miner,  540;  prospects  FinLay 
Kivcr,  555. 

Trafalgar  Bar,  gold  discovered  at,  441, 
444. 

Travaillot,  O.,  coiiunr  for  crown  lauds, 
405;  ^ohl  coiiiinr,  451. 

"  j'ribuno,"  11.  M.  S.,  404,  019. 

"Trincomalee,"  H.  M.  >S.,  230,  334. 

Tsilaltacii,  Sun_,'iiies  cliief,  97-9j  at- 
tacks Ft  C'aniosun,  108-10. 

Tsoughilam,  Cowichin  chief,  attacks 
Fort  Caniosun,  107-10. 

Tucker,  attacked  by  ludiaus,  394. 


U 


"Umatilla,"  steamer,  304,  401,  445. 
"Una,"  ship,  34,-.. 
Union  Act,  piovisions  of,  594-5. 
Union  Bar,  gold  discovered  at,  441, 

444. 
Union  (^oal  Mining  Co.,  work,  508. 
Urquhart,  miner,  504. 


Vail,  light-keeper  at  Blunt  Isl.,  014. 

Val(k''s,  Capt.,  expcdt.  of,  in  1792, 
20-8. 

Valdes  Harbor.     See  Estinimalt. 

"  Vancouver,"  shi].,  71,  120. 

Vancouver  Coal  .Mining  and  Land 
Co.  organized,  509. 

Vancouver,  (J.,  com.  for  Kug.  in 
Nootka  ali'air  1792,  14-15;  voy. 
and  places  named  by,  15-29;  maps 
of,  17,  19,  27. 

Vancouver  Island  named,  29;  contigu- 
ration,  34;  climate,  42;  fauna,  43; 
importance  of  situation,  83-4;  occu- 
pation of,  93  101;  coal  discovered, 
100;  granted  to  H.  B.  Co.,  202  22; 
colonized  by  H.  B.  Co.,  223-37; 
settlements,  247  02,  314;  map,  259; 
population,     1853,    200;    govt    es- 


tablished, 203-84;  seal  of,  279  SO; 
under  Dcnighis,  310-28;  legislature, 
317  27;  electoral  dists,  ;«2();  judi- 
ciary of,  ;529-4();  reven\ie,  330,  337- 
40,  592;  suprenie  c(nirt  created, 
419-20;  first  capital  execution,  435; 
mining  population  1859-01,  471; 
coal  mining,  500-80;  population 
^  18(54,  592. 

Van  Valzah,  expedt.  against  IniLs 
1859,  01,5. 

Van  Winkle  Creek,  mining  on,  482, 
500-8. 

Vashou  Island  named,  18. 

Vantrin,  J.  B.,  in  Anderson's  expedt., 
1.59. 

Vavasour,  Lieut,  report  on  Xisqually, 
52;  census  of  Ind,  trilics,  75;  de- 
scribes Ft  Caniosun,  112;  examines 
N.  \V.  coast,  12.5-0.  189;  report  on 
coal  discovery,  189. 

Verdia,  pilot  in  Elisa's  expedt.,  13. 

Victoria  laid  out,  113;  settlers,  2.58; 
population  18.53,  2(iO;  18(51,  707; 
1803,  708;  1800,  709;  gold  dis- 
covered, .'543;  port  of  (uitry,  403; 
Inds  tlock  to,  420  7;  business  de- 
pression ISOO,  470;  I'evival,  477; 
bancjuet  to  Douglas,  .587-8;  incor- 
porated, 70S;  city  described,  709- 
1 1 ;  newspapers  of,  739.  See  Ft 
Vict(jria. 

Victoria  Bar,  gold  discovered,  441, 
444. 

Victoria  Coal  Mining  and  Land  Co., 
mines  and  land  owned  by,  715. 

Victoria  and  Ivscpiimalt  liailway  Co., 
chaiter  granted,  097. 

Victoria  (iazette,  first  nowspuper  iu 
Victoria,  7.39. 

Vitalle  Creek,  udning  ou,  549,  558. 


W 

Waddington,    A.,   minor,    348,    ,3,50; 

attacke<l  bv  Inds,  42S;   estimate  of 

gold  yiehl  is.  (,'..  409. 
Waldron  Island,  000. 
\Vidkem,  (i.  A.,  attorney -general,  656- 

8,  (570,  701  -3. 
Wanipiille,  Ind.  chief,  51. 
Wauciuille  River  named,  70;  mining 

on,  4.58. 
Wai  re,   Lieut,   report   on    Niscjually, 

52;    census   of   Or.    terr.    Inds,  75; 

examines  X.  W.   coast,  125(1,  189; 

report  on  gold  discovery,  bS9. 
Warren,  .1.  D.,  Amcr.  settler  ou  S. 

Juau,  617. 


792 


INDEX. 


"  Washington,"  ship,  6,  8. 
Way,  F.,  starts  ferry,  446. 
Webster,     A.,      in    railway    survey 

expedt.,  6.j0. 
Wehlen,  Capt.,  captured  by  Indians, 

427. 
Wullesley,    Capt.,    attacks    Indians, 

274. 
Wellington  mines,  work  at,  570,  573; 

tire  at,  .")70. 
Wells  Passage  named,  26. 
Whalers,    northern    rendezvous    for, 

83,  100,  120. 
Whannell,  1'.  B.,  justice,  402,  409-10. 
Wharton,    H.,    Anier.    settler  on   8. 

Juun,  017. 
Whatcom,  rise  and  fall,  359-64. 
Whidliey,    Joseph,    in    Vancouvars 

expedt.,  16,  24. 
Whipsaw  Creek,  mining  on,  505. 
Wicananish,  Inil.  village,  6. 
Wild  Horse  Creek,  mining  on,  523, 

524,  520. 
Wild   Horse  Creek  ditch  completed, 

529. 
"Wild  Pigeon,"  schr,  .355. 
Willamette  Valley,  settlements  in,  56, 

61.  80. 
William,  Emperor,  S.  Juan  question 

referred  to,  (i38. 
"William  Berry,"  ship,  361. 
William  Creek,  mining  on,  482,  484, 

495-509,  512,  513,  515,  517-18. 


Willow  River,  mining  on,  451-2,  482, 

505. 
Wilson,  with  overland  party,  367. 
Wilson,  Mrs,  on  McLouglin,  300. 
Witty,    John,    Amer.   settler  on    S. 

Juan,  617. 
Wolf,    trader,   with   overland  party, 

367. 
Women,  first  arrival  of  whites,  249- 

50;  at  Cariboo  mines,  519. 
Ai^ool,  Gen.,  establishes  post  at  Bel- 

lingham  Bay,  013. 
AV'ork,  John,   chief  factor,   133,  328, 

384;    justice,    264;    signs    settlers' 

petition,  314;  on  council,  216;  hunts 

for  gold,  346-7. 


Yale,  gamblers  at,  360;  site  surveyed, 
400;  govt  establislied,  401 ;  mining 
troubles  at,  408-14;  mining  at,  441- 
7,  471;  town  described,  717. 

Yule,  J.  M.,  at  Ft  Langley,  67;  char- 
acter, 171-3;  justice,  264. 

Yankee  Doodle  Bar,  gold  discovered, 
441. 

Yates,  James,  settler  on  V.  I.,  258; 
signs  petition,  314,  mem.  of  first  as- 
sembly, 321,  .327;  fur-trader,  400. 

Young,  W.  A.  G.,  colonial  sec.  B.  C, 
406. 


44 

952  4 


on,  451-2,  482, 

party,  367. 
iiglin,  300. 
Bcttler  on    S. 

verland  party, 

if  wliitea,  249- 

,  51!». 

a  post  at  Bel- 

3tor,  133,  328, 
signs  settlers' 
icil,  210;  hunts 


site  surveyed, 

I,  401;  mining 

lining  at,  441- 

(l,  717. 

[ley,  67;  char- 

2(i4. 

Id  discovered, 

on  V.  I.,  258; 
em.  of  first  as- 
■trader,  400. 
lial  sec.  B.  C, 


